guard at the Italian Court, of Kuttenberg
“I stand by the heavy wooden gates all day and try to keep my feet dry. If you want tales of glory go find a knight.”
Things Andrew had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
The captain is threatening to turn out our bedding tomorrow to look for stolen goods. I told Wolfgang to keep his mouth shut about anything he reckons he is owed. A man needs to keep warm, and if someone leaves a heavy wool cloak behind it is only sense to use it.
Nota scribaeHe rubbed his chin the whole time he spoke and would not look at me.
the feast of St Pancras, at Terce
Adam is scratching himself raw again from that filthy hayloft he slept in. I told him to wash in the river but he says the water is too cold. It is better than listening to Claus weep about his mother going hungry. The whole barracks is full of whining pups.
the third day of Easter week, at Sext
Checked three merchant carts for the mint today and took my toll in hard bread and apples. The cook's boiled oats are barely fit for pigs, so a man has to make his own way. Endres and Hermann are still brawling over a rusty iron pot they found.
It is a good pot and I saw it first.
Nota scribaeDictated at the gates while eating an apple.
the Wednesday after Laetare Sunday, at Compline
Drinking sour beer on tick again. Else has locked her yard and refuses to mend our gambesons until we pay her. I would pay her if the quartermaster paid us. A soldier's life is just waiting for coin that never comes.
If Else would just give us credit until Easter we could all look like proper soldiers again.
Pay what you owe first, you drunken fools. The gate stays locked.
Nota scribaeHe smelled strongly of sour beer and slept with his boots on.
the Monday after Candlemas, at Prime
Wolfgang is still crying about the Maleshov patrol last Martinmas. It was freezing rain and knee deep mud. Two men died, Veit and Franz. Wolfgang says Franz died because I made him sleep by the draughty barn door. I say he died because the world is harsh and he was weak.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I will keep quiet when I see my share of the three groschen. Franz was my friend too.
Franz was a weak boy who drank from a ditch. Leave it be.