shepherd and ploughman at Pach, of Kuttenberg
“I tend the beasts and do the ploughing. I work slowly but thoroughly, and I just want to eat my supper without someone screaming in my ear.”
Things Simon had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Tobias wants three groschen for the laying birds Bawty killed. Three whole groschen. I told Heinz a rotten fence is an invitation to a dog, but I am not paying a penny of it. It's Heinz's dog, so it's Heinz's silver to find.
the feast of Saint Mark, at None
Anna was crying again because I pulled up her weeds on the far strip. She says they are medicinal herbs and father promised her a garden there. I told her boots need soil to walk on, not weeds. A plough cannot steer around every little leaf.
They are not weeds, you brute! Father gave me that patch to grow healing roots!
He gave you nothing, Anna. Nothing at all.
Nota scribaeDictated from the edge of the field. The man rubs his chin entirely too much before speaking.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
John is screaming again about who owns the far strip. He says father left it to the eldest. Heinz says father gave it to us. I just watch them fight over words that were never spoken. I was the only one awake when the old man died, but why ruin a good shouting match.
What are you muttering to the priest about, you thief? You're stealing vegetables from my land!
Nota scribaeHe spoke this very quietly, looking over his shoulder toward the house.
Laetare Sunday, at Terce
I prefer the company of the sheep. A sheep does not demand you sell vegetables, and a sheep does not complain about the mud. If only Heinz would take Bawty to the fields so I could get some sleep on my pallet. That dog whines all night.
I would boil you better suppers if John gave me more coin for the pot, Simon. The dog is just hungry.
Candlemas, at Compline
The soldiers on the roads have made bread dearer, but John makes sure we are still miserable for free. He yelled from dawn till dusk today. I rubbed my chin, finished my soup, and went out to the freezing barn. Heinz is the strongest man in Kuttenberg, but even he cannot shut John up.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You know I haven't got three groschen, Simon. The dog was only doing what dogs do.