At a glanceCiphertext-only break · none (key obtained, text not read)
- The letters
- Ramón de Cardona, viceroy of Naples, to Charles I of Spain (emperor-elect from 1519). Two of the four letters bound together carry cipher: Naples, 5 October 1517, on the infantry in the kingdom and on the affairs of Rome and Siena, and Naples, 18 June 1520, on the proceedings in Rome and the pay of the troops.
- Where
- Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España, MSS/20210/11/1 and /4, in Cartas de Ramón de Cardona, Virrey de Nápoles (BNE Digital 0000173169, public domain). No decipherment on any page; no edition or study found. No DECODE record.
- The cipher
- An Aragonese-chancery nomenclator of the family of Charles de Lannoy’s Naples cipher: about 60 homophonic letter signs, some for letter pairs, and three-letter code groups that stand for whole words (que, en, de, lo, el papa). One table serves both letters.
- How the key was recovered
- By Michael Brackx with Claude Code, from the ciphertext alone: a joint annealer for sign and group values, given the class rule of Lannoy’s key and a list of whole-word options, then five rounds of fixing firm values and reading by context.
- Checks
- Matched and noisy controls on Lazarillo de Tormes; a statistical test that passes; and two names that the key reads without having been built on them, Borghese Petrucci (1517) and Giampaolo Baglioni (1520).
- What it says
- The infantry cannot be kept or paid and the Pope is asked for money; Borghese Petrucci, brother of the executed cardinal, wishes to live and die under the Pope’s protection; in 1520 the proceedings after Giampaolo Baglioni’s beheading. About 75% of the plaintext letters read as sense; about half the sentences have no hole.
- Still open
- 22 code groups and five rare signs without a value, and three garbled runs; the published scan is about 1,070 px per page.
- Credit
- Michael Brackx (issue #262, pull request #264): transcription, key and reading, with Claude Code.
01 The letters
The BNE bound four letters from Naples to the Crown under one title. Two of them, MSS/20210/11/2 (2 March 1519) and /3 (24 December 1520), are wholly in clear. The other two carry cipher in separate passages inside clear text:
| part | date | cipher | tokens |
|---|---|---|---|
| /1 | 5 October 1517 (the BNE record says 5 March; the dateline reads a v de otubre de M D xvij) | block A (22 lines), block B (11 lines), block C (28 lines) | 1,260 |
| /4 | 18 June 1520 | block D (19 lines, in two pieces) | 403 |
The clear text around the blocks gives the setting: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring, the pay of the Count of Potenza’s men, the infantry that sacked Fabriano on its way to the kingdom, Don Ramón de Perellós sent to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea to ask the Pope for money para entretener la dicha ynfanteria; in 1520 the defence against the Turkish fleet on the Apulian coast and houses to be built on the Monte di Gaeta.
02 The cipher
The transcription has 1,663 tokens: 706 tokens of 115 three-letter code groups, 30 tokens of 11 two-letter groups (mo, mj, fe …) and 927 sign tokens. Each cipher piece opens and closes with frame marks. The system is the family of Charles de Lannoy’s Naples cipher of 1522–27 as Olga Kolosova describes it (El lenguaje secreto de la diplomacia de Carlos V, Valencia 2017, pp. 65–89), with its own table:
- Letter signs. A homophonic alphabet of about 60 types in use. Several stand for letter pairs: Lo is re, A is ll, x# is qu, and the capital E is rr, as in Lannoy’s table.
- Code groups. Three letters, consonant, vowel, consonant, with initials f g m n p r s t z; a few have two letters. They stand for whole words. The short ones are now and then also used as syllables (par-la-me-nto), but there are no syllable groups as in the 1511–15 Vich ciphers (a different cipher, with its own page); treating the groups as words is what made the solution possible.
- A class rule. From Lannoy’s key: the initial and the final letter of a group fix the first letter of its word, the vowel is free (here fed is lo and fid is la).
- One table for both letters. 53 of the 67 code types in the 1520 letter also occur in the 1517 one.
It is not Lannoy’s table: his values, such as tum for razón or fus for Milán, do not fit, and his letter values decode Cardona barely above chance. It is not the 1511–12 Vich table either. The BRAH 9/15 “Cifra del visorrey” (Galende Díaz 1994; DECODE R9815–R9820) was not compared, because its images need DECODE access.
