maidservant at william's farm, of Suchdol
“I keep the buckets full and the geese plucked, and I try to smile so the days go quicker.”
Things Emma had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of Pentecost, at Vespers
Poor Edith is still fretting over that barefoot walk to Sedletz she promised the saints. I say the Lord knows a tired maidservant when He sees one, and He has bigger things to mind than her aching feet.
Nota scribaeShe bounced on her heels the entire time she dictated this.
the second day of Easter week, at Sext
Master William has been at the ale again. I hid behind the barns for a good hour until he went back inside. Matilda gave me the lighter chores after, bless her.
the Thursday before Palm Sunday, at None
Julian's steward came shouting today because Butcher got under the palisade and at their fowl again. He said he would fetch the bailiff and have my sweet dog killed. I gave Roger and Matilda my last two groschen to help pay the fine.
You are a good lass, Emma. Butcher is safe, we made sure of it.
Two whole groschen for a flea-bitten ratter. You are a fool to part with good silver.
He keeps the rats down! And Julian is cruel for wanting to kill him over a scrawny bird.
Nota scribaeShe was in tears when she came to the church steps.
the feast of St Gregory, at Prime
My arms are sore from carrying buckets from the well, but the geese are plucked. The old man John just sat there scowling at me all morning. Sometimes I think he hates us all.
I mind my own business. You should try it instead of smiling at nothing.
Candlemas, at Terce
Woke up freezing in the outbuilding today. It is too cold to be hauling water from the well. At least Butcher let me warm my hands in his scruff before I had to go outside.
The well was frozen solid anyway. The chill is terribly bad for the bones today.
Nota scribaeThe ink nearly froze as I wrote this.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It was a holy vow, Emma. You cannot just ignore it or God will bring the sickness back.
Better to ignore it than drop dead on the road to the monastery!