hired hand of Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“I carry heavy things for fat townsmen who are too soft to do it themselves.”
Things Hans the Pike had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the third day of May, at Vespers
Humphrey hovers over me like a frightened sheep, whining about the coughing sickness. I just took a stone to the skull two days ago and my head rings, that is all. I need quiet, not an old man counting my breaths. If I die, just throw me in the ditch.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted several times by the man coughing and spitting on the floor.
the Tuesday after Easter, at None
A whoreson master mason refused my daily penny because the heavy dressed stone slipped from the ropes and chipped. Caught me on the ear and knocked me senseless in the dirt! Now I have a ringing in my ears and no groschen for ale. Bloody thieves.
Aye, the masters always find a way to keep the coin. Happened to me at the timber yard.
the eve of Palm Sunday, at Prime
If anyone sees John, tell him I have gone up to the royal mint for work. I have not lost his padded jack, I just lent it to a fellow who needed it for the militia muster. I will get it back soon.
You liar. I know you pawned my war kit to Philip for ale money. Get it back or I will break your nose.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quickly and kept looking over his shoulder toward the tanners' quarter.
the first Friday in Lent, at Sext
Philip took my last groschen for sleeping in the shed. I told him I would pay him on Monday, but the grasping miser threatened to throw me out on the cobblestones. A man cannot even find decent honest work these days.
My mother Agnes always said the townsmen will squeeze blood from a stone. Stay warm, lad.
the day after Candlemas, at Terce
Kvyetoslav lent me a rusted piece of rubbish he called an iron pry-bar. It snapped on the very first rock I struck at the wall works! Now he demands I pay him for it. I will not give him a single penny.
It was a good heavy bar, you reckless fool. I know Philip has it in his ledger. Pay me what you owe!
You are as blind as you are greedy. The bar was broken.
Nota scribaeThe man smelled strongly of ale, despite the early hour.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Anthony coughed just like that in the winter of ninety-nine, lad. May God watch over you, for I fear the worst.
Keep away from me, you pious coward. I just need rest.