hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“I haul stones so I don't starve. Honest work for an honest Christian, unlike some of the bastards I have to share a cellar with.”
Things Simon had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second Wednesday of May, at Vespers
My hands are cracked to bloody meat today. These new German masters work us like mules. Christ almighty, I miss Roger. When he ran the lumber yard, a man knew what he was worth and he didn't get screamed at in words he doesn't know. Now it's haul, haul, haul, and count your groschen carefully.
the eve of St George, at Compline
Thomas the little rat is whining about his tool again. He says I still have it. Well, I'm using it to do real work, not scratching around like a bloody hen. He's too young to need it anyway. When I'm done with the heavy stones, he can have it back.
You thief! It's mine. You stole my work and now you keep my tool.
Shut your mouth before I shut it for you, boy.
Nota scribaeThe man spat on the floor after dictating this. I made him wipe it up.
the Tuesday after Easter, at None
Soldiers on the road again, making bread dearer. I had to pay an extra penny for half a stale loaf. Lettice better not raise the rent on the cellar. We're packed in like salted fish as it is. Benjamin won't stop talking about his dead Katchka either. Makes a man want to drink.
Katchka knew how to bake a loaf that didn't break your teeth.
The rent is the rent, Simon. Pay it on Sunday or find a snowdrift.
the first week of Lent, at Terce
I spoke up to the foreman today. I told him I saw that bastard Thomas lingering by the St Barbara alms box. Pennies went missing, didn't they? A man has to protect the church. It's got nothing to do with him taking work from honest men. Christ almighty, the foremen are blind to pity him.
It's a lie! You lying whoreson! I lost three days of work because of your spite!
We all know why you did it, Simon.
Nota scribaeThe man shouted this loud enough for the whole market to hear.
Candlemas, at Vespers
I lent my best tool to Daniel, out of the goodness of my heart. Now he's sick and feverish, and he won't give it back. I need it for the timber. I don't want to quarrel with a sick boy, but that tool cost me a month's sweat. He's useless without it, but bloody hell, so am I.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Aye. My back is burning. Roger treated a man decent.
The wood was better too.