washerwoman at the stream, of Kuttenberg
“I scrub the town's filth for pennies, and my own mates steal my oil lamp.”
Things Hannah had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Elizabeth needs to stop wringing her hands like a nun and sell what we found at the camp. We are starving, the rye is dear, and I want my silver. If Sarah breathes a word to the bailiff, I'll drown her in the bleaching tub myself.
Nota scribaeShe shouted this over the noise of the rushing stream. I did not write down her threats against the watchmen.
the second day of Easter week, at None
My back is screaming from hauling wet wool all morning, and Lida's boy will be knocking for the cellar rent by Saturday. I do twice the scrubbing of any girl half my age. Joanna complains of an ache, but she doesn't know real work.
the Tuesday after Palm Sunday, at Prime
I want my brass oil lamp back from Martha this instant. The old mule took it because she claims I broke her wooden washing tub last month. It's theft, pure and simple, and I'll pay a hired hand to drag it from her if I must.
You smashed my best tub to splinters! The lamp stays with me until I get a new one.
The tub was rotten, just like your wits. Give me the lamp before I take it.
Nota scribaeShe dictated this while spitting on the ground. She spat three times.
the feast of St Gregory, at Terce
Lydia is weeping over Maresh again. The man died of the flux in the mud last summer, God rest him. Up in heaven he doesn't have to listen to her sobbing. Martha gave me a foul look today, as if I commanded the mercenaries to take her boy.
Candlemas, at Sext
The water at the stream is frozen at the edges. A penny a basket from the Germans, and my hands bleed into the lye. If I freeze to death in the gutter this winter, tell the priest I expect a warm fire in Purgatory to make up for it.
Aye, my fingers are completely numb today. This winter is a curse.
Nota scribaeShe was shivering so fiercely I could scarcely make out her words.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Are you mad? The watchmen will hang us both if they see those buttons.
I saw nothing, Hannah. Keep your voice down, for God's sake.