hired hand at the estate, of Bylany
“I do the labour of three men for a bloody master who pays me next to nothing.”
Things Thomas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of St Philip and St James, at Compline
The moon is getting fat. Soon it will be bright enough to walk the roads at night without stumbling into those bloody Hungarians. I am taking what is owed to me from the shed. Let William see how the estate runs when the only back holding it up is gone.
Nota scribaeHe spat on the ground after speaking. I have recorded his confession of planned theft as duty binds me.
the third day of Easter week, at None
John hid Mistress Beatrice's copper jug in his straw, and a bloody fine trick it is! Do not fetch her a drop of ale until she shows you the groschen, John. They all say Drslav has not paid them, but these masters just want to keep their coin pouches fat.
Palm Sunday, at Sext
Master William says he cannot pay me a full wage because of the Kuttenberg merchant. I say Drslav is just a bloody excuse. William expects me to sweat for three men on a crust of hard bread. If I put this rake down, the whole estate would rot into the earth.
the Monday after St Gregory, at Vespers
Matilda tripped on a loose paving stone and broke a wooden churn. I know the stone was loose, I tripped on the bloody thing myself. William took her bone comb as a pledge. It is an act of petty, thieving spite. He would not try that if it was me.
Let him keep the comb. I will not bow down and weep over spilled milk like Joan.
I weep for my sister Avice, not milk. The war is on the roads and you talk of combs!
Nota scribaeDictated near the dairy. He crossed his arms very tightly while speaking and glared at the house.
Candlemas, at Prime
The old master died of the sweat three winters ago, and now we suffer under young William. I have been mucking out the beasts since dawn, my bones aching from the damp straw. Now he says he has no coin to settle my wages today. A bloody disgrace.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Where are you going, lad? Do not be a bloody fool, the bailiff will string you up if you are caught.