soldier, of Sigismund's camp
“I look out for myself, and a smart man does the same. You keep your eyes on the ruts when the baggage train rolls through, and you never go hungry.”
Things Geoffrey had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the second day of May, at Terce
Bartholomew is still crying over that wooden rosary. He thinks a skin of sour water settles his debt for the stew that kept him alive. The quartermaster is looking at kits, he says. Let him look. The debt is not paid until I get something real. A smart man does not give back his security.
Nota scribaeHe spat three times while dictating this. I wiped the inkwell.
Saint George's day, at None
The camp is a sty. We had a six-man mess until Thomas walked off. Now the remaining four of them do nothing but leave their gear about. Bartholomew acts like it wasn't him who won Thomas's last groschen at hazard and drove him away. Men throw their coin away and blame the world.
He owed the ale-wife, not me. And Maurice was on watch, he's the one who let him slip past.
I can't see in the dark, you fool. He walked because he had nothing left.
the Tuesday after Easter, at Vespers
Prokop needs to hold his tongue. He keeps yammering about going to Kuttenberg for meat. The captains and the provost have ears everywhere. We wait until the army moves on. Anyone who rushes to town with a loud mouth gets flogged. I will not swing from a tree for a fool's belly.
We found it together! I am starving while you sit on what's ours. We could feast.
We will feast when it is safe. Shut your mouth.
Nota scribaeThe man looked over his shoulder four times while speaking this.
the Thursday after Saint Gregory, at Prime
Frantishek is weeping again. Agnes this, Agnes that, Kolin this. It is a wonder the boy remembers how to hold a spear. Alan drank my last drop of ale and hasn't brought it back. If you want to survive in this King's army, you have to look after your own kit.
She is my sister! She probably thinks I died on the road.
I'll get you your ale when the sutler gets new barrels. Keep your shirt on, wait, no, don't piss yourself.
Saint Gregory's day, at Sext
The baggage train rolled through early. The ruts were deep. I keep my eyes on the ground. A smart man always finds something useful. The captains don't care if we starve, so I make sure I am not one of the fools going hungry today. Prokop was there, but he lacks the eye.
I have an eye enough to know what we should do with what we found.
Nota scribaeDictated near the sutler's cart. He spoke quietly.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You greedy whoreson. It's a rosary! The provost will have my hide if my kit isn't whole.
Then pay what you owe in coin or good meat, not piss.