gentleman of Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“I am a gentleman of standing in this town, though the taverns serve thin wine and my purse runs lighter than I desire.”
Things Ralph of Mesoles had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the feast of St Philip and St James, at None
Thomas and I have a grand design for the ball. We are gathering pitch, feathers, and horns to dress as wildmen of the woods. I found a stranger in the tavern crowd to fetch the flax for us. The local ladies will faint in terror and then fall madly in love when we unmask!
Nota scribaeHe was very drunk when he dictated this. I did not write down the loudest boasting.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
I hear old Alice is weeping that Nicholas moved a boundary stone into her yard. Good for Nicholas, I say. If a man can take a slice of yard, he should. He is also entirely right to keep his boy William away from that Kuttenberg girl Katchka. We are not common dirt.
Exactly so. A gentleman must protect his lands and his bloodline.
You both speak of things you do not understand. Leave her out of your tavern talk.
the Tuesday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
I cannot stop laughing at Thomas. He pawned a fine set of war gear to pay a tavern slate before Lent. I am just waiting for the next militia muster to see how he explains an empty scabbard and no mail to the captain. The taverns will feast on the tale.
It was a small slate, Ralph, and the gear was heavy anyway.
the first Monday of Lent, at None
That scoundrel Geoffrey of Danemark borrowed my best tool at Candlemas and still has not returned it. He is a thief plain and simple. It cost a month of work, and my purse is too light to just buy another. By the blood of the saints, he insults my honour!
I am keeping it safe for you, Ralph, until you sober up enough to use it.
Nota scribaeHe pounded the table so hard my inkhorn spilled. I charged him a groschen for the mess.
Candlemas, at Vespers
John of Petschkau lent me a very fine tool today. I have great use for it in my lodgings. I reckon it is mine by right now, since I hold it and have the greater need. A gentleman requires good steel for his daily affairs.
I expect it back by Sunday, Ralph. Do not test me.
I still need it to fix my bench, John. Have some patience.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It was my cousin Hugh's idea from Paris, Ralph, and I bought the stranger the drink.
Nonsense, Thomas. I steered the conversation perfectly.