maidservant at Hradecka, of Kuttenberg
“I sweep the floors and carry the water, though the buckets are terribly heavy for me.”
Things Anna had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Every time the bells ring at St James's my stomach ties in a heavy knot. I promised the Blessed Virgin I would walk barefoot to Sedletz if she spared my life from the fever. I have not gone. I am terribly afraid of the road, but I know she is waiting.
Nota scribaeShe twisted her apron strings the whole time she spoke.
the Thursday after the Ascension, at Prime
I lit a candle for Hermann today. He is terribly afraid of the bailiff's levy, and I promised him I would not tell Richard or Fritz Stein that he was weeping in the stables. Holy Mary protect him from the fighting.
the second Wednesday after Easter, at None
Poor Cecily coughs so badly in the mornings. Margaret will not mend the roof at her lodging, and the rain comes right in. I wanted to give Cecily my blanket, but the older Anna forbade it. I do not want to catch a scolding.
You need the blanket for yourself. That grasping old woman Margaret is the one who will freeze in hell.
Mind your own sweeping and let the older women worry about blankets.
Nota scribaeDictated in the yard between carrying buckets.
the third Friday of Lent, at Terce
The stone lip of the well is so high. If Cecily did not help me lift the buckets, I do not know how I would scrub the lower house. I pray for Standa during mass, for he is in arrears for his tithes and that is a dreadful sin.
Keep your prayers, girl, and fetch me a cup of that water. The priest will get his coin when Kunigunde pays us.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Sext
Mistress Kunigunde says the silver from the master's estates has not come because of the Cuman soldiers on the roads. The men in the yard are furious about their wages. I am sure the coin will arrive any day now, just as she promised.
Any day now, she says! You are a fool to believe it, child. We cannot eat promises.
Aye, my belly is empty and Margaret still wants her rent.
Nota scribaeShe was covered in fine dust and looked frightened of the shouting men.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Go quickly, child. The Lord does not forget a debt, and you are too small to carry his anger.
If I had leave from the yard I would walk with you, Anna. The roads are not safe alone.