maidservant at the lodging house, of Kuttenberg
“I just keep the floors clean and try to stay out of the way. My hands are always busy.”
Things Mary had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Compline
Mistress Anna sat late at the counting desk again last night, rubbing her poor head over the tallies. I was sweeping the hearth and my hands were shaking so bad I nearly dropped the broom. She says some pennies have gone missing. I just looked down at the rushes. I pray she finds them.
Nota scribaeShe spoke very softly and twisted her apron into a tight knot the whole time.
the Wednesday after Easter, at Sext
A carter passed through heading east to Hungary, with flour for the army. I gave him a few groschen I saved up, for my brother Jarda. He is freezing in the camp there. I pray to God the man actually takes the coin to him and does not just drink it on the road.
the feast of St Gertrude, at None
Elizabeth has not stopped shouting all morning about her ruined shift and that woman Amice. The noise makes my head throb terrible. I just keep my eyes on the floor and scrub the mud off the steps harder. I do not know why she wastes her breath. Amice is married and gone anyway.
That bitch ruined good linen! I'll curse her name till my throat bleeds, you quiet little mouse!
Please do not shout, Elizabeth, my head hurts too from crying over my mother's masses.
Nota scribaeDictated while washing bowls in the yard.
the second Tuesday of Lent, at Prime
I feel terrible for Adam. He is the only true man left in this yard, steady as a rock, but the mistress has not paid his wages since Epiphany. He just keeps working. It makes a gnawing guilt in my belly, knowing there is no coin for him.
Candlemas, at Vespers
A man came from the army camps today. He said my brother Jarda's boots have rotted clean off his feet in the Hungarian mud. He begged me for coin to buy leather. I have not a single penny to my name. I do not know what I am going to do. I feel sick with it.
Jarda was always a layabout. The army will make a man of him, or bury him. Stop fretting and finish clearing the tables.
Nota scribaeShe wept quietly into her sleeve when she spoke of the boots.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Someone has light fingers in my house. If I find them, they will be out in the mud.
Ay, mistress. The Lord sees everything.