hired hand at krenovy farm, of Slatejov
“A man ought to get his fair share, but mostly he gets muck on his boots.”
Things Nicholas had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
They say the Cumans are taking everything on the roads, but we have thieves enough right here at home. A man waits three winters for what was promised him, keeping his mouth shut the whole time, and gets nothing but excuses about the bailiff watching.
the second day of Rogation days, at None
Sitting at the alehouse with my fine copper jug. People are talking, saying Milena and I are courting. Let them talk, I say! If she wants her jug back to stop the gossips, she knows my price. Ten groschen is a fair share for fetching water.
You thieving whoreson, give it back! I lent it to you out of pity. There is no courting, just you making a fool of us both.
He will not give it back until he drinks it dry, Milena. Leave the coward be.
Nota scribaeDictated at the alehouse. He was rubbing his hands on his tunic the entire time.
the Wednesday of Easter week, at Prime
Saw Milena wearing that heavy woolen cloak this morning to keep the spring chill off. Funny how she found such a fine warm thing right around the feast of Saint Lucy. A girl shouldn't keep all the warmth to herself when others were there in the snow too.
the Tuesday after Laetare Sunday, at Sext
My boots are ruined again. The master's pigs eat better than we do, and their slops smell worse than a rotting carcass. Mucking out the stables all morning and all I get is thin porridge. A man ought to be paid properly for ruining his only boots.
Aye, the mud this spring is a curse. But complaining won't mend your leather, lad.
Nota scribaeThe dictating took longer than the mucking.
Candlemas, at Terce
They say the roads from Tachov are clearing now the snow is melting. I pray no one comes looking for old ghosts. If Peter's widow Svatava comes asking questions about how he died in the woods, I will swear I saw nothing. Let Richard do the weeping.
You saw exactly what happened, you coward. The bough snapped and you stood there like a struck sheep instead of helping.
I only want to know what happened to the twelve groschen he saved for us. He would not have lost it in the mud.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your voice down, you fool. Some debts take time to settle, unless you want us both on the gallows.
Then pay me my fair share and I will be quiet as the grave.