03 How the key was recovered
Michael Brackx, working with Claude Code (Claude Opus 5.5) on 4 November 2026, used the joint annealer he built for the Vich letter of 1515: every sign gets a letter or one of the 40 commonest letter pairs, every code group an entry from an option list or “unknown”, scored by a Spanish character five-gram plus the cost of the encipherment. The steps, including the ones that failed:
| step | what | result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Own solvers (letter n-gram annealing, code groups as words or syllables) and a control on vich1511 N.60 | failed the scoring itself preferred wrong keys |
| 2 | The Vich annealer with its option list (words, syllables, letters), and a matched control (Lazarillo at Cardona’s size) | control: 99–100% of signs at 10M iterations; Cardona: top runs agree on at most about 75% of signs |
| 3–4 | A noisy control (35% of group values outside the list, 5.5% misreadings); tokenisation variants | control best 2 of 16 runs at 90%; Cardona still did not converge |
| 5 | The same annealer with Lannoy’s class rule as a penalty (wsa5.c), on a structured noisy control | 5 of 16 runs at 88–91% of signs |
| 6 | On Cardona, with the option list restricted to whole words | worked top 6 runs agree on 85–94% of sign tokens; 35 of 63 sign types in 6 of 6 |
| 7 | A chancery language model (Celestina, Villa’s Memorias, the clear Vich letters; no Quijote) with 34 signs fixed | the frequent code groups agree: que, de, en, lo, se, el papa |
| 8–11 | Four more rounds: firm values fixed, the rest re-annealed (16–32 runs each), reading by context between rounds | the remaining signs and about 60 more code types settled |
| 12 | A context pass over every stretch that decoded but did not read, sign by sign, with the class rule | two signs and two groups overruled against unanimous runs, four groups read, two found to be nulls |
A value was fixed only when it read in every occurrence. The runs’ value was overruled where the image or every context disagreed: E is rr (the runs gave st; they cannot produce rr), A is ll (si) from Ballón, degollado and preuillegio, and ll is e (on) from recelo, terra, padre and vieren. The last two show that values all runs agree on can still be wrong where a sign is rare and its neighbours unsettled. The key is partial:
| firm | probable | doubtful | open | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| signs | 54 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| code groups | 78 | 14 | 12 | 22 |
Firm values are agreed by the runs or read by context in every occurrence; probable ones were 4–5 of 6 in an early run and not re-tested; doubtful ones are tentative context readings or model fillers, written [?word]. Each change is logged in the basis column of key/key.tsv.
04 Checks
- Controls. A Lazarillo text enciphered the same way at Cardona’s size is recovered by the same annealer at 10M iterations; with a noisy option list and the class rule the structured control reaches 88–91% of signs in 5 of 16 runs. Cardona’s own runs agree at 85–94% once the options are whole words.
- Statistical validation (
docs/_validate.py, firm values only, 1,517 read tokens of 132 types): the reading scores −1.96 per letter on a Golden Age Spanish four-gram model, random keys of the same shape −3.40 (z 8.9), and a key annealed onto the shuffled ciphertext at best −2.37 (mean −2.40, z 17.7). Verdict: pass. - Two names the key was not built on. 1517, block C: …lo que el papa esto le dize … al magnífico Burgès de Petrucis, Borghese Petrucci, former lord of Siena and brother of Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci, executed in the summer of 1517 for the plot against Leo X. 1520, block D: [Io]han Paulo Ballón and [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado, Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, beheaded in Castel Sant’Angelo on Leo X’s order in June 1520; the phrase fits his sons.
- Clear text. Readings tie the cipher to the clear passage around it: entretener la dicha gente … pues que no tene con que pagarles against the clear entretener la dicha ynfanteria.
05 What the decode says, as far as it builds
Long passages decode, but many sentences still have holes: about 75% of the plaintext letters read as sense (2,162 of about 2,890, measured), and docs/_check_reading.py finds about half of the sentences (0.486) without a hole. So the letters are classed as decoded, not read, and the reading below gives only the passages that build. The full line-by-line decryption and English are in decryption/reading.md. Notation: [...] unread, [?word] doubtful, spelling as decoded.
1517: infantry, pay and Petrucci (block C)
[C03–C07] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de entretener [...]
[C10–C12] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, y que sean tales los que [?quedaren] [...]
[C15–C24] todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico Burgès de Petrucis [...] [?Así enbié a llamar], y le dize lo que los me escreve [...] porque el magnífico Burgès [...] y seguir en todo, pues todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, y su padre y los suyos [...]
[C26–C28] [...] Y pues con la presente [...] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos.
In English: there are two things; first, that the Pope order [...], although the troops must be kept, since there is nothing to pay them with; it is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, if they must be kept, they must be reduced to a number that seems good, and those who remain must be such [...]. All that the Pope tells him [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci [...] I sent for him [?], and he tells him what they write to me [...] since his wish was to live and die under the Pope’s protection, and his father and his family [...]. And since with the present [...] I shall have nothing more to say but to refer myself to them.
1520: the proceedings in Rome (block D)
[D01–D04] [...] se procederá en la [?sentencia]. Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunciar en la [?sentencia] [...] al papa [...]
[D08–D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga
[D13–D17] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] [...] me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado.
[D18] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos [...] al papa.
In English: proceedings will be taken in the [?sentence]; and the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce it [...]; in the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against; it seemed to me right to keep the pay. They tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others who [?wish]; [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go [...] to the Pope.
Blocks A and B (the troops cannot be kept; a parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad; el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta; es que han quitado la cárcel; la imposibilidad) read in fragments only and are in reading.md.
06 What remains open
- Code groups. 22 code types without a value and 12 doubtful, most occurring once or twice. The commonest open one is gie (3 tokens); others are probably names (las cosas de nac y feg); doubtful gnd (mes) reads in neither place. The candidate key is BRAH 9/15 ff. 1–6 (DECODE R9815–R9820), whose images need DECODE access.
- Rare signs.
=,c#,7+,S,^L#(1–7 tokens each);o+may be two shapes (B09 prefers al). At about 1,070 px per page several small signs are hard to separate, and no larger image is published. - Garbled runs. A09 pedrona … rroarribare, C18 nuuosacredo, D07 ato…rondacreracho, and
fax(5 tokens: esto in C16 but cardenales in D03 and A11, perhaps two groups confused). The published scan is the largest available; a recheck needs a better image from the BNE. - Doubtful readings. A = ll and ll = e are probable (grade I, by context); zes and sim are probably nulls; mel mando, toq da and tud dar are tentative (I).
