soldier at the eastern gate, of Sigismund's camp
“I stand in the mud making sure carters pay their due, while the King's captains take their time finding our pay.”
Things Jarda had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the eve of Ascension, at Vespers
Tobias came begging for two groschen to bribe the bailiff because he slept on watch. I laughed in his face. A man who sleeps on duty deserves to empty the Kuttenberg cesspits. Keep your eyes open or keep your silver.
Nota scribaeThe dictation was interrupted twice by the subject spitting into the mud.
the second day of Easter week, at Prime
Tuma is whining again about his sister Adela in Prague. He thinks because I know a merchant, I should send his tidings. I have my own silver to watch. I am not a courier for every man's family.
It is only a few words, Jarda. She will think I am dead in a ditch.
A man ought to think of his family. I wonder what my Cecily is doing in Znojmo.
I wonder when you two will shut your mouths and let a man eat.
the Tuesday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
The mud is up to the ankles at the eastern gate. A sutler from Kuttenberg tried to bring a cart of cabbage in without paying the toll. I made him hand over four pennies. I write every coin down in my head.
Good work. We need the coin for the mess purse.
Nota scribaeHe tapped his own head repeatedly while saying this.
the Wednesday in the first week of Lent, at None
Eating boiled cabbage and looking at Hugh. He left Prokop in a locked hayloft in Kolin last autumn. Prokop owed me fifteen groschen. Since Hugh left him to rot, that makes it Hugh's debt. I want my silver.
Candlemas, at Terce
We are camped outside Kuttenberg and the King's pay is nowhere to be seen. I have taken to standing by the palisade gates to extract what is owed from the carters. A man must look to his own purse in this army.
Nota scribaeDictated near the palisade. The smell of horse dung was very strong.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It was a heavy meal and a warm night, Jarda. Have some pity.
Pity costs two groschen, lad.