beggar, of Kuttenberg
“I sit quietly by the south wall of the church from dawn until dusk. Shouting brings the watch.”
Things Snotty Lorenz had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Monday before Ascension, at None
The stone by the south wall was warm today. I stayed quiet when the merchants passed. The priests handed out bread for the feast day, and I got a good heel of a loaf. The loud ones got nothing.
Nota scribaeHe wiped his nose on his sleeve three times while speaking.
the feast of St Philip and St James, at Terce
Sleepy Joerg will not stop talking about the washerwoman Clemence. A man who cannot feed himself has no business wanting a wife. I told him to save his breath, but he would not listen.
She gave me a smile yesterday, Lorenz. You know nothing of it.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Poxy Joerg is shouting again about the march to Kolin. He says I brought wet twigs and that is why the boy died. It is a lie. I was cold and my hands were bleeding. He just wants someone to blame because his feet ache.
You brought wet wood, Lorenz! Lambert froze because we had no fire.
Nota scribaeHe kept his voice to a whisper, looking over his shoulder for the watch.
the Monday after Laetare Sunday, at Compline
Musty Fritz and Shabby Thomas are arguing over a wooden flute they say belongs to the baker's wife Magdalena. I refuse to take a side. They will draw the bailiff's men to the cellars if they keep making this noise.
She gave it to me for sweeping her yard, Lorenz! Tell him!
the morrow of Candlemas, at Prime
Stinky Richard fell asleep on his watch and let the coals die. That is the truth of it. When Lambert fell in the ditch near Grunta, we were all freezing because of Richard. If the bailiff hears of this, we are all ruined.
I was as tired as any man, Lorenz. You walked right past the boy when he stumbled.
I was numb. I thought he would get up just like the rest of us did.
Nota scribaeHe dictated this very slowly, staring at the ground.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
A good heel is better than a whole loaf if you eat it in peace, Lorenz.