Full texts
The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.
block A, 5 Oct 1517 (22 lines) decoded, not read
Troops and Rome: news reported from Rome, Gaeta, the cost and the discharge of fifty men (lances?).
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# cardona1517 block A: /1 (Naples, 5 Oct 1517) image 2 (f. 3v-4r spread), right page, cipher lines A01-A18 (line centres
# y 297..1073), continued on image 3 left page top (A19-A22). Read from 1.9x crops in two halves per line.
# Groups are separated as the scribe spaces them. Labels (provisional):
# lower-case 2-4 letter groups = written letters as seen (code words such as tum, fid, mik; and runs like "ratio")
# X# = the sign X with a double bar through or after it (o#, m#, L#, e#, n#, P#, 5#; # alone = the free-standing
# double-barred cross)
# L = angle sign; o = small circle; O = circle with a dot; z = the 3/ʒ-shaped sign (also in groups: zis, zok);
# c) = reversed c; % = the b-like sign with a crossbar; = = the two-bar sign; S = long s; S° = long s with a small o above; & = et sign; A, D, T as written; r+ = r with a cross; t- = t with a bar; ¶ = the opening flourish
# ? = unsure; [x] = struck or damaged; ^X = X written above the line (insertion)
# Revised 4 Nov 2026 after comparison with the Lannoy alphabet (Kolosova 2017) and checks on the image:
# Lo = the angle with a small loop at its foot, one sign (was "L o"); L alone = the plain angle
# EO = E written tight against a circled dot, one sign (was "E O"); % and O stay two signs
# gto = a letter sign, not a code word; fax was read "far" (the final is the x of sox/fux)
# Pre-revision copies: [abcd]_transcription.v1.txt
A01 ¶ ratio D P# tum gto o# m# ef fid 5# p tef & Lo z c) A O r+ zis tof mik
A02 L# gnc nek #o # meg e# fed L# + gif gto #o a ef fid sox tif L# n+ Lo o+ 7
A03 A ll. h zis L# T sol a# zus p# m# t# zis q tin mok zok z#o pul sol g# o 5# z
A04 z# -oo- Po miz S° roq mik tum gto c) tim tue tum zih fed ef e# EO sol oo
A05 g# o L fed L# sam zen fus fax e# rop d# m# q 5# p tue? zih fed ef m#
A06 z c) L# m# Lo p# 7 gap m# zok tif mok m# fed L# 5# tep EO rio
A07 soc zes fup & m# % o g# c) ll. % ll° nag tan mo mok & z o 5# m#. gap L
A08 fed mok po Lo mif EO rio nes = L# S° man m# fed mok zok nom mok
A09 nek tum sak & O 5# L -o- q m# zig E p m# E c) d# m# Lo tum tip L#
A10 mog L# mok mik EO g# c) d# m# sam m# fup r+ p e# mik z#o tue +
A11 zoq er S. res nis mik pul L m# sam zok fax e# zis Po top # & O L g# Tb
A12 d# zus mif nez ef fed L# mog ef mo mok tep + & Lo z O gnc sox mok
A13 nek tum tak sak t o# c) nek tin mik tep rio r+ zme? 7+ mif z#o gto p fup
A14 L# rio r+ m# sol tan e# 5# tip gto o L q Tb faq g# z e# 5# m# z -oo-
A15 fup tum gto L m# mok z# ^L# tak sak m# q 5# p z c) O L ll. sol fid rit mok
A16 roq fek = S°. man m# fed mok zok nom mok t z c) nek ton mok
A17 fid gip tue r+ m# o gto # nik a# c) ll- 7 ton mif ref mok fid ef sob L#
A18 tue zok nag tep m# L gto c) ff z fed na tum sab mik pul z zes gaq zes T
# A19-A22: image 3 (f. 4v), left page, lines 1-4 (y 177, 224, 269, 314); clear text follows ("lo que vra mag. ...")
A19 tus mik tue fip mok fup & m# Lo g# zis mok mik gto tum zes gnc + r+ zme
A20 EO ff ll. fed tue ter gnc tue gee mod e# z zos mok roq fux pul e# zes go tu?
