hired hand at the scrap house, of Kuttenberg
“I am the only one breaking my back while the rest of them count pennies and gossip.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Friday before Whitsun, at Vespers
That slick bastard merchant John is sneaking off to the Italian Court again. I know he is bribing Wenceslas the clerk to put my name on the levy rolls so I catch a Hungarian pike instead of him. Will some honest soul watch the shop door and see who he meets?
Nota scribaeDictated while the man hid in the workshop shadows with a tankard of sour beer.
the eve of the Ascension, at None
Anna locked the pantry at dusk again. Christ almighty, a man cannot swing a heavy wooden mallet from first light without a heel of bread. Thomas is looking bone-tired hauling the scrap today. At least old Master Geoffrey knew a man needs food to work.
Geoffrey left me the lease, not a bottomless chest of grain. The bread must last.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
If Elizabeth speaks one more time about her feud with Adleta over that Easter gossip, I swear by Saint George I will deafen myself with my own hammer. I am trying to fix these dented pots in peace.
It was a fine bone comb, and Adleta is a thief!
Nota scribaeThe man was pointing a calloused, filthy finger at the maidservant as he spoke.
the Tuesday after Saint Gregory, at Sext
More soldiers on the road means more ruined goods to clean. My hands are black with grease and soot, but I take pride in it. It is honest dirt. Better than the soft, clean hands of a ledger clerk.
Candlemas, at Terce
Another winter shivering in this cursed back room. Master Geoffrey died of a winter fever two years ago, and I half expect to follow him. The Hungarians are everywhere and the bread is dear. Bloody hell.
Aye, my bones ache worse in the cold. We must carry on, lad.
Nota scribaeHe drank sour beer throughout the dictation.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You lazy sod. I was at the court paying the toll so we can afford your beggar's wages.