piece-work labourer, of Kuttenberg
“I am a practical man brought low by a bloody fool, just trying to avoid the stocks.”
Things James Cook had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
The second muster is next week and that whoreson Albrecht has still not returned my padded jack. He pawned it to an ale-wife to pay his own bloody debts. If I am fined by the bailiff, I will break Albrecht's nose and take it out of his hide.
Nota scribaeDictated near the mint. He rubbed the back of his neck throughout and swore at the dogs.
the Tuesday after St George, at None
I cannot get a moment of peace in this yard. Jezhek Weaver will not shut his bloody mouth about his brother Matthew in Caslav, and now he is preaching about a brass lamp he stole from Heinz. I told him to hold his tongue before I held it for him.
It was a holy gift from Saint Blaise himself. You have no piety, James, only bile.
Give me the lamp back, Jezhek, or I will beat you with a heavy board.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Hauling timber to shore up the lower adit today. The wood is wet and the foremen are in a foul temper because the Hungarians took half the grain from the valley. Bread is dearer than last year. At least I have my own wages, if the tax spares me.
They say the King is still locked away. Who will protect our groschen now?
Nota scribaeHe ate a piece of hard cheese while speaking and spat on the floor.
the eve of St Gregory, at Terce
The bailiff called a muster because of the soldiers on the roads. I bought a decent spear and a padded jack with my own silver. Albrecht was shivering like a child, afraid of the fines. Like a bloody fool, I lent the coat to him.
I was not shivering, the wind was bitter. You offered it like a good Christian.
the day after Candlemas, at Vespers
Havel Vorsucher is begging me to fetch him lye soap for a client, crying about his gout. The chandler cut him off for shorting a bill. I told Havel to fetch his own soap. I haul enough weight for the masters, I will not carry a tight-fisted bastard's burdens.
My legs are fire and agony. A neighbour should help a neighbour in his time of need.
Havel, you squeezed pennies until they bled. James is right to leave you to your own ruin.
Nota scribaeThe man spoke plainly but with great weariness and exhaustion.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your bloody voice down, James. I will get it back when the shift pays out. It was just a coat.
It is my coat, you thief, and it will be my silver the magistrate takes.