A21 m# mok z# r+ # ef gto p mik pul q tue L# & o 5# c) z# oo fed ef g# c) q ff z
A22 tum gto m# piq ef mok rep mik & z nek o L p q = L# S° DDecryption
A01 EN tosas LA do DEL preuill?eg O DES? SE
A02 s NI SI ma MENTE y LO sn OTRAS tmass LA NOS DICHO spreui
A03 ll?e?gi? O sse CON f IR maz O n ES QUE LOS as HA CON cedu
A04 lad? O? es TO SE EN ti ESSE DE EN UER LO syre CON p
A05 cer LO s Y EL PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? y ESTA bando DE UER LO sa
A06 uisaremi PO? a LOS DICHO QUE a LO sd E re AL
A07 TI? MI parecie?rra QUE ELLO POR QUE pueda PO? r
A08 LO QUE SA? re SU re AL {nes} teses PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE
A09 SI EN EST pedrona LE rroarribare EN E s
A10 MA s QUE SE reciba Y a MI goy SE as DE n
A11 {zoq} {er} ca {res} {nis} SE HA ra Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y O d? A aperci
A12 b IR SU TODO s LO s MA s POR QUE E npreue NI NOS QUE
A13 SI EN LA EST adosi SI ES SE E AL g UN or SU asto MI
A14 s AL ga CON ELLO yd E terni DO? cuydaua
A15 MI EN tra QUE llo LA EST andouiere? CON LA COSAS? QUE
A16 TO {fek} tees PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE adui SI ERA QUE
A17 LA PARTE DE gaeta PORQUE fizi ERA SU SANTIDAD QUE LA s COSA s
A18 DE LOS QUE E articu LO {na} EN {sab} SE HA u II? se
A19 FUE? SE DE MAS QUE MI parec O QUE SE t EN NI ng UN
A20 rece? LO DE UE? NI DE {gee} {mod} yu E QUE TO NO HA y PER SON
A21 a QUE lgasto SE HA n DE spedilp LO scincu
A22 EN ta NE s QUE ESTAS SE pu SI erontes
B01 QUE HA nquitado LA carcel?
B02 ena DE EN cima DEL OS yec HA do LA QUE E MUCHO
B03 SI n DAR? {gie} CON QUE pagar SE
B04 y LA inpo SI bilidal QUE HA se
B05 POR NI ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE y EN da NO QUE PUEDE n E Y
B06 arribadigo SU plicoa LOS ME man DE DA? r
B07 LA {gie} QUE EN TODO {zad} DE t EN er CON ELLO sy DE don DE a
B08 Y HA n DE SE rpagre NOS pu ES LO s LA s CAPITAN? ES y EN
B09 CA? danugo NO curaran SI NO DE E p LA ce
B10 bos AL OS yec HA r EN MIL a NO DE SU A dosepo
B11 ner LO ESTADO EN DE LOS
C01 ya MI iuyp O NO
C02 creo QUE EN OS HA ga COSA? {ga} enypu ES LA DICHA GENTE LUGAR a
C03 cure ME QUE ELLO {soe} COSA? s LA pri ME ra QUE PAR MAS pr E
C04 SA? repo SI bas EL PAPA man DE PO? r EN LA AUN QUE SE HAN
C05 DE ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE pu ES LOS quee QUE ESTA NO HA y PUES
C06 NO PUES QUE NO t EN E CON QUE pagarl ES NO ES SI NO
C07 DE stru IR EN MUCHO es EN SE g UN do QUE SI LOS HA DE
C08 ENTRE t EN er LA ES TO DAR? el? ES QUE E PUES QUE A ndoacu
C09 sos ANO HA ran SI NO DE s CON s cordan
C10 la LOS DE ENTRE t EN er LO s ES NECESARIO? redua IR LO sesr
C11 PUES ses ES a UN nu ME ro QUE a LOS parecie
C12 rey QUE SE ant AL ES LO s QUE QUE DAR? EN QUE SE an
C13 POR NI SE ru IR don DE EL PAPA LO s EN b re SU? E NO
C14 SE PUEDE mui TO E SI npagar LO seneste PUES LA COSA
C15 QUE maraill?a ME trazo DE LOS qui TODO LO QUE EL
C16 PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? LE dize SE DE SU {mod} AL mag NI ficobur
C17 g ES DE petrucis QUE LA s COSA? s DE {nac} y {feg} QUE SE
C18 nuuosacredo LA CIUDAD as EN bieall?amreryle
C19 dize LO QUE LOS ME ES creu se LO QUE MAS ME a
C20 curr O POR QUE l LA mag NI fucoburg ES QUE d
C21 a SE satis A Y LO QUE do DO? y POR NO s AL IR
C22 DES? {gie} y ESTO|CARDENALES? MI EN to DE LOS y SE gu IR EN TODO se PUES
C23 TODO EN FAUOR? r DE EL PAPA QUE SU s COSA? spu ES SU DE SE o ERA ui
C24 u IR ymor IR DE bazo DES? protec O n DE EL PAPA
C25 Y SU padrey LO s SU O LO HA u n A do {nef}
C26 DE SU coronaypu ES CON LA pre SE nte LE COSA SU
C27 POR LOS NO terne EN A {gae} QUE DEZIR SI NO re MI t
C28 IR ME a ELLOS
D01 ESSE EN pneita QUE francirsco DE SAN o AY? CON
D02 LA {sot} sa DE te?rra MI LE SE proce DE ra EN LA SENTENCIA?
