woodcutter for the furnaces, of Horany
“I swing an axe in the woods all day and try to keep my bloody dog out of trouble. I am young and strong, but my arms still ache by dusk.”
Things Gilbert had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Friday after St Philip and St James, at Compline
I sit here rubbing my aching arms. Saint George's day is past and I still owe Peshek eight groschen for those bloody hens. I have half a mind to pack my things in the dark and run off with Amiable. Let the master find another axe.
Nota scribaeHe paced the room while speaking and would not stand still.
the Tuesday of Easter week, at Sext
Why must Joan weep for Humphrey every bloody day? He was a good man who whittled toys, aye, but tears won't bring him back. And Alice is tearing up the yard for her mother Yarka's bone hairpin again. A man cannot get any peace to eat his pottage.
the eve of St Gertrude, at Vespers
The master expects too much. Felling timber all day for the Kuttenberg furnaces is bloody hard, even if I am the strongest here. I can outdo old Havel easily, but Prokop keeps pushing the pace. I wonder if he has a stash of silver hidden somewhere.
If you have breath to complain to the clerk, you have breath to swing your axe.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted by a fit of coughing from the older woodcutter present.
the first Wednesday of Lent, at Prime
It was Vlasta's fault entirely. She left the barn gate unlatched when she was hanging the master's laundry. I was safely away in the woods. Now Amiable is blamed for Peshek's three prize hens, and that miser threatens to drown my dog in the Vidlak pond!
You lying whoreson! That mangy beast dug under the fence. Do not put this on me.
Eight groschen by Saint George's day, boy. Or the beast goes in the pond.
Nota scribaeHe was very red in the face and swore profusely.
Candlemas, at Terce
The winter is biting hard, but I found a bit of luck. A scruffy stray dog was shivering in a ditch by the path. I brought him back to the outbuilding and gave him some kitchen scraps. I call him Amiable. He is a good beast.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Don't be a fool, lad. The roads are full of soldiers. Better to owe coin than be dead.
Easy for you to say, Prokop. You hoard your pennies well enough.