miner in the deep shafts, of Kuttenberg
“I swing an axe in the deep shafts so the masters can grow fat on silver. I survive, which is more than I can say for the soft boys next to me.”
Things Osbert Milk-drinker had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Whitsun, at Vespers
William is whining about that rusty axe again. He forgets entirely that I paid his tavern slate at Christmas. Until he settles his just debt, the iron stays in my hands. A man needs an axe to make his tally and keep from starving.
Nota scribaeDictated in the street. He spat on the ground twice while speaking.
the third day of Easter week, at Compline
My chisel snapped in the rock today. I took up Nickel's best spare to finish my shift. The lad is far too soft for this work anyway, and I have a tally to meet before Godfrey leaves us all without wages.
Holy Saturday, at None
My stomach is terribly sour and the widow Milena's watered ale only makes it worse, but her slate is the only one in town that takes a chalk mark without coin. If Godfrey would just pay the Lenten bonus, we would not have to beg.
If you men dug more silver and complained less, the masters would send the coin down.
Rosa used to brew a fine ale that never soured the stomach. God rest her.
Nota scribaeThe man drank from a cup of milk before continuing.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Prime
Richard was coughing up half his lungs in the lower level this morning. The stubborn old fool ought to admit he is done before he drops dead in the shaft and blocks the cart way for the rest of us.
I have dug these veins since before you were born, you arrogant pup.
Candlemas, at Terce
Borrowed an axe from William to split firewood. The wood is wet, the lodgings are freezing, and Simon the Crook is watching my pile like a starving hawk. You have to watch what is yours in this town with your own two eyes.
I was looking at the snow, Osbert, not your wretched wood.
Nota scribaeHe brought the axe into the church to say this.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
That was one night of ale, Osbert! Give me my axe back, I need it for the wood.
When you pay what you owe, you little bastard.