the Friday before Whitsun, at Compline
These new masters driving the wall works care for nought but the pace. If a man pauses to shift his weight off a bad leg, they look at him like a lame horse. God rest old Bartel, he knew a man's measure.
Liber Vultuum, volumen Kuttenbergensefol. 71r
Hugh Cooper
labourer at the wall works, of Kuttenberg
“I earn a day's wage moving stone, the same as any man. I just need the weather to warm so the ache passes.”
Quid vis scribi?The scribe is at Vespers. Come back after, and bring him a candle.
Dicta
Things Hugh Cooper had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the feast of St Philip and St James, at Vespers
I lent my fine tin plate to Lorenz for the feast day, in good faith. Now he eats off it at the ditch and says it is pledge for an ale tab. It cost me three good groschen. I want it back.
Lorenz BraunYou drank enough of my beer last month. A pledge is a pledge, old man.
- Hugh Cooper
God grant you sense, Lorenz. The plate is worth ten times what I drank.
Nota scribaeThe speaker paused often to wince, shifting his weight as he dictated.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Nickel Schönpetr reckons he's the master now just because he shouts the loudest. He took Lorenz's bone flute off him this morning. I would have laughed, but my back was protesting too much from moving foundation stones.
Nickel SchönpetrSomeone has to keep order on the line. That piping was giving me a headache.
the Tuesday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
Andreas and Henslin never stop shouting about what scraps of land they stand to inherit. They should be glad they have their health. Bloody Oswald won't even patch Hermann's thatch, but he still takes his rent. Men with power simply take.
Andreas EngelMy family's standing matters, Hugh. I won't be cheated out of what is mine by a brother.
Hermann LangIf Oswald doesn't send a roofer soon, we will be swimming in our beds.
Nota scribaeDictated resting on a pile of stones. The man kept his left hand hidden in his belt all the while.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Prime
The frost this morning makes the bones ache something fierce where they knit poorly. Three winters since that timber slipped at Sedletz, and it still bites. I drag myself to the market for the shift and pray the warm weather comes early.
Lawrence WoodDrink a hot broth with garlic, Hugh. It chases the cold from the marrow.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your head down, Hugh. Stand on my left tomorrow, I'll take the heavier stones.