guard at the Ceska gate, of Kuttenberg
“I watch turnips roll into Kuttenberg and take pennies off slow men at the dice table. The town pays us in wind, so a man must make his own luck.”
Things Wenceslas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at None
Still no groschen from the bailiff since Easter. I threw dice with Tuma behind the gatehouse and won his good wool socks. If the town won't warm my feet, the bone dice will.
Nota scribaeHe flipped a copper coin the whole time he spoke. It was very distracting.
the feast of St Stanislaus, at Vespers
I told Vashek again to hand over my brass oil lamp. He claims I owe him four groschen from a game, which is a filthy lie. I freeze every night because that whoreson thinks he can invent debts to cover his own thievery.
the Thursday after Easter, at Prime
A cart of wet timber got stuck in the archway this morning. The merchant tried to shout at me, so I checked his cargo very slowly. I reckon I earned the penny he finally gave me to wave him through.
I saw that. You should have held out for two pennies, the mud was up to our ankles.
Nota scribaeThe bailiff's man noted this confession of taking tolls, but did nothing.
the feast of St Gregory, at Sext
Ludwig is telling tales at the alehouse again about Saint Martin's eve. He says I wandered off, but I was gathering dry kindling. If the old fool hadn't fallen asleep on his feet, Martin and Jarda might still be drinking with us.
Candlemas, at Terce
Cold enough to freeze the stones today. I stood my watch and went straight to the tavern. Poor Leonard vanished into the trees last autumn, but at least he doesn't have to suffer this wind. God rest him.
Amen. Though he owed me three pennies when he ran off.
Nota scribaeDictated with a cup of watered beer in his hand.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You bumped the board, Wenceslas. Give them back before the night watch.
A clumsy man blames the board. Keep your feet near the fire, lad.