hired hand hauling grain, of Trosky
“I carry two grain sacks up to the keep for every one the young lads drop. I do my hard work, take my wage, and mind my own business.”
Things Richard had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
I need a man to pay me three pennies to muck out a stall or shift some timber. Betty chased me out of her ale-house in Tachov with a broom yesterday. A working man needs a drop of ale in this heat, or my shoulders will give out.
Nota scribaeHe spat into the dirt when he spoke of the ale-wife.
the feast of St Mark, at None
Tell Benesh to stop asking me to walk to Semine. The spring floods washed the road out, and I am not drowning my boots for no pay. Carry your own message. I have two sacks of grain to haul to the larder before dusk.
the third day of Easter week, at Sext
John and Thomas complain about one sack of oats. I carried two up the cobbles this morning and did not break a sweat. If Edmund the head groom had any sense, he would cast half these soft lads out and pay me double. The kitchen maids know who feeds this castle.
You dropped half the oats last week, you boastful ass.
Leave them be, Richard. We all get old and slow eventually.
Nota scribaeHe demanded that the maids be mentioned.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Prime
Walter wants his horn-handled knife back. I told him I lost it in the hayloft, but he sees me cutting my bread with it. I will not give it back until he stands in the yard and confesses what he did to Humphrey during the autumn levy. A two-groschen knife is a cheap fine for a mortal sin.
Candlemas, at Terce
Poured out a drop of ale in the snow for Humphrey. He owed half the yard money, but he was a cheerful mate. The bloody flux took him at the muster. Now Walter lends me his knife to trim hooves, and expects me to be his friend. I clench my teeth every time I look at him.
Humphrey was a good lad. God rest his soul.
He still owed me four pennies.
Nota scribaeDictated in the lower courtyard. He refused to look up from his whittling.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I can lend you a penny, Richard, if you help me with the new oats.
Pay your slate first, you great ox, or the broom comes back.