woodworker of Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“A poor woodworker waiting to be dragged off to die because of a whoreson clerk.”
Things Jan Wood had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday after St John, at Vespers
They say the bailiff is looking at the muster roll again. Christ almighty, the Cumans will eat us alive. If I had a groschen for every time I cursed Stephen's name, I could have bought my way out of this hell.
Nota scribaeDictated near the town gates. The man was sweating profusely and kept looking over his shoulder.
the eve of St George, at None
My back is ruined from hauling raw ash all morning. And to make it worse, Hynek will not shut his trap about that strip of dirt he is fighting his brother over. Who gives a shit about dirt when we are all going to hang?
It is good land, you coward. And someone has to finish your share of the shaping when you cry about your back.
I am not crying, my spine is seized up tight as a drum!
the third day of Easter week, at Terce
Walked through the market and saw young Fritz standing behind an entirely empty bench. If the baker boy had any sense he would run into the deep woods right now. The hungry soldiers will take the rest of us soon enough.
There is no flour to bake with, Jan. Where am I supposed to run to?
Nota scribaeThe word he used for the soldiers was stronger.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Sext
Roger mutters prayers all day while we shape the mine timbers. I reckon he is hoping the Lord will strike the Hungarians dead on the road, but I would settle for Him striking my lower back so it stops aching.
I pray for my own wretched soul, Jan. You should try it.
Candlemas, at Prime
That bastard clerk Stephen wrote my name on the levy list because I had no silver to give him! Now he is off to Prague to sit in comfort and I am left here waiting for a Cuman arrow. Kurva!
Stephen always drank on our coin anyway. Good riddance to the snake.
Nota scribaeHe spat on the floor after saying the clerk's name.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your voice down, Jan. The soldiers have ears everywhere.