D03 Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y SANTIDAD DE pronunc r EN LA SENTENCIA? SE DAR? a SU {rel}
D04 a EL PAPA QUE l LA francisco SAN o NI LO sl A AL
D05 CA? n {mie} DES? en
D06 LA esta COSA POR QUE SE quea LA CAUSA DEL MES? DE abruco ENTRE
D07 atounre?dacreracho LO y O HA n AL fonso DE SI n LE
D08 ne? O? se PUES QUE EN E {nep} DEL par LA ME nto MI ES TO QUE
D09 SE proceda EN ELLOS PUES LO QUE l {sot} DE ter ME n ES pre
D10 t EN DE EN EN LA MES? ME HA parecidat EN er LA PAGA
D11 y SA? bredon EN LA par LA ME nto DA? rea LOS TODO LO QUE QUE
D12 E ME ocurre
D13 O {nis} QUE doauisala DICHO QUE LOS ME DICEN QUE EN uni O
D14 DE O HA npau LO ball?ony O HA nur SI MI QUE SE HA n LUEGO
D15 a E MUCHO se DES? AUN QUE EL PAPA DICEN ME go UER nare CON ELLO sy CON
D16 TODO s LO s OTRAS QUE qui NI er EN l A MAS EN uni O DEL LA O
D17 HA npau LO qu E QUE a SU padre? HA n DE goll?ado
D18 EN ESTE heoydo DEZIR QUE SE MANDO? IR a LOS DICHO QUE MAS SU pie
D19 re DES? DAR? e {rel} a EL PAPAReading
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
Translation
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
block B, 5 Oct 1517 (11 lines) decoded, not read
The troops cannot be kept or paid; the impossibility of it; a prison emptied.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# cardona1517 block B: /1 (Naples, 5 Oct 1517) image 6 (spread), in two pieces separated by clear text: # B01-B03 left page, bottom (line centres y about 978-1068 at the left edge; the lines slope down about 35 px # across the page), after *...ser pagada / yo no veo*; followed by the clear postscript-like line # *Despues de scripto lo susodicho he recebido cartas de roma...* # B04-B10 right page, bottom (y about 852-1102 at the left edge, sloping down about 35 px), after the clear text # ending *...esto quanto importa*; the X over this piece hides no sign. # B11 top line of image 7, left page (y 167), which ends the block with D. # Read from 2.4-3.2x crops in three columns per line, the crop windows shifted down to follow the slope. # Labels as in a_transcription.txt and c_transcription.txt; new: ⊥ = an inverted T (B01). # [[...]] = clear text B01 [[...ser pagada / yo no veo]] S° mok pul q- ⊥ z 7 gto m# 5# p fid g# m# % ff g? B02 P# m# tue tum g# c) #o # tef gao e# O g# pul 5# p fid nag tep mig B03 nek q- tud gie sol mok oo m# r+ # L mik P# S° B04 [[...esto quanto importa]] P# e# fid c) q- oo p nek d# c) z# 7 5# m# z# mok pul T B05 mo gnc tul gto tum O L fid tek fe e# tum 5# m# fux mok goe + tep sam B06 m# E c) d# m# 5# c) r+ p mif oo z# c) ff p m# zok fao p# m# + tue toq L B07 fid gie mok tum nez zad tue gto tum Tb° L sol tan ef e# tue 5# p + tue -oo- B08 sam pul q- tue mik L oo m# r+ Lo sox n+ z tin fed L# tak ef til tin e# tum B09 zue 5# -oo- q- o+ r+ p fux g# z L m# % # q- nek fux tue tep oo fid g# O B10 d# p L# rio gao e# O g# pul % tum fum m# fux tue mif top 5# p T oo p B11 q- O L fed tun tum tue zok P# S° P# D
Decryption
A01 EN tosas LA do DEL preuill?eg O DES? SE
A02 s NI SI ma MENTE y LO sn OTRAS tmass LA NOS DICHO spreui
A03 ll?e?gi? O sse CON f IR maz O n ES QUE LOS as HA CON cedu
A04 lad? O? es TO SE EN ti ESSE DE EN UER LO syre CON p
A05 cer LO s Y EL PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? y ESTA bando DE UER LO sa
A06 uisaremi PO? a LOS DICHO QUE a LO sd E re AL
A07 TI? MI parecie?rra QUE ELLO POR QUE pueda PO? r
A08 LO QUE SA? re SU re AL {nes} teses PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE
A09 SI EN EST pedrona LE rroarribare EN E s
A10 MA s QUE SE reciba Y a MI goy SE as DE n
A11 {zoq} {er} ca {res} {nis} SE HA ra Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y O d? A aperci
A12 b IR SU TODO s LO s MA s POR QUE E npreue NI NOS QUE
A13 SI EN LA EST adosi SI ES SE E AL g UN or SU asto MI
A14 s AL ga CON ELLO yd E terni DO? cuydaua
A15 MI EN tra QUE llo LA EST andouiere? CON LA COSAS? QUE
A16 TO {fek} tees PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE adui SI ERA QUE
A17 LA PARTE DE gaeta PORQUE fizi ERA SU SANTIDAD QUE LA s COSA s
A18 DE LOS QUE E articu LO {na} EN {sab} SE HA u II? se
A19 FUE? SE DE MAS QUE MI parec O QUE SE t EN NI ng UN
A20 rece? LO DE UE? NI DE {gee} {mod} yu E QUE TO NO HA y PER SON
A21 a QUE lgasto SE HA n DE spedilp LO scincu
A22 EN ta NE s QUE ESTAS SE pu SI erontes
B01 QUE HA nquitado LA carcel?
