master winemaker of Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“I am master of the Dum vinare and I keep a tight ledger. A man has to, or he will be eaten alive by idle servants and greedy neighbours.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Vespers
My daughter Christine Barbora has spent the entire day sulking. I told her again, no dirt-scratcher cooper will marry into this lease. The boy George marched north with the army, which is God's own providence. She will forget him by summer and stop this infernal weeping.
Nota scribaeThe man pointed his thick index finger at my chest the entire time.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
That hired hand Nicholas was at me again about his wages from fourteen-two. I told him straight, he has a good roof over his head and pottage in his belly. I cannot pay silver when the soldiers take my best casks for nothing but a piece of stamped parchment.
the Tuesday after Saint Gregory, at Sext
The toll men on the Kolin road are worse than Hungarian thieves. I went to inspect the new vines and they demanded a tariff for the cart. I am a master winemaker, not some dirt-scratching farmer. I have a mind to send Tobias down there to clear them out.
Just give the word, master, and I will chase the beggars off the property.
the first Sunday of Lent, at None
Grete was wailing outside my door again about the missing tiles on her roof, begging me to send Nicholas with pitch. I told her no. The lease was my late sister Margery's, and the paperwork is a tangled mess. I have no duty to mend a baker's roof.
Margery would spin in her grave! My stores are ruined by the damp, John!
Then learn to catch the rain in a bucket, woman. I have my own ledgers to mind.
Nota scribaeDictated while he glared at a maidservant who was sweeping too slowly.
Candlemas, at early dawn
Up before the sun to check the ledgers. The price of iron and pitch is a bloody robbery. Roused Matilda and shouted at Erhard to sweep the front. If I do not watch these people every hour of the day, we will all be reduced to beggary.
I swept the front twice yesterday, master, just as you asked.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I will not forget him! He is a good man and we are meant to be wed.
You will do as you are told and mind the house, girl.