guard at the Rathaus, of Miskowitz
“I hold a pike and keep my head down. A man gets further if he stays quiet and minds his own boots.”
Things Ralph had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Robert will not leave me be. He stands by the doors while I am on watch and mutters about digging in the dirt for coin. I told him to go dig if he wants, but he gets nothing of mine.
Nota scribaeHe spoke so softly I had to ask him to repeat the man's name.
the second day of Easter week, at Sext
The bread costs more every week because of the King's brother and his army. A man needs to look out for himself and keep what he finds, or he will starve before the harvest.
the Tuesday after Laetare Sunday, at Prime
Poor Denis died in his bed this morning. The lung fever took him after that cursed march. He was a quiet lad, but at least now he will not have to hear Otto and Thomas fighting over a coif.
The Captain left him in the rain to die. It is a bloody sin.
Hold your tongue, Zdenyek. We all stood in the same ditch.
Nota scribaeHe crossed himself, though he swore by nothing.
the second week of Lent, at Compline
Bynyek walked off in the dark and now we are all fined two groschen. We spent three days shivering in a ditch by Suchdol guarding Christopher's wagons. A miserable affair, though I found a way to keep my boots dry.
Candlemas, at Prime
It is freezing by the rathaus doors. I slip down early before the others wake, just to be away from the snoring in the loft. The wood of this pike is cold enough to stick to my hands.
You are a strange one, Ralph. I would sleep until Noon if the Captain let me.
Nota scribaeDictated while rubbing his hands together to keep warm.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You know what is owed, Ralph. A quiet word to the bailiff costs me nothing.
Try it and see what you get.