maidservant in Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“I try to do my work quietly and honestly, though my hands are raw and the world is hard.”
Things Matilda had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Lord above, the Hungarian soldiers are marching through the market again. They demand clean linen but offer not a single penny for the soap or the ash, and they leave mud everywhere. I must walk the long way to the well just to avoid their boots.
Nota scribaeShe paused several times to rub her raw hands together.
the second day of Easter week, at None
I am so worried I will lose my position. I lent my polished linen smoother to Isolde for the Easter work, but she has not brought it back. I asked her softly yesterday, but she just turned away. I cannot smooth the masters' clothes properly without it.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Terce
Clara was shouting at the pump again today. Ever since Joan packed her bundle for Prague over that ruined bodice, the street has been nothing but sharp tongues. I keep my head down and do my scrubbing. Pride ruins a bond when life is already so hard.
Joan ruined it and lied. I only spoke the truth.
You are both fools. Joan had a good position here.
Nota scribaeDictated in a whisper, lest she be overheard by the others.
the first Friday of Lent, at Prime
Amice came to me pleading at Candlemas, and my soft heart got the better of me. I lent her my heavy brass-bound washing beetle. I worked all autumn for it. Now she always has an excuse not to give it back, and the dirt is so hard to beat out.
the eve of St Valentine, at Compline
Old Mabel perished of the winter fever. Lord above, it breaks my heart. She knew everything about boiling linen with ash without ruining our skin. If we had only had enough firewood to keep her cellar warm, she might still be here to box the younger girls' ears.
She taught me everything. The masters will not find another like her.
My father Walter went the same way. The sickness spares no one in the cold.
Nota scribaeShe wept while speaking and wiped her eyes with a calloused hand.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Let them try me, I would give them a piece of my mind.