hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“A rightful landowner forced to dig trenches because of thieving kin.”
Things Nicholas Fisher had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Stood on the church steps till Terce, and the foreman's boy didn't even look my way. My shoulders are bloody screaming from yesterday's stones. If I had my father's land like I'm owed, I wouldn't be standing here like a beggar while Fritz Meyer hides behind his wife's skirts.
Nota scribaeDictated outside the alehouse. He pointed his finger at my chest three times.
the Monday after Ascension, at None
Hugh Field had the right idea, giving his padded jack away out of charity, even if young Adam Thatcher went and pawned it the very next day. I said he would! These young lads don't know the bloody value of anything. Not like us older men.
I needed the coin for bread, you old badger.
Let it be, Nicholas. The jack is gone and my conscience is clear.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
I saw Roger at the market yesterday, walking around like he owns the town. He's been working that far strip of land like it's his. It's bloody well mine! Our father meant it for me, not him, and not Vitek either. I'll take them to the bailiff, I swear I will.
Take it to the bailiff then! Until then, I'm planting the barley.
You'd only drink the barley, Nicholas. Father knew what he was doing.
Nota scribaeHe has been saying this for three years to my certain knowledge.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Sext
Bread is up another penny. The king's brother and his bloody Cumans are making a ruin of the country, and we're the ones paying for it. I had to eat a heel of old rye today that nearly broke my teeth. A man working the wall needs proper meat.
Lidka says the master's house only gets white bread on Sundays now.
Nobody cares about your bloody Lidka, Alan.
Candlemas, at Compline
They say the Pope wants everything written down so God doesn't have to read too much at the Judgment. Well, let Him read this: Vitek and Roger stole my land. Write that down plainly, clerk. My brothers are a pack of thieves.
Stop embarrassing the family, Nicholas. The land is unsettled.
Nota scribaeDictated with much shouting. I wrote it exactly as he said.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep my Else out of your bloody mouth, Nicholas. I have an honest excuse.
Your excuse is you haven't done a hard day's work in your life.