hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“I work harder than any lazy bastard at the lower gates, but people are always trying to cheat me.”
Things Lamprecht had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at None
Oswald still has not redeemed the padded jack and polearm I bought for the muster. If the bailiff calls our names and Oswald stands there in his shirt, my back will take the whip alongside his. He is a whoreson and a fool.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted twice by the man spitting on the floor.
the second day after St George, at Vespers
The mercenaries on the roads eat the town dry. Bread costs so much a man must work a double shift just to afford a hard crust, and I am weak from hauling slag. I hate sleeping in the hay and giving my hard-earned penny to that miser Barbara.
the Monday of Holy Week, at Prime
Tobias is demanding the iron pick back. He told me I could keep it until I had my own. I need it to get piece-work from the masters. Without it, they hand me a basket for half-wages, and I refuse to starve in the gutter.
I said no such thing. You swore to return it when the adit was cleared.
It is my right to keep it. I am the one setting braces in the dark.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quickly and jabbed his finger at my chest throughout.
the first Friday of Lent, at Compline
Franz has gone to Prague and the timbering work has dried up. I keep the heavy pick tied to my leg at night so the widow Barbara cannot lock me out in the cold. Nicholas is a thief for what he did to Kunz's kit, but at least Kunz knows how to hold onto a borrowed broadaxe.
Keep my name out of your mouth, you owe Tobias his tool just the same.
Candlemas, at Sext
The foreman Franz told the crew we must bring our own heavy tools to clear the collapsed adit or face half-wages. I have no groschen because I emptied my purse for Oswald's kit. Thank Christ Tobias lent me a fine pick so I can earn a full share.
Work hard, lad, but do not blunt the point too much.
No tools, no silver. That is the way of the works.
Nota scribaeThe word he used for the foreman was not written.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I had to eat, Lamprecht. I will get it all back from the pawnbroker when work picks up.
You will get it back by Sunday or I will crack your head open.