prisoner and leather mender, of Nebakov fortress
“I am a guest of the fortress cellars, held without proper jurisprudence. I mend leather and observe the fools who guard me.”
Things Walter had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Terce
Simon is still whining about the awl. I have kept it for months, which makes it mine by natural right. Besides, I find a new use for it every day mending these thick leather straps. The man is entirely ungrateful for the relief I gave his weak arms.
the second day of Easter week, at Sext
Richard Clark's oat stew is thinner than a beggar's piss. I demand my proper culinary entitlements! The Pope's decree says we must be heard, and I say the garrison eats like kings while a man of intellect starves in the cellar.
Eat it or starve, Walter. The oats cost good groschen and the roads are full of soldiers.
the eve of St George, at Prime
That fat arse Hugh sits in the dry upper keep hoarding the lord's timber, while we sleep in the mud. If I could reach the inner doors, I would rob the steward blind. The damp here is foul. A man could catch his death coughing in this cursed dark.
For once the thief speaks true. The roof leaks right over my cot and Hugh won't issue a single plank.
Nota scribaeHe was shivering violently while speaking.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at None
The guards wagered their gear again. Ralph lost his favourite eating knife to Zdenyek on a bad throw of the dice. I only mentioned the bloody ambush in the woods, and how poor Baldwin was left behind in the dark, and Frantishek threw me an extra crust of bread just to shut my mouth.
Keep Baldwin's name out of your filthy mouth, poacher, or you'll get a boot instead of bread.
Candlemas, at Vespers
Simon wept like a milkmaid because his arms ached from turning the roasting spit. I took his place at the fire out of pure charity. In exchange, he surrendered his bone-handled awl to my person. It is a fair transaction, legally binding by all laws of property.
You lying whoreson! I lent it so you could mend your boot! Give it back!
Possession is nine parts of the jurisprudence, Simon.
Nota scribaeDictated from the cellar steps. He used many long words he did not understand.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
It is my awl! I have to mend my own gear with a broken needle!
You should have thought of that before you surrendered your property, Simon.