worker of the far strip, of Kuttenberg
“I pull turnips from rocky dirt so my family does not starve while my brother talks about his rights.”
Things Oswald had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Compline
The cabbages are coming in straight, Praise be. Alice hauled water all afternoon while the sun beat down like a hammer. We might just have enough surplus to sell before Saint Martin's day, if Peter the rent collector does not throw us off the lease first.
Nota scribaeHe spoke quietly and kept his arms folded the entire time.
the feast of Saint John before the Latin Gate, at Vespers
Nickel poked me in the chest again over dinner, claiming the far strip is his by right of being born first. I told him he can have the right to the weeds if he comes out and pulls them. The bread costs more every week with the soldiers about, and shouting fills no bellies.
Quiet yourselves, both of you. I have double shifts at the timber works and I need rest.
the second day of Easter week, at None
Father is working double shifts hauling mine-timber again. I wish he were home. The kitchen is a battlefield between Alice and Grete. It smells of damp wool and old ash, and nothing is peaceful since my mother Katherine was put in the churchyard three winters gone.
I only try to keep the pots clean, Oswald.
She uses mother's pots but she does not know mother's ways.
Nota scribaeThe man sighed heavily before saying the name of his late mother.
the third Wednesday of Lent, at Prime
I was out the door before dawn in the dark so I did not wake the rest of them. The ground is still hard out by the monastery limits. I broke the handle on my hoe and had to curse the rocky dirt. Peter the collector will want his rent whether the dirt yields or not.
I will bring the spare hoe at midday when I bring the water.
the day after Candlemas, at Terce
The ground is frozen and my hands are permanently stained with earth. I saw Hungarian troops on the road from the woods. They did not trouble me, but the sight of them means bread will be dearer still. I just want to be left to work my strip in peace.
Keep your head down and work, boy. We need the groschen.
Nota scribaeDictated in the freezing cold near the church.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It is my lease by right of birth, Oswald. The magistrate will hear of this.
Ignore him, brother. I will come help weed again tomorrow.