B02 ena DE EN cima DEL OS yec HA do LA QUE E MUCHO
B03 SI n DAR? {gie} CON QUE pagar SE
B04 y LA inpo SI bilidal QUE HA se
B05 POR NI ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE y EN da NO QUE PUEDE n E Y
B06 arribadigo SU plicoa LOS ME man DE DA? r
B07 LA {gie} QUE EN TODO {zad} DE t EN er CON ELLO sy DE don DE a
B08 Y HA n DE SE rpagre NOS pu ES LO s LA s CAPITAN? ES y EN
B09 CA? danugo NO curaran SI NO DE E p LA ce
B10 bos AL OS yec HA r EN MIL a NO DE SU A dosepo
B11 ner LO ESTADO EN DE LOS
C01 ya MI iuyp O NO
C02 creo QUE EN OS HA ga COSA? {ga} enypu ES LA DICHA GENTE LUGAR a
C03 cure ME QUE ELLO {soe} COSA? s LA pri ME ra QUE PAR MAS pr E
C04 SA? repo SI bas EL PAPA man DE PO? r EN LA AUN QUE SE HAN
C05 DE ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE pu ES LOS quee QUE ESTA NO HA y PUES
C06 NO PUES QUE NO t EN E CON QUE pagarl ES NO ES SI NO
C07 DE stru IR EN MUCHO es EN SE g UN do QUE SI LOS HA DE
C08 ENTRE t EN er LA ES TO DAR? el? ES QUE E PUES QUE A ndoacu
C09 sos ANO HA ran SI NO DE s CON s cordan
C10 la LOS DE ENTRE t EN er LO s ES NECESARIO? redua IR LO sesr
C11 PUES ses ES a UN nu ME ro QUE a LOS parecie
C12 rey QUE SE ant AL ES LO s QUE QUE DAR? EN QUE SE an
C13 POR NI SE ru IR don DE EL PAPA LO s EN b re SU? E NO
C14 SE PUEDE mui TO E SI npagar LO seneste PUES LA COSA
C15 QUE maraill?a ME trazo DE LOS qui TODO LO QUE EL
C16 PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? LE dize SE DE SU {mod} AL mag NI ficobur
C17 g ES DE petrucis QUE LA s COSA? s DE {nac} y {feg} QUE SE
C18 nuuosacredo LA CIUDAD as EN bieall?amreryle
C19 dize LO QUE LOS ME ES creu se LO QUE MAS ME a
C20 curr O POR QUE l LA mag NI fucoburg ES QUE d
C21 a SE satis A Y LO QUE do DO? y POR NO s AL IR
C22 DES? {gie} y ESTO|CARDENALES? MI EN to DE LOS y SE gu IR EN TODO se PUES
C23 TODO EN FAUOR? r DE EL PAPA QUE SU s COSA? spu ES SU DE SE o ERA ui
C24 u IR ymor IR DE bazo DES? protec O n DE EL PAPA
C25 Y SU padrey LO s SU O LO HA u n A do {nef}
C26 DE SU coronaypu ES CON LA pre SE nte LE COSA SU
C27 POR LOS NO terne EN A {gae} QUE DEZIR SI NO re MI t
C28 IR ME a ELLOS
D01 ESSE EN pneita QUE francirsco DE SAN o AY? CON
D02 LA {sot} sa DE te?rra MI LE SE proce DE ra EN LA SENTENCIA?
D03 Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y SANTIDAD DE pronunc r EN LA SENTENCIA? SE DAR? a SU {rel}
D04 a EL PAPA QUE l LA francisco SAN o NI LO sl A AL
D05 CA? n {mie} DES? en
D06 LA esta COSA POR QUE SE quea LA CAUSA DEL MES? DE abruco ENTRE
D07 atounre?dacreracho LO y O HA n AL fonso DE SI n LE
D08 ne? O? se PUES QUE EN E {nep} DEL par LA ME nto MI ES TO QUE
D09 SE proceda EN ELLOS PUES LO QUE l {sot} DE ter ME n ES pre
D10 t EN DE EN EN LA MES? ME HA parecidat EN er LA PAGA
D11 y SA? bredon EN LA par LA ME nto DA? rea LOS TODO LO QUE QUE
D12 E ME ocurre
D13 O {nis} QUE doauisala DICHO QUE LOS ME DICEN QUE EN uni O
D14 DE O HA npau LO ball?ony O HA nur SI MI QUE SE HA n LUEGO
D15 a E MUCHO se DES? AUN QUE EL PAPA DICEN ME go UER nare CON ELLO sy CON
D16 TODO s LO s OTRAS QUE qui NI er EN l A MAS EN uni O DEL LA O
D17 HA npau LO qu E QUE a SU padre? HA n DE goll?ado
D18 EN ESTE heoydo DEZIR QUE SE MANDO? IR a LOS DICHO QUE MAS SU pie
D19 re DES? DAR? e {rel} a EL PAPAReading
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
Translation
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
block C, 5 Oct 1517 (28 lines) decoded, not read
No money to keep the infantry; the Pope; Borghese Petrucci, brother of the executed cardinal, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# cardona1517 block C: /1 (Naples, 5 Oct 1517) image 7 (spread), left page C01-C14 (line centres y 565..1120, # x 190..1050), right page C15-C28 (y 189..743, x 1160..2030). Read from 2.6-3.2x crops in three columns per line. # Labels as in a_transcription.txt, with these additions and clarifications (4 Nov 2026): # p = the descending stroke with a loop at the top left, after 5# (A's "5# p") and alone; it is not the letter p # of code words such as pul, gap, top # ef = barred o followed by that stroke (A's "ef"); a sign pair, not a code