vineyard worker at Lorec, of Lorec
“I work the vines here, but a smart man uses his head to save his back. I keep my own counsel and make sure I do not get cheated by lazy neighbours.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Compline
Hugh says he is going to the Kuttenberg scribe, David Baker, to overturn the reeve's ruling on my heifer. Let him walk till his boots wear through! David Baker is a town weakling who can be confused with a few fast words. The beast is mine, bought fair from Vitek the drover.
Nota scribaeDictated in a rush. The man waved his hands so much he nearly knocked over my ink.
the feast of Saint John before the Latin Gate, at Sext
Adam came knocking at my shed for his heavy iron tool again. I told him I have a few stubborn roots to clear before Sunday. A smart man uses another man's spade to save his own! He is young, he has a strong back to wait.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
Sat under the cart today to eat my bread and cheese, watching the others sweat on the slopes. The master pays for a day's work and not a penny more, so I give him exactly what he buys. The sky was clear and the cheese was sharp.
You snored under that cart, John. We heard you from the upper rows.
Nota scribaeThe man grinned the entire time he spoke, showing very uneven teeth.
the Wednesday after Saint Gregory, at None
Sometimes in the night I think of the wayside cross and the oath Jarda the reeve made me take. I coughed at the binding phrase, so the Lord knows I did not swear it! Still, when the wind howls through the vineyard, a man wonders if the Almighty's hearing is sharper than a reeve's.
the feast of Saint Blaise, at Terce
A fine day! A strayed heifer with a notched ear and a white patch wandered into my yard. I told Jarda the reeve I bought her from Vitek the drover, and Jarda dragged us to the cross. I coughed right over the words 'on this I swear'. Outwitted the reeve and got a new beast!
This is a confession of false witness. I should strike it from the record.
If you coughed, I did not hear it. Do not make me come back out there, John.
Nota scribaeHe spoke this in a boastful shout, highly pleased with himself.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Vitek was dead of a fever in Kolin when you claimed you paid him! You stole my beast.
A dead man cannot argue, Hugh, but he sold good stock.