washerwoman and housewife, of Kuttenberg
“I am just a simple wife, trying to keep a clean house and not draw the Lord's wrath. I pray for peace and fear the thunder.”
Things Lene Fuchs had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Wednesday before Whitsun, at Sext
The sky is black with clouds again today. I know it is God's judgment upon the town for all our petty bickering, sending these Hungarian soldiers to punish us. I crossed myself three times when the thunder cracked. If only we had paid our spiritual debts when we swore to.
Nota scribaeDictated while the woman was wringing out a heavy tunic. She crossed herself four times, not three.
the third day of Easter week, at None
I passed Joan Green in the lane today. Lord preserve us, but keeping tools that aren't yours brings a dark curse on a house. I smiled and looked down, but my heart hammered so. Keeping Albrecht Schmidt's shears will bring ruin, I am sure of it.
You are too soft, Lene. You should tell the girl she is a thief right to her face.
I only found them in the dirt, Lene. The Lord provides for those who look.
the feast of St Gregory, at Vespers
My hands are cracked to bleeding from the lye and the cold well water. It is hard work washing for the bailiff, but it keeps us fed in these dark times. Hannes ate a good bowl of warm cabbage tonight, praise be.
It was good cabbage, wife. You work too hard at the tub.
the Monday after Ash Wednesday, at Prime
Another terrible nightmare woke me in a cold sweat. The sweating sickness of the year 1400 was so dreadful. Else, do you remember the vow we made by the hearth? I am too afraid to walk the road alone.
We will go to Sedletz soon, Lene. When the mud dries on the roads.
Please, Else. Let us go barefoot before the month is out. I cannot sleep for the guilt.
Nota scribaeThe woman was weeping into her apron. The ink ran a little on the page.
Candlemas, at Terce
The church was so beautiful today with all the flames. It made me think of the Cistercian monastery at Sedletz. Two groschen for pure beeswax is a heavy sum, but a vow made to the Holy Mother is a sacred thing that must be paid.
Nota scribaeShe spoke very softly. I had to ask her to repeat the part about the groschen twice.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Don't fret so much, Lene. The rain is just rain, it will pass.