word # -oo- = the double circle with a stroke through it (also written o-o); oo = the double circle without the stroke # -o- = a single circle with a stroke through it # q- = q with a bar through the descender; o+ = o with a cross-stroke above; c)# = reversed c with a double bar # Lo / L o = angle sign followed by small o; S° also for the long s with a dot (C10 end) # [[...]] = clear text # The far/fax and roq/roj readings are as in block A (final x and q/j are alike in this hand). # # The top line of the left page (y 167) is the end of block B: see b_transcription.txt, B11. C01 [[...zada no se lo que en esto se podra acabar]] S° e# m# fup c) z e# oo zis fux C02 g# Lo p mok tum gao pul r+ m# sal ga P# e# oo z tin fid tek fe zog -oo- C03 ff z EO fao nag tan soe sal ef fid oo L r fao % m# mok man fem oo L tip C04 po % O n+ p nek d# z#o zen fus #o m# + tue gap L tum fid pe mok mik pr C05 tue tul gto tum Tb° L fid tek fe oo z tin zok x# O Tb° mok rop fux pul e# mj C06 fux mj mok fux gto tum zos sol mok oo m# r+ # L z# tin fux tin nek fux C07 tue L# gto L z zus tum mig S° tum mik r+ zme 5# p mok nek zok pul tue C08 tul gto tum Tb° L fid tin roq tud g tin mok tep mj mok top + 5# p -oo- ff z C09 ef -o- L# foy pul L m# + nek fux tue L# sol sim ef zes ff p L 5# m# + C10 z# -oo- zok tue tul gto tum O L fed L# tin gec EO 5# z -oo- zus fed L# S° L C11 mj ef S° tin m# zme sim q- z fao L p mok m# zok oo m# Lo g# c) O C12 % O e# mok mik m# + gto rio tin fed ef mok mok tud tum mok mik m# + C13 mo gnc mik L z zus 5# p + tue zen fus fed L# tum d# zes Lo ras tip fux C14 mik goe p# o+ c) roq tep nek + oo m# r+ # L fed L# P# S° = mj fid sob C15 mok #o # L -oo- c) A m# fao gto % m# t# p tue zok x# c)? nez fed mok zen C16 fus fax zig 5# c) t# O mik tue mif mod rio #o # r+ gnc a# c) ff p d# z L C17 r+ tin tue oo Tb° gto L z ff c) L# nag fid L# sal ef tue nac e# feg mok mik C18 q z o+ p L# m# g# Lo 5# p fid sub z#o tum d# c) O m# A # p# Lo L e# z# Tb° C19 5# c) t# Tb° fed mok zok fao tin g# Lo o+ zes T fed mok fem fao -oo- C20 g# z E zis mo mok z# tak p# # r+ gnc c)# z g# p d# z L r+ tin mok 5# C21 m# mik ef m# gto c) L# top sam fed mok 5# p faq e# mo fux L# rio zus C22 tof gie e# fax fup tum gto -o- tue zok e# mik r+ z zus tum nez T mj C23 nez tum giz L tue zen fus nag mif L# sal ef oo z tin mif tue mik p ton o+ c) C24 z zus e# p# p L zus tue d# m# t# p tof oo L p gto O ff zis + tue zen fus C25 sam mif n+ m# 5# L Tb° e# fed L# mif zis fed pul z zes + top 5# p nef C26 tue mif g# p L -o- q- m# e# oo z tin sol fid oo Lo mik + gto O zig sob mif C27 zes mo zok fux gto O L + O tum top gae mok tic nek fux EO fup gto C28 zus fao m# ten S° D = [[de napoles a v de otubre de M D xvij]]
Decryption
A01 EN tosas LA do DEL preuill?eg O DES? SE
A02 s NI SI ma MENTE y LO sn OTRAS tmass LA NOS DICHO spreui
A03 ll?e?gi? O sse CON f IR maz O n ES QUE LOS as HA CON cedu
A04 lad? O? es TO SE EN ti ESSE DE EN UER LO syre CON p
A05 cer LO s Y EL PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? y ESTA bando DE UER LO sa
A06 uisaremi PO? a LOS DICHO QUE a LO sd E re AL
A07 TI? MI parecie?rra QUE ELLO POR QUE pueda PO? r
A08 LO QUE SA? re SU re AL {nes} teses PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE
A09 SI EN EST pedrona LE rroarribare EN E s
A10 MA s QUE SE reciba Y a MI goy SE as DE n
A11 {zoq} {er} ca {res} {nis} SE HA ra Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y O d? A aperci
A12 b IR SU TODO s LO s MA s POR QUE E npreue NI NOS QUE
A13 SI EN LA EST adosi SI ES SE E AL g UN or SU asto MI
A14 s AL ga CON ELLO yd E terni DO? cuydaua
A15 MI EN tra QUE llo LA EST andouiere? CON LA COSAS? QUE
A16 TO {fek} tees PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE adui SI ERA QUE
A17 LA PARTE DE gaeta PORQUE fizi ERA SU SANTIDAD QUE LA s COSA s
A18 DE LOS QUE E articu LO {na} EN {sab} SE HA u II? se
A19 FUE? SE DE MAS QUE MI parec O QUE SE t EN NI ng UN
A20 rece? LO DE UE? NI DE {gee} {mod} yu E QUE TO NO HA y PER SON
A21 a QUE lgasto SE HA n DE spedilp LO scincu
A22 EN ta NE s QUE ESTAS SE pu SI erontes
B01 QUE HA nquitado LA carcel?
