hired hand at the quarry, of Kuttenberg
“I break rocks for a silver groschen when there is work, and wait in the mud when there is not.”
Things Adam had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
The Hungarians are marching about like they own the stones. I need my padded jacket back, but Jacob the Townsman pawned it and hides from me. If the lords call a muster, I am a dead man in a quarry tunic.
Nota scribaeThe man kept his arms crossed the whole time and scowled at the inkwell.
the feast of St Philip and St James, at Prime
Standing by the steps of St James's again. The quarry is shut today. The German masters yell until their faces turn red, but they pay less than a groschen. I wish Roger the foreman had never gone to Prague. He knew how a man works.
the second day of Easter week, at Compline
Widow Lettice wants her rent, and my boots are falling apart. Down in the cellar, Benjamin will not shut up about his lost tin plate, and young Daniel is coughing his lungs out. I have no bread to give him. Saint Barbara protect us from this damp.
It was Katchka's plate. She ate her pottage from it before the fever took her.
Nota scribaeDictated in the cellar. The air was foul.
the Wednesday in the third week of Lent, at Terce
I asked Jacob to carry word to my kin on the road, just to tell them I am alive and breaking rocks. I cannot write. He travels more than any of us, but he walked right past me. A dog has more charity.
I have my own business to mind. I am not a king's messenger.
He is too busy counting his groschen to help a hired hand.
Candlemas, at None
Spent my last coin on a padded jacket for the muster. Then the quarry closed and Lettice wanted her rent. Had to give the kit to Jacob the Townsman for a few pennies to keep a roof over my head. I will buy it back when the stone breaks again.
You should not buy war gear if you cannot afford your bed, Adam.
Nota scribaeHe swore by Saint Barbara that he would pay it back.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
A loan is a loan, Adam. You had no groschen to pay me back.
I gave you that kit to hold, not to sell to the first soldier you saw.