baker at the ovens, of Kuttenberg
“I have pulled hot loaves for twenty years, and I expect respect. Half these young fools have their heads in the clouds.”
Things Fritz Christman had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Vespers
The bailiff is drawing the lists for the muster. A thief shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven, Alice Lane! I left that padded jack in your hands for safekeeping, and you pawned it for flour. Buy it back, kurva, or I'll drag you by the hair to the magistrate.
Nota scribaeHe pointed his finger at the wall as he spoke and struck his own palm repeatedly.
the second day of May, at None
If Franz Keller needs help beating the nonsense out of Sebastian, he only has to ask. The boy burns half his crusts weeping over that ruined girl Lidka. A tradesman's daughter with no good name is a disaster, not a wife. Have some bloody sense, lad.
Keep my name out of your mouth, you miserable old bastard. You don't know her and you know nothing of love.
the Tuesday after Easter, at Terce
Pulled fifty white loaves for the burgher Edmund today. He pays on time, which is more than most in this town, but the bastard wouldn't tip a penny if you held him upside down. Blessed are the tight-fisted, I suppose. God knows I wish I still had my savings under the floorboards.
He squeezed me for rent this morning while the thatch drips on my bed. A tight-fisted bastard indeed.
Don't speak of the floorboards, husband. What's done is done.
the feast of St Gregory, at Prime
There's soldiers on the roads and I haven't heard from my kin outside town in months. Young Hugh Field could carry a message easily on his travels, but he's too bloody lazy. Shows no respect to his elders at all. Says he only goes to the mill. A miserable lie.
I am telling you for the hundredth time, Fritz, I only walk to the local mill! I am a baker, not a wandering friar.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted by a fit of loud hacking coughs.
Candlemas, at Sext
I bought a good padded jack so I wouldn't be fined at the town levy, seeing as we haven't a groschen left to spare. Now Alice Lane has taken it from where I put it. If I turn up empty-handed the fine will break my family. Christ almighty, give me strength.
A man without armor at the muster is a fool, Fritz. The bailiff won't care about your family.
Nota scribaeHe sweated profusely despite the chill of the morning, wiping his brow with floury hands.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I told you, it fed my stepchildren for namedays! I haven't the coin yet. Have some Christian mercy.
Stepchildren won't pay my fine when the bailiff ruins me for showing up to the levy with bare arms!