trader in small goods, of Kuttenberg
“I buy and sell nails and rope, making my way up by good sense and honest silver.”
Things Tobias had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second Tuesday of May, at None
The town watch is called and I am sick with dread. I gave good silver for a padded jack so Alexander could stand muster with proper gear. Now he hides behind a sealed letter, and the bailiff will ask me where the man's coat has gone.
Nota scribaeThe man kept tapping his belt impatiently as he spoke.
the Wednesday after Saint George, at Vespers
Eli is at the ale-stand again, begging Benjamin to carry word to Prague to find his brother Philip. The roads are crawling with hungry mercenaries. Benjamin nods just to quiet him. A wise man knows when a cause is lost and keeps his coin in his purse.
Philip is my blood. You would sell your own mother for a brass buckle, Tobias.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Nathan weeps because Eli holds his tin pitcher. But Nathan pawned the iron cap Eli bought for him! It is the same foolishness I see in Alexander. You hand a man good iron to protect his head, and he runs straight to the widow's grate.
It was my late wife's pitcher! You traders know nothing of what a man must do to eat.
Nota scribaeDictated at the lower market amidst much noise.
the feast of the Annunciation, at Terce
A fine morning at the market stones. The labourers wait for Jarda the carpenter, but I have already sold two lengths of good hemp rope and a handful of nails. David asked to borrow a wooden peg. I told him my goods are for sale, not for his pocket.
I only needed it for an hour to fix my cart. You are a tight-fisted miser.
the Monday after Candlemas, at Sext
I have done a good deed today, as a man of my station should. I bought a heavy padded jack for Alexander so he will not be shamed at the spring muster. He had nothing, and I had saved some silver. The Lord sees our charity.
You will regret parting with that silver, Tobias. Mark my words.
Nota scribaeHe seemed very pleased with himself as he said this.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I wrote to you that I will pay it back from my summer wages. The landlord would have thrown me out in the cold.
The bailiff does not take promises of summer wages, you fool. Get it back from Constance before we are both shamed.