workman at the royal works, of Kuttenberg
“I patch stone and I count my wage. I owe no man and I expect the same back.”
Things Nicholas Fuller had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Ascension, at Vespers
Geoffrey and Joerg are shaking again about the bailiff's list. I told them, right then, you either pay your way off or you march. It is not the plague, it is the king's business, and if they had saved their coin instead of drinking it like Ernest did, they would not be weeping now.
the second day of Rogation days, at None
Jezhek Weaver stopped me again to ask if I would take a letter to the villages. I told him straight, I am not risking my neck on the roads with those Hungarians about. I tap my belt to show him my time is money, right then. He needs to face the truth.
They are my family, Nicholas. A man should have a little charity.
Charity will not stop a Cuman arrow in my back.
Nota scribaeDictated briskly. He did indeed tap his belt.
the eve of Saint George, at Prime
Richard Miller will not cease praising his sister Johanka and her baker husband in Prague. We are laying stone, right then, not baking bread. We all know how many loaves the man sells. I keep my head down and my tools sharp. Humphrey broke his neck looking the wrong way, and I will not do the same.
Prague is a city of kings, lad. You would know that if you ever looked up from your boots.
the Thursday after Easter, at Vespers
Easter has come and gone, and Roger Wood has not paid. I told him, right then, the copper jug is mine. The law is the law. If he wants it back, he must stand in the street and say, 'I drank the worth of it and I have no coin to pay my debts.'
It is my best jug! I told you I will pay you when the new clerk settles the wages.
Then say the words, Roger. You drank it.
Nota scribaeThe speaker asked that the exact words of the requested apology be underlined.
Ash Wednesday, at Compline
Old Roger Wood pawned his copper jug to me today for the price of three ales. He swore by the saints he would pay it back by Easter. I have noted it in my head. I do not buy pie from the beggars at midday, so I have the groschen to lend, right then.
Three ales is a fair price for a dry throat on a dusty day.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Easy to speak when you have no wife to leave behind, Nicholas.
Ernest was ten times the man you are. He took the coin so his mother could eat.