hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“I am a working man, standing ready for the summer muster to earn a soldier's wage. These Hungarian bastards will find me waiting for them.”
Things Paul had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Saint Urban, at Vespers
The summer muster is drawing near and the lords will be checking our gear. I paid good groschen for my padded jacket, and Daniel has had it since the thaw. I tell you, lad, I need it back before they call our names to the line.
Nota scribaeHe gripped his belt tightly while dictating this, looking as if he expected an arrow to fly through the window.
the Tuesday after Saint Mark, at Sext
Joseph is bleating again about his leather-cutting knife. Saint George defend us! I took his turn at the wall works when he was shivering with the ague before Easter. The knife is fair payment for saving his wages, but the boy will not listen.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Ever since Roger went to Prague in Lent, the lumber yard has gone to shit. We stand by Saint James's in the damp, and these new German bastards treat us like mules. They point and grunt and toss pennies in the mud, and we have to scrape them up.
Aye, and Thomas there gets easier work just because he looks like a starved rat and they pity him.
I work just as hard as you do, you noisy arse. Mind your own.
Nota scribaeThe word he used for the German masters was much fouler. I have amended it for Christian ears.
the feast of Saint Gregory, at None
Sunday comes and the widow Lettice stands at the top of the cellar stairs holding out her hand for rent. A man breaks his back in the ditches all week just to throw his coin into her purse, but I suppose it is better than sleeping in the snow.
My late Katchka used to say a dry floor is worth a hungry belly, but the cold still bites into my bones down there.
the day after Candlemas, at Compline
I borrowed Joseph's digging tool this morning to clear a ditch. It is a heavy, good piece of iron, much better than my bent one. The foreman actually looked twice at me for my clean work. I reckon I'll hold onto it just a few days more.
I need it back by Thursday, Paul. My brother Benesh sent word, and I need higher wages to send him coin.
Nota scribaeDictated in a low, guilty mutter that was hard to catch.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Aye, Paul, don't fret. You'll have it soon enough. I just need to mend a tear on the sleeve before I fetch it.