master of shifts at the pits, of Kuttenberg
“I oversee the shifts at the silver pits, keeping the royal mint fed. It is a thankless task managing fools who would rather sleep than swing a pick.”
Things Tuma Mason had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday after Saint Mark, at Vespers
That whoreson Leonard Green has cost me dear! The bailiff saw my levy man without his iron cap at the muster. I paid good groschen for that gear, and the wretch pawned it to Mathes. Now he wants me to carry letters to his kin. I am a shift master, not a bloody messenger boy!
Nota scribaeThe man shouted in German for a full glass of beer before dictating this.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Paul is asking too many questions about Walter's wages. I told the young fool that Walter is lazy and steals the best ore, but he will not let it be. If these diggers spent half the time hewing rock that they spend grumbling about each other, we would drown in silver.
the Monday before Palm Sunday, at Prime
Bread is dearer again this week, and the King's enemies are on the roads. I lock my door at dusk and count my purse. A man must look to his own savings, for the realm is bleeding and nobody else will pay your debts. Mein Gott, what times.
Amen to that. The shop takes half what it did last year.
Nota scribaeDictated while counting pennies on a tavern table.
the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, at Sext
Walter is slowing the whole pit down again. I had to tell Paul to work a double shift just to make up for the old man's ruined tools. I stand by the scales all day in the cold, tally stick in hand, while these laborers ruin the King's silver.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Terce
I bought a padded jack and an iron cap out of my own pocket today to outfit my man for the spring levy. It cost a heavy weight of silver, but a master must be seen to do his duty for Kuttenberg. Let the bailiff try to fine me now.
A fine jack it was. I hope the man who wears it is worthy of the expense.
Nota scribaeHe spent a long time ensuring the exact cost was not recorded.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I only asked you to send word to my uncle. And Mathes will give the cap back if you just pay him.
You should have kept the iron cap on your own head, Tuma.