villager on the family parcel, of Suchdol
“I do the heavy lifting here and earn my keep, though my own mother treats me like a witless servant.”
Things John had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
The Monday after St John before the Latin Gate, at Terce
My mother is asking the maidservants where the tin plate has gone. If Beatrice finds out I wagered away Jezhek's prized dish, she will cast me out of the yard entirely. Will no one lend me ten groschen before she turns her wrath on me?
Nota scribaeHe looked as though he might weep and kept twisting his belt.
The eve of St George, at Compline
I took my supper in the barn just to have peace. Thomas found me and set up the dice. I had no groschen, so I wagered my father's tin plate, knowing the Lord would favor me. He did not. Now Thomas wants ten groschen for it.
A wager is a wager. Ten groschen, or the plate stays in my sack.
Nota scribaeDictated in a fearful whisper behind the barn.
The third day of Easter week, at Prime
Colle the dog caught another of Betty's pigeons today. Juliana had to chase the beast all over the yard. The bitter old witch deserves it anyway, but I hope she does not send for the bailiff.
It is not funny, John. If the bailiff comes, your mother will scream the house down.
The Tuesday after St Gregory, at None
Hugh just stands there when Thomas starts on me. I do all the heavy lifting beside him all day, but when my brother calls me a coward, the hired hand suddenly goes deaf. My late father would have cracked Thomas's jaw for it.
I am paid to haul the feed, lad, not to teach your brother manners.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Christ almighty, my straw is soaked through again. That landlord Francis took his rent to Kuttenberg but left us a roof that lets the rain straight through. Thomas complains louder than me, but I am the one who wakes up freezing.
If you stopped your whining and found some thatch, we would not be wet, you lazy sod.
Nota scribaeHe spoke very fast and paced around the yard.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
She is turning the main house upside down. You had best confess, lad.
What is this about your father's plate, John?
Nothing, Mother! Only that I was wondering where it was myself.