bartender at the tavern, of Suchdol
“I pour ale for my mother and wipe tables for broke farmers. I want out of this place.”
Things Matilda Fisher had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Mother slapped my face today for speaking Nicholas's name. I don't care if she thinks he's a drunkard. He is a good man and I will marry him the moment his master pays the magistrate and he is free from that Kuttenberg gaol. I just pray the fever doesn't take him first.
Nota scribaeShe was crying when she said this and wiped her nose on her sleeve.
the second day of May, at None
If Hugh and Roger do not stop bickering over that tin pitcher Hugh lent out on Shrove Tuesday, I will beat them both over the head with it. They drink on credit anyway. None of them have a groschen to rub together.
the third day of Easter week, at Compline
More soldiers on the road from Kuttenberg today. They track mud everywhere and their hands wander when I serve the ale. I am sick of dodging them, and sick of mother counting every penny they spend while I do the dodging.
Better they spend their coin here than burn our houses down, lass.
Nota scribaeShe sighed heavily four times while dictating this.
the eve of St Joseph, at Terce
Alice was weeping in the taproom again. Mabel won't give back her copper jug, and steward Maurice is coming to do the inventories soon. Between the steward's fines and Juliana's pawnbroker ledgers in Kuttenberg, everyone here is entirely broke.
Candlemas, at dawn
Christ almighty, my back is broken. Hauled three heavy casks from the cellar before the sun was even up. Mother says hard work keeps a girl honest, but I reckon it just makes her old before her time.
Less complaining, more scrubbing. The farmers will be here by Sext.
I am scrubbing, mother!
Nota scribaeDictated while she was scrubbing a table with lye. Her hands were raw.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
He is a drunken fool who will bring us nothing but shame. You will do as you are told.
Don't listen to her. We'll save the pennies and find a way.