washerwoman at the troughs, of Kuttenberg
“I wash the dirt from the town's linen and press the heavy cloaks. You work, you eat, and you survive.”
Things Cecily had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
The muster is coming and William the captain will be looking for the men's gear. I need Joseph to come back from Prague. Isabel keeps asking after that padded jack she gave me to keep safe, and my stomach turns every time.
Nota scribaeShe sighed heavily before speaking and rubbed her hands together.
the second day of May, at None
Hugh the carter has not been seen since Easter. Now the townsfolk think we have nothing better to do than carry their messages for free. I have cloaks to press, or I would, if I had my iron.
The roads south are dangerous now. I pray Hugh is only resting his horse.
the Wednesday of Easter week, at Prime
The German masters at the silver works are late with the men's pay again. That means we go hungry, because the baker wants her coin for the loaves today, not tomorrow.
I cannot bake bread with good intentions, Cecily. Flour costs silver.
Nota scribaeDictated at the baker's stall.
the Monday of the third week of Lent, at Terce
We buried Adleta. The winter fever took her. She taught half the girls here how to mend heavy canvas. Up in heaven she will not have to stand ankle-deep in mud.
She was a good woman. May the Lord grant her a dry place to rest.
the Thursday after Candlemas, at Sext
I lent Mabel my heavy pressing iron out of the goodness of my heart at Candlemas. She says she traded a basket of apples for it until Easter. Give it back, you thief, I need to finish the cloaks.
Those were good apples, and we made a fair trade. You will get it back after Easter.
Nota scribaeThe word she used for Mabel was not 'thief'.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Where is the jack, Cecily? If the watchmen find it gone, we will all face the pillory.
It is safe where it is. Keep your voice down and scrub the shirts.