woodworker at the sawmill, of The woodcutters' camps
“I am a woodworker who prefers the deep timber to the shouting of my kin. I know every deer trail and boundary stone around Kuttenberg.”
Things Ralph Miller had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Lawrence says the royal clerk Michael wants more timber for the mint. I told him the woods can only give what they have. If they push too hard, there will be nothing left but scrub and we will all starve.
Nota scribaeHe spat three times while dictating this.
the second day of Easter week, at Compline
Jezhek and Standa spent the whole morning screaming over who our father Lambert meant to have the far strip of land. I left them to it and went up to the northern ridge. The scrub pine there cuts well enough if you are quiet about it.
You stay away from my inheritance! Father meant that land for me and you know it.
It is not yours yet, Jezhek. And the trees do not care who shouts the loudest.
the Thursday before Palm Sunday, at None
Someone seems to have misplaced Jezhek's boots. The loft was blessed with a confused silence for a good while this morning as he looked for them. A dull axe is a curse, but a quiet morning is a blessing.
I thought I was the one going mad. Where did you put them?
Nota scribaeDictated from the edge of the tree line. The man refused to look me in the eye.
St Gregory's day, at Sext
Wet wood and a rusted saw. The rain has not stopped for three days and the mud is up to my calves. Young Joseph sits hoarding his pennies in the corner while the rest of us rot in the damp.
Pennies do not rust in the rain, uncle.
Candlemas, at Prime
The winter is breaking and the sap will soon run. I ate my cold pottage in the dark to escape the shouting match between Jezhek and Standa. I would rather freeze in the deep timber than listen to them bicker over groschen.
Take me with you to the woods tomorrow, uncle. I owe Paul Fair and need to be scarce.
Nota scribaeThe man kept his hands tucked in his belt the entire time.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
The quotas are the quotas, Ralph. Get back to the trees and leave the worrying to me.