hired hand hauling slag, of Old Kutna
“I am a hired hand with empty pockets and rot in my boots. I used to look after the younger lads, but now I can barely feed myself, kurva.”
Things Walter had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Monday before Whitsun, at None
Edward the pawnbroker is rotting in gaol for fencing chalices, and my padded jack is locked up with him as evidence. The bailiff calls the muster for Saint John's feast soon. If I show up without my kit, they will strip me and put me in the pillory. Bloody hell.
Nota scribaeHe spat on the floor of the parish house after saying this. I made him sweep it up.
the feast of Saint Pancras, at Terce
My stomach is growling so loud the dogs bark at me. I stood by the gates all morning waiting for Chenyek to open the strongbox. Nothing. Now I have to walk the long way around the square just to avoid a man I owe. Kurva.
We are going to starve, Walter. What do we do?
the second day of Easter week, at Vespers
Chenyek barred the doors to the accounting house today. He claims the royal mint froze the silver because of the Hungarian soldiers on the roads. So we get no spring wages. How is a man supposed to buy bread? I pawned the kit I bought for the muster just to eat.
You hired hands always whine when the wind blows. We all suffer under the war.
Nota scribaeDictated outside the tavern. The man smelled strongly of damp wool.
the Wednesday before Palm Sunday, at Prime
I bought a padded jack for John Ford so he wouldn't get whipped at the muster. The lazy bastard took it straight to Edward to pawn. He claims it was for bread, but I know he drank my silver at Martha Silver's tavern. Christ almighty.
A man cannot eat a padded jack, Walter! I was starving!
He drank three pitchers of my cheapest ale. He paid in good coin.
the second Wednesday of Lent, at Compline
Hauling slag all night freezes the marrow in your bones. But at least we keep the younger lads fed and clear of the merchants' boots. Nicholas Smith looked at me today like I was dog shit on his step. He will change his tune when he needs heavy lifting.
Keep your mud off my stoop and I won't look at you at all.
Nota scribaeHe spoke in a low growl and kept his arms crossed the entire time.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Your kit? You bought that with my silver, Walter. I expect to see you in it.
I have not forgotten, Reginald. The king's mint has us all by the throat.