hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“I earn my coppers running errands and holding horses around Saint James's. A quick man is better than a large, stupid one, unless folks tell bloody lies about him.”
Things Thomas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday after Ascension, at Vespers
Simon told the foreman I took pennies from the Saint Barbara alms box. It is a vicious lie from a spiteful whoreson. I lost three days of work and went hungry. I pray Saint James sends a heavy-handed stranger to set him straight.
Nota scribaeDictated at the church steps. The subject's hands were balled into fists the entire time.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Joseph is at me again to walk to some distant village to tell his brother Benesh he is alive. I have no time for it. I must pace the market for a dropped coin just to pay the widow Lettice her rent.
Benesh must be told, Thomas. He worries for me with the soldiers on the roads.
Maundy Thursday, at Prime
A man cannot sleep in peace in this cellar. If it is not Daniel shivering with fever on his pallet, it is Benjamin sweeping the yard and talking of his dead Katchka. We all have our griefs, old man. Let a man rest.
My Katchka made a better stew than any you will ever eat, lad. Have some respect.
the feast of Saint Gregory, at Sext
Stood freezing in the mud outside Saint James's church since first light. The German masters picked the great lumbering oxen for the stone hauling and left me standing. Ended up holding a merchant's horses for barely enough copper to buy stale bread.
At least you do not need to pawn your war gear to eat, Thomas. Jacob the Townsman gives me nothing.
Nota scribaeThe boy's teeth were chattering so loudly I could barely hear his words.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Lent my best saw to Simon this morning. He said he had a carpenter's mate job and would see me right. A man with a good tool can make a whole silver groschen, so I expect my property back and a fair share of the coin.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I only told the foreman what I saw, Thomas. It is not my fault he believed an honest man.
You saw nothing, you liar. You just wanted my place in the yard.