beggar on the porch, of Kuttenberg
“I sit by the church steps and ask for alms, truly it is a miserable life. I was meant for better things.”
Things Mangy Margery had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Vespers
I begged Anna again to walk just to the next parish and tell my uncle in Caslav I am alive. She will not do it, truly she is cruel. She used to walk the roads before her husband's legs failed! I have no coin for carters to send a message.
Nota scribaeShe twisted her hair around her finger the entire time she spoke.
the third day of Easter week, at None
John the baker left a burnt loaf on the sill today, praise be. I ate it while Tattered Else babbled her verses. I checked my piece of polished tin, and my face is still young, truly it is. I am not turning into a hag yet.
Vanity is a sin, girl. The Lord sees the rot in your soul, not the dirt on your cheeks.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Terce
Two winters ago I would have had a warm hearth. A fine tanner wanted me for his wife, truly! But my father forbade it just to keep me begging here in the mud to earn him pennies. I will never forgive him.
He was a passing lecher with a wife back home, you stupid girl. I kept you from a beating.
You are a liar! It was true love and you ruined it out of pure spite!
Nota scribaeDictated with much sighing and dramatic wiping of dry eyes.
the second Sunday of Lent, at Sext
I sat with Beatrice today and told her of the green fields back in Caslav. I wish an uncle would come and fetch me away from this alley. Heinz the guard walked by and stared, so I kept my head down.
The fields sound lovely, Margery. Truly they do. But I am too afraid of the parish priest to leave.
Candlemas, at Prime
Woke up shivering against Isabel's cellar grates. I am fixing my shawl to look neat for Master Otto Wolff and the noblemen. If I give them a pitiful stare, perhaps they will toss a silver penny.
I have no coin for idlers, girl. Find honest work.
Nota scribaeShe asked me to write that she looks pitiful, but she merely looks unwashed.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You are a naive fool. The roads are full of soldiers and wolves, and I will not leave Ralph to freeze.