collier at the meilers, of The charcoal burners' clearing
“I burn charcoal for the Kuttenberg forges and lived through the king's levy. A man must survive.”
Things Jan the Hound had written, latest first, with the glosses of his neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Terce
Word on the road is the captain calls another muster soon. Sakra! I am telling you, Thomas, if I am fined for showing up bareheaded because you pawned my iron kettle hat to that widow Dorothy, I will take the groschen out of your hide!
Nota scribaeHe waved his hands so wildly he knocked over the inkhorn.
the feast of St Pancras, at Vespers
Master Robert sent his wagons today but did not show his own soft face, as usual. We breathe the foul smoke and he takes the silver. William the Boar worked the rake without a single word from Prime to None. I reckon the lad hopes hard work buys his brother out of purgatory.
Godfrey needs the masses, Jan. He died with sins on his soul.
the third day of Easter week, at Compline
I have had enough of John not meeting my eye at the meiler! Christopher took a Cuman arrow to the throat by the river. Staying would have only meant my corpse beside his in the mud. That is the ugly truth of war, and no amount of your dirty looks will change it.
He screamed, Jan. He slipped on the bank and you ran like a coward while the horses trampled him.
He was dead before he hit the ground! What was I to do, fight the whole Hungarian army with a rake?
Nota scribaeDictated in a shout. He demanded I underline the word 'truth', but I have no time for such nonsense.
the Monday after St Gregory, at Prime
Christ almighty, my lungs are full of ash today. The wind shifted in the night and blew the smoke straight into the turf hut. We broke our fast on hard bread and water, but at least we are not marching in the mud for the king anymore.
Nota scribaeThe man coughed soot onto the parchment.
Candlemas, at Sext
A man needs to look after his own head. I lent my fine iron kettle hat to Thomas for the muster parade, just to make him look proper. Now he tells me he went to Jicin and does not have it. If I do not see it by Sunday, there will be hell to pay.
It is safe, Jan. I just left it with a friend for safekeeping while I had a drink. You will have it.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Keep your hair on, Jan. I said I would get it back when the next wagon pays out. She locked it in her cellar, I cannot just take it!
You pawned it for ale! A thief plain and simple!