rough carpenter at the mint, of Kuttenberg
“I am a proper wood-shaper, no matter what they make me do in the yard. I just need my tools back.”
Things William Mailer had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at Terce
The roads are thawed and the council is crying out for a muster. If anyone has a spare padded jack and bascinet they could lend a poor carpenter, Saint Blaise will bless you. I have a desperate need before the bailiff comes looking.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
Hynek looked at my hands today and told me to get back to the hauling line. My shoulders are screaming. If I had my axe I would be on the scaffolding making skilled wages, not dragging raw timber in the mud like a beast.
Nota scribaeHe smelled strongly of stale ale and rubbed his shoulders throughout.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at None
Let it be known to all honest men that Thomas Smith is a thief who would steal the pennies off a dead man's eyes. He took my rusty axe for an afternoon of firewood and now he brazenly uses it at the Court to secure his own wage!
You traded it to me for that four groschen ale tab from Epiphany. We are square, stop your weeping.
A rusty axe is worth ten of your ale tabs, you whoreson! Give it back!
the second Sunday of Lent, at Prime
Marion is a greedy harpy. I needed winter boots so my toes wouldn't rot off in the yard, and she gave me barely a pittance for good iron and cloth. Now I am freezing and broke anyway, and the wages at the mint have stalled.
She squeezed me too, William. We are all starving in that foul attic.
Nota scribaeHe asked that the insult to the widow be struck out, but I refused.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Compline
I did a Christian charity today and lent my axe to Thomas Smith so he could chop firewood. A man should help his neighbours when the frost is hard. I expect it back by tomorrow's shift.
Nota scribaeDictated at the tavern. He spoke loudly so the other patrons would hear of his charity.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Why do you need another jack, William? You have the one I gave you for the winter.
It is being mended, Hermann. The rats got at the padding in the attic.