maidservant on her father's farm, of Bylany
“Honestly, I am a farmer's daughter worked like a hired hand, just biding my time.”
Things Emma had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at None
Honestly, the shouting in this house is enough to curdle the milk. My father Joseph has not paid Sybil her wages again, and they are at it in the kitchen. I slipped out to look down the Prague road. I am certain Hugh will come back soon with a heavy purse, and then I will leave this muddy hole.
Nota scribaeShe looked at her shoes when she spoke of the heavy purse.
the second day of May, at Terce
My mother Margery is weeping by the hearth again. She swore an oath three winters past when my aunt Katherine died of the coughing sickness, that she would walk barefoot to Sedletz. She has not done it, and now she fears the sickness will take us all. Honestly, if she just walked the road we might have some peace.
Do not speak ill of the dead, Emma. The frost is in my bones, I cannot make the walk yet.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
The cabbages are choking in weeds. Since Martin was marched off with the levy before Easter, we have all been doing the work of three. My hands are blistered raw. I washed the manure off in the stream, but honestly, the smell never truly leaves you. I was not meant to live like a beast.
And do not laugh, it is the truth!
Nota scribaeDictated from a distance. She smelled faintly of cow dung.
the feast of St Benedict, at Prime
A carter came through saying bread is dearer than last year in Prague and the roads are full of soldiers. The gossips claim a landless man could end up dead in a ditch there. But honestly, they know nothing. Hugh is clever, he will find good work and save his groschen. He promised me.
He is a layabout and a drunkard, and he will die a beggar. You will marry a man with a proper trade.
Nota scribaeShe stared intently at the floorboards while saying this.
Candlemas, at Compline
My father caught me talking to Hugh by the boundary stone today. He flew into a bloody rage and called him a drunken beggar who would shame the house. He forbade him from ever showing his face in Bylany again. I told him Hugh has my heart entirely, but he would not hear it. Hugh has gone to Prague.
I will return with a full purse, Emma. Wait for me.
You are better off without the shouting, though the house is no quieter for it.
Nota scribaeDictated through angry tears. She used a stronger word than bloody.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I am owed six groschen, Emma. Your father is a tight-fisted old mule, and your Hugh is a fool, but I pity you anyway.
Get away from the road and back to the churn! That drunken beggar is never coming back.