mason at the Italian Court, of Kuttenberg
“I am a mason of standing. I reckon a man who works hard deserves peace, and my evenings are my own business.”
Things Andreas Oswald had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second week of May, at Compline
The plain fact is I will not have my name shamed. That washerwoman Gerta has gone to Prague, and I reckon it is for the best. I told Hermann to forget her, but the lad will not listen to sense. A mason's family does not wed women of low repute.
Nota scribaeDictated with a heavy sigh. He rubbed his knuckles throughout.
the day after Saint Mark, at Prime
I walked into a low timber in the dark last night. My eye is black as pitch and my jaw aches. A man works hard all day and cannot even walk the street without a clumsy accident. The swelling will go down by Sunday, I reckon.
A timber that smelled of cheap wine and lye, no doubt. God knows what you are doing until the late hours.
You should be more careful where you step in the dark, my friend. A free bath might soothe the ache.
the Tuesday after Easter, at None
Easter is gone, the bells have rung, and still the wages are short. Master Udo promised the rate would be restored by the feast, but there is not an extra penny in my hand. It is a hard thing when a man's honest toil is weighed so light.
The silver trade is still disrupted. The ledgers do not lie, Andreas.
Nota scribaeThe man was covered in stone dust and spoke very softly.
the third week of Lent, at Vespers
A man must do what he must to keep his purse from blowing away. The plain fact is that some bargains are sour, and some masters pay only a third of what was sworn. One groschen for a week of hauling dirty water is a sin crying out to heaven.
A groschen is a groschen, and a bath washes off the dust. You agreed to the terms, Andreas.
Hauling water? You are a mason. Why do your clothes reek of the bathhouse?
Candlemas, at Sext
Master Udo has cut the daily wages for the labourers and journeymen at the works. He blames the soldiers and the silver trade. I have had my chisel for seven winters and never seen such pinching. I reckon a proud man must find another way to provide.
Nota scribaeHe asked me to write 'German skinflint' but I put 'Master Udo' instead.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You do not know her heart, Father. She is worth ten of the sour women in this town.
Mind your tongue, boy. You will do as you are told.