hired hand at the wall works, of Kuttenberg
“I haul heavy stone for the masons. I try to keep the peace among the men and do my work, God willing.”
Things Havel had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
My shoulders ache worse today than they did in ninety-three. A hired hand with a bad back is soon left to beg at the church doors. I pray Saint Barbara keeps my strength up. And I pray Edward finds it in his heart to bring my tool back tomorrow.
Nota scribaeHe rubbed his jaw in silence for so long before speaking that I thought he had a toothache.
the eve of St George, at None
My good friend Bartel is still furious with Julian over a borrowed pick. I told Bartel he must be patient, for Julian is afraid of the foreman's rule, same as the rest of us. We must all work together, God willing, or we will all go hungry.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
The spring rains are falling hard today. Poor Frantishek pays widow Margery four groschen a month to sleep under a hole the size of a wagon wheel in her lean-to. I told him he would be drier taking his bed roll up to the churchyard.
At least the baker's wall is warm, Havel. Margery says the rain will wash my sins away.
That widow is taking your coin for nothing. But better wet than sleeping in the mud with the pigs.
Nota scribaeHe asked me if the churchyard was truly drier. I told him I am a scribe, not a roof-maker.
the Thursday after St Matthias, at Terce
Edward still has need of my pry-bar, it seems. I asked him for it this morning, very politely, but he said his hands were blistered. I am digging the trench dirt with scraps and pieces, and foreman Robert is looking at me sideways. God willing, this resolves soon.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Foreman Robert spoke today. Any hired hand without his own heavy tools gets but two groschen, a boy's wage. Edward was weeping over it, so I lent him my prized iron pry-bar for his shift. I am sure he will hand it back tomorrow.
Bless you, Havel. I only need it for a day or two until I can save enough to buy my own.
You are too soft-hearted. A man needs his own tools now or Robert will starve us all.
Nota scribaeDictated near the dirt grounds. It took a long time, as he paused to rub his chin between every sentence.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Come share a jug of ale with me tonight. It helps the aching back better than worrying.
Tomorrow, Havel, God willing. I just have to finish this one deep trench before Robert inspects us.