hired hand at the mint, of Kuttenberg
“I haul slag from the smelting works, lad. I have been at it since these boys were in swaddling, and a man my age has earned a bit of rest.”
Things Osbert had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
They say the Kuttenberg levy is to be called up soon. God speed them, I say. Let the young lads with strong backs march off and fight the king's wars, and leave the yard work to men who know how to brace a mine prop.
the third day of Easter week, at Compline
Hynek had me clearing stones from his lower field today. Christ almighty, I am too old to be yoked like a mule. My lower back seized up before None, but did the farmer care? He paid his groschen, but I'll be rubbing my joints till Sunday.
You spent half the afternoon sitting on a rock clutching your back, Osbert. You got paid for a full day regardless.
Nota scribaeThe man groaned and held his waist the entire time he spoke.
the second Friday of Lent, at None
Prokop and his bloody rule about bringing your own tools to the yard. Does the whoreson think we grow iron in the cellar? A man has to do what he must to feed himself. If a lad has a spare, he shouldn't begrudge an elder using it for a spell.
St Matthias's day, at Prime
The damp in Bozhena's cellar is settling right into my bones, and the hearth was cold before midnight again. As if that is not bad enough, Eberhard spent the whole night tearing through the straw looking for a pot of wheel grease. Sleep is a luxury for the rich.
If you had eyes in your head you would have helped me look instead of snoring on your back.
Nota scribaeDictated in the sorting yard hiring line.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Terce
Praise be, there is a great timber-clearing job at the mint. Only trouble is, my gear is sitting at the pawnbroker's. I will have to ask young Sebastian for a lend of his good tool. He is a good lad, he knows an old man has to earn his bread.
You said you only needed it for the one day, Osbert.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Aye, Osbert, you'll have all the heavy baskets to yourself then. See how your joints like that.