hired hand, of Bylany
“I heave water and chop wood at the empty butcher's house. A heavy burden for a man who has not seen a groschen in wages since winter.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Mistress Beatrice turned the kitchen upside down looking for her copper serving jug today. An important guildsman came from town and she had to pour his ale from a cracked pot. I told her I hadn't seen it. My hands are staying in my pockets until she finds my silver.
Nota scribaeHe sighed heavily four times while dictating this and refused to look up.
the feast of St John before the Latin Gate, at None
William is shouting over broken churns again next door, acting the tyrant. I lean on the stone wall and listen, but keep my mouth shut. Then I go back to chopping wood, only to hear Joan crying over her sister Avice again. A man cannot find peace in this yard.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Thomas talks of stealing a hoe and running away to the Sedletz monastery. The lad is a complete fool. The dirt roads are thick with the king's soldiers, and they will hang a hired hand caught wandering without a master's character. I will stay right here.
the Wednesday before Easter, at Sext
Still no sign of Drslav's merchant wagons on the road from Kuttenberg. Beatrice looks out every morning, hoping for the man to bring her silver for the autumn grain. She says she cannot pay me until he pays her. But a man cannot eat excuses. I am sharpening my axes and waiting.
The merchant will come. He promised. Have some patience, for the love of God.
Nota scribaeDictated from the wood shed. The man spoke mostly to his boots.
the first Friday of Lent, at Terce
I woke before the cock crowed today, hauling water from the well and splitting thick logs until my back ached. Not a single penny of my rightful wages since Candlemas. The butcher is gone, the stalls are empty, and I am chopping wood for nothing.
It is a hard season for us all, John. We must pray for better days.
Nota scribaeThe man dragged his feet the entire way to the church.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Christ almighty, John. I know you took it. Give it back before we lose this house to ruin.
Good on you. Don't give an inch until she pays up.