hired hand at the court, of Kuttenberg
“I know how to weather Kuttenberg's troubles. Bread costs twice what it did last year, so a man has to be clever and keep his head down.”
Things Roger had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
The Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Bread is double the price it was, Christ almighty. I stood by the lower gates since dawn and Ralph only took on half the lads. If the overseers don't give us work soon, we'll all be chewing bark.
Nota scribaeThe man spoke so fast I had to ask him to repeat himself thrice.
The second day of May, at Prime
I need my gambeson and iron cap back, Robert. I gave you the groschen to keep them safe, not to drink them away. If the King's men call a muster, I'll get the lash, and it'll be your doing.
Hold your tongue, Roger. I have it safe enough. A man needs a drop of ale in these hard times.
Safe at the pawnbroker's, more like. Give it here before the magistrate comes asking.
The Tuesday of Easter week, at Compline
Agatha is shouting down the stairs again. I sit in my corner holding my gear tight. Lawrence and Geoffrey are bickering over that rusted crowbar like it's made of Kuttenberg silver. A man cannot hear himself think in this cellar.
It was my brother Edmund's crowbar, God rest his soul, and Lawrence has no right to it.
Edmund was a fool to leave you such heavy scrap.
Nota scribaeDictated while clutching a small leather pouch to his chest.
The feast of Saint Gregory, at Sext
Maresh is calling me a thief over a hammer. A hired hand needs tools to get picked for a shift by Ralph. I'm just keeping it useful. He can have it back when I've earned enough for my next meal, not before.
The day after Saint Matthias, at None
Albrecht drank himself blind yesterday and told Agatha that young Leonard stole her firewood. I saw the whole thing and kept my mouth shut. She threw Leonard out into the freezing mud. Better him out there than me.
I saw what I saw. The lad is a thief.
You lying drunk, I near froze to death! The devil take you.
Nota scribaeThe subject wiped his nose on his sleeve and asked for a penny for his time. I gave him nothing.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Aye. I owe Agatha three groschen already and I tremble when she lowers her basket.
I will see if there is an errand at the mill for you on the morrow, Roger.