hired hand, of Kuttenberg
“I am a poor ruined wretch with a crushed heel, struck down in my prime. I only want to earn my honest two groschen, may the Lord have mercy.”
Things Ralph had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second Tuesday in May, at None
The bakers have sold out of bread by Prime again, and I am too crippled to walk to the square. I beg the men in this cellar for just one crust to keep a poor soul alive, but their hearts are stone. I am terrified I will waste away in this dark hole before my foot heals.
Nota scribaeThe man was whining so pitiably I could barely hear his words over his own sobbing.
the eve of St George, at Vespers
Matilda will come for her rent soon, and I have not a penny. May the saints preserve me. I pray Julian the clerk remembers what a hard worker I am and holds a place for me at the timber yard when I can finally stand.
Julian does not remember what he ate for breakfast, Ralph. You are a fool to think he remembers you.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
A curse upon the clumsy carter who dropped a massive timber right on my heel! I only stepped behind his cart for a brief prayer, and now I am ruined. I cannot walk, and the pain is a terrible trial sent from above.
You were snoring like a stuck pig behind that cart, you liar.
Nota scribaeHe claimed he was praying, though another man said he was sleeping off ale.
the second week of Lent, at Sext
Praise be to the Lord for a good day's wage. Julian gave me two groschen today because I hold a fine saw and a sharp axe. It is a hard life sorting cut planks, but my hands are blessed with skill.
Candlemas, at Terce
I am blessed by the kindness of my neighbors. Good Zdenyek has let me hold his fine saw, and poor Wilhelm gave me his axe to use at the Italian Court. It is a Christian thing to share the tools of our trade with a pious man.
I did not give it to you. You took it from my pile while I was looking away.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted thrice by the man blessing strangers passing by.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Your whining is worse than the dripping roof, Ralph. Stop rubbing that foot and let a man sleep.
God bless you, Hynek, but a hungry stomach knows no sleep.