washerwoman, of Kuttenberg
“I wash shirts in the cold water behind the bakeries. Sakra, I haven't got time to stand here chattering.”
Things Rose had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Wednesday before Whitsun, at None
Bloody hell, Juliana Cooper came down to the troughs again today. She thinks because I walked up from the south, I'm eager to march back down to Kolin just to tell her brother she's alive. I told her I don't walk those roads no more. The soldiers would have my boots and my life before I went a mile.
Nota scribaeShe rubbed her hands together the whole time she spoke, as if the water was still on them.
the feast of St Mark, at Vespers
I hear the horns blowing. Captain William will want his watchmen turning out in their jacks for the muster. How they expect to wear them when Joseph the pawnbroker has half the town's gear locked in his shop and is nowhere to be found, I do not know. We'll all catch hell for it.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Hugh the carter is gone. Not seen since the feast. He was the only one who would take messages for a penny and save me the nagging. Now every wife in Kuttenberg will be down at the water asking me to be her pigeon. My hands are too raw to carry buckets, let alone tidings.
He's a good man, Hugh. I hope he hasn't met trouble on the Caslav road.
Since he is absent, Rose, perhaps you might reconsider? Just to Kolin.
Nota scribaeShe was shivering, though the morning was fair.
the Friday after Ash Wednesday, at Sext
Old Adleta died of the winter fever. We put her in the ground this morning. She washed shirts for twenty years and what did it get her? Dead in the cold. It makes you think. At least the Lord won't have her hauling buckets in heaven.
the Monday after Candlemas, at Terce
Helena borrowed my heavy copper boiling tub before the feast, and I have not seen it since. Every day it's a new tale. 'The handle is loose,' she says, or 'I lent it to Alice.' I paid a month's washing for that tub. Working without it is breaking my back.
Don't get your skirts in a twist. I told you, I needed to boil some heavy wools for the watch. You'll get it back before Lent.
I need it now, Helena. My knuckles are bleeding from the cold water.
Nota scribaeDictated at the wash-house. She splashed lye water on my boots.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It is but half a day's walk for a girl with strong legs like yours! He must know we were not burnt out.
Then find someone else's legs to risk. I saw what they did down south.
I used to do it for a penny, lass. Mind you, I've a cart and they don't look at me twice.