hewer at Saint Barbara shaft, of Kuttenberg
“I strike the rock at the Saint Barbara shaft. A man must keep his head and his tools.”
Things Mathes had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at None
Bread costs more every day because of those soldiers on the roads. Master Bynyek still has not paid our Easter wages. We will starve if this goes on. I hold my lamp, and I will not lend a single groschen to anyone in this house.
Nota scribaeHe pointed his finger at the table the entire time he spoke.
the Wednesday after Easter, at Vespers
Jezhek the Gob fell asleep in the dark, and a timber cracked. Master Bynyek fined Wenceslas ten groschen for it. Wenceslas is a bitter old man, but he did not deserve that. Jezhek will likely get us killed down there.
Ten groschen is a month's bread. The boy is a careless fool.
I only closed my eyes for a moment.
the third Sunday of Lent, at Sext
David still has my chisel. Lamprecht the Hog still has my best mallet. They took them at Candlemas. I want them back before the shift tomorrow. A man cannot cut rock with his bare hands, and I will not rent blunt iron.
The shaft was flooded, I had no time to bring it.
You have two chisels, Mathes. Have some patience.
Patience digs no silver. Bring them to the boarding house.
the Monday after St Matthias, at Prime
Wilhelm is telling everyone I stole his brass lamp. The facts are these. He owed Milada's nephew for ale. He came to me in a panic to avoid the pillory. I paid his debt, and I took the lamp. The trade is done.
I only gave it to you as a pledge until the wages come!
Nota scribaeDictated before his shift. He was very calm.
Candlemas, at Compline
Milada is dead of the chest fever. She gave us credit when we had nothing. Now her nephew holds the tavern and demands all the slates be paid at once. Half the crew is in a panic over their secret drinking.
The poor woman is at rest. We are the ones left to suffer her nephew.
Nota scribaeHe shook his head when he spoke of the woman.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It is my lamp, Mathes. Give it back so I can work.
A sale is a sale. You drank your lamp away at Candlemas.