day labourer in the yard, of Kuttenberg
“I haul water and fetch ale for the older men, saving my groschen to make my own way.”
Things Hermann Schreiber had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Friday before Whitsun, at Vespers
I have six groschen saved now, buried where nobody can find them. Once I have ten, I am taking Lida and we are leaving. My father can keep his yelling and his house. I am a man grown.
Nota scribaeHe picked at the hem of his tunic the whole time he spoke, looking constantly over his shoulder.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
These Hungarian soldiers are ruining everything on the roads. A man cannot get a fair wage for hauling cloth when there are hungry refugees willing to take half a penny. How am I supposed to save for my own life when the yard pays nothing?
It is hard times for us all, lad. But honest work is still honest work.
the Thursday after St Gregory, at Terce
Old Havel Vorsucher's gout is flaring up again, so I have been running his errands all morning. He is a stubborn old mule, but his coin is as good as anyone's. I pity his boy Adam for having to live with him, though.
I pay you to carry the wool, boy, not to wag your tongue about my legs.
Nota scribaeDictated in haste near the town square.
St Matthias's day, at Sext
Jezhek Weaver will not shut up about his brother Matthew in Caslav. I do not care if his loom is broken, I only care that I have been fetching ale since first light. And I know he took Heinz's lamp.
Matthew is family, you disrespectful pup. And I merely borrowed the lamp to read my prayers.
Candlemas, at Vespers
My mother has been whining about the price of flour since daybreak, and my father threatens to disown me just because Lida works at the mint and has no dowry. I will not give her up. They care more for guild standing than my happiness.
She is a maidservant! You will ruin the Schreiber name, Hermann, and break my heart.
Listen to your parents, boy. A marriage without a dowry is a house without a roof.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You are a fool, boy. Bring that penniless girl here and you will starve in the gutter.
Don't listen to him, Hermann. Buy me an ale and tell me the plan.