housekeeper at obchodnicky Statek, of Pritoky
“I hold this household together through prayer and blistered hands. Without me, they would all starve or fall to sin.”
Things Emma had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday after Saint John Before the Latin Gate, at Vespers
Lord give me strength. My son speaks in whispers of matters that would damn his soul and shame this house. Nine years is a long time, but marriage is a sacrament! I will not hear of it. I told him so and prayed a whole rosary to the Virgin.
Nota scribaeShe waved her hands so fiercely she knocked over the inkhorn.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
The rain is good for the barley on the far strip. I was out before the bells rang, weeding while the rest of them snored. If my brother thinks his loud talk at the dinner table will drive me from my grandfather Otto's land, he is a fool.
the feast of Saint Gregory, at None
More soldiers marching on the Kuttenberg road. I told the wenches Juliana and Christine to stay close to the hearth and scrub the kettles twice over. King Sigismund's men are no better than wolves. We must pray and keep working.
My arms ache from the scrubbing, mistress.
Aching arms cannot do the devil's work, Juliana. Praise be to God for that.
Nota scribaeDictated from the kitchen, amidst a great clatter of pots.
the Wednesday after Saint Valentine, at Sext
Else helped me with the morning pottage. She is a good woman, no matter what certain foolish men in this house might think. We will need her hands if we are to feed all the hired men this spring.
Thank you, Mother. The pottage was mostly your doing, you work so fast.
Candlemas, at Terce
I lit the candles to keep the winter storms away from the statek. My grandfather Otto died of a winter fever, God rest his soul. I will not let sickness take this family, even if I have to work until my hands bleed. The Lord sees my labour.
If you truly honoured Otto, you would give up the land he left to me.
Nota scribaeShe spoke so fast I could barely write the half of it.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You do not understand, Mother. A man needs an heir to leave his work to.
I understand the fires of hell, John! Hold your tongue and repent.