merchant of Suchdol, of Suchdol
“I deal honestly in good iron and cloth. I expect my ledgers to balance and my property respected.”
Things Robert Coleman had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at None
I walked into my yard today and saw the boundary stone has moved two full paces onto my land. Frost does not move a stone that heavy. Juliana dragged it in the night. God's truth, I will have the bailiff walk the line.
Nota scribaeHe tapped the table with two fingers until I had written every word.
the feast of St Pancras, at Vespers
Three months. Three months since Candlemas, and my best iron spade remains in the dirt at John's farm. Today I was told the ditch behind the barn is still unfinished. A tool that cost a month's profit, held hostage by fools.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
A man came through the village offering Hungarian silver for my wool. I checked the weight on my scales. Light by a tenth. I sent him packing. With the soldiers on the roads, every vagabond thinks he can cheat an honest merchant.
Aye, bread is dear enough without false coin making it worse. You did right.
the second Sunday of Lent, at Compline
I closed the shop early and walked to the bathhouse to see Edith. She has a head for business that shames half the men in Suchdol. If she managed the chaotic yard next door, it would not be bleeding good groschen.
And if you ran the bathhouse, the water would be measured by the drop. I will see you Sunday.
Nota scribaeDictated cleanly. He is a rare man who knows his own mind.
Candlemas, at Sext
In a rare moment of neighbourly goodwill, I have lent my best iron spade to Juliana so she may dig a drainage ditch. I expect it returned cleanly. Good iron is costly, and I keep a strict account of my property.
You will have it back as soon as the ditch is done, Robert. Praise be for the help.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
The ground was soft from the thaw, you stubborn fool. Nobody touched your precious stone.
Do not let them steal an inch, Robert. I will send a lad to help move it back.