B02 ena DE EN cima DEL OS yec HA do LA QUE E MUCHO
B03 SI n DAR? {gie} CON QUE pagar SE
B04 y LA inpo SI bilidal QUE HA se
B05 POR NI ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE y EN da NO QUE PUEDE n E Y
B06 arribadigo SU plicoa LOS ME man DE DA? r
B07 LA {gie} QUE EN TODO {zad} DE t EN er CON ELLO sy DE don DE a
B08 Y HA n DE SE rpagre NOS pu ES LO s LA s CAPITAN? ES y EN
B09 CA? danugo NO curaran SI NO DE E p LA ce
B10 bos AL OS yec HA r EN MIL a NO DE SU A dosepo
B11 ner LO ESTADO EN DE LOS
C01 ya MI iuyp O NO
C02 creo QUE EN OS HA ga COSA? {ga} enypu ES LA DICHA GENTE LUGAR a
C03 cure ME QUE ELLO {soe} COSA? s LA pri ME ra QUE PAR MAS pr E
C04 SA? repo SI bas EL PAPA man DE PO? r EN LA AUN QUE SE HAN
C05 DE ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE pu ES LOS quee QUE ESTA NO HA y PUES
C06 NO PUES QUE NO t EN E CON QUE pagarl ES NO ES SI NO
C07 DE stru IR EN MUCHO es EN SE g UN do QUE SI LOS HA DE
C08 ENTRE t EN er LA ES TO DAR? el? ES QUE E PUES QUE A ndoacu
C09 sos ANO HA ran SI NO DE s CON s cordan
C10 la LOS DE ENTRE t EN er LO s ES NECESARIO? redua IR LO sesr
C11 PUES ses ES a UN nu ME ro QUE a LOS parecie
C12 rey QUE SE ant AL ES LO s QUE QUE DAR? EN QUE SE an
C13 POR NI SE ru IR don DE EL PAPA LO s EN b re SU? E NO
C14 SE PUEDE mui TO E SI npagar LO seneste PUES LA COSA
C15 QUE maraill?a ME trazo DE LOS qui TODO LO QUE EL
C16 PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? LE dize SE DE SU {mod} AL mag NI ficobur
C17 g ES DE petrucis QUE LA s COSA? s DE {nac} y {feg} QUE SE
C18 nuuosacredo LA CIUDAD as EN bieall?amreryle
C19 dize LO QUE LOS ME ES creu se LO QUE MAS ME a
C20 curr O POR QUE l LA mag NI fucoburg ES QUE d
C21 a SE satis A Y LO QUE do DO? y POR NO s AL IR
C22 DES? {gie} y ESTO|CARDENALES? MI EN to DE LOS y SE gu IR EN TODO se PUES
C23 TODO EN FAUOR? r DE EL PAPA QUE SU s COSA? spu ES SU DE SE o ERA ui
C24 u IR ymor IR DE bazo DES? protec O n DE EL PAPA
C25 Y SU padrey LO s SU O LO HA u n A do {nef}
C26 DE SU coronaypu ES CON LA pre SE nte LE COSA SU
C27 POR LOS NO terne EN A {gae} QUE DEZIR SI NO re MI t
C28 IR ME a ELLOS
D01 ESSE EN pneita QUE francirsco DE SAN o AY? CON
D02 LA {sot} sa DE te?rra MI LE SE proce DE ra EN LA SENTENCIA?
D03 Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y SANTIDAD DE pronunc r EN LA SENTENCIA? SE DAR? a SU {rel}
D04 a EL PAPA QUE l LA francisco SAN o NI LO sl A AL
D05 CA? n {mie} DES? en
D06 LA esta COSA POR QUE SE quea LA CAUSA DEL MES? DE abruco ENTRE
D07 atounre?dacreracho LO y O HA n AL fonso DE SI n LE
D08 ne? O? se PUES QUE EN E {nep} DEL par LA ME nto MI ES TO QUE
D09 SE proceda EN ELLOS PUES LO QUE l {sot} DE ter ME n ES pre
D10 t EN DE EN EN LA MES? ME HA parecidat EN er LA PAGA
D11 y SA? bredon EN LA par LA ME nto DA? rea LOS TODO LO QUE QUE
D12 E ME ocurre
D13 O {nis} QUE doauisala DICHO QUE LOS ME DICEN QUE EN uni O
D14 DE O HA npau LO ball?ony O HA nur SI MI QUE SE HA n LUEGO
D15 a E MUCHO se DES? AUN QUE EL PAPA DICEN ME go UER nare CON ELLO sy CON
D16 TODO s LO s OTRAS QUE qui NI er EN l A MAS EN uni O DEL LA O
D17 HA npau LO qu E QUE a SU padre? HA n DE goll?ado
D18 EN ESTE heoydo DEZIR QUE SE MANDO? IR a LOS DICHO QUE MAS SU pie
D19 re DES? DAR? e {rel} a EL PAPAReading
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
Translation
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
block D, 18 Jun 1520 (19 lines) decoded, not read
Proceedings and sentence in Rome after the beheading of Giampaolo Baglioni ('[Io]han Paulo Ballón'); a Neapolitan parlamento; the pay.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# cardona1517 block D: /4 (Naples, 18 Jun 1520), in two pieces: # D01-D12 image 3 left page (line centres about y 315-760), after the clear paragraph ending *...a v.al.*; two # paragraphs (D01-D05, opening with *ratio* as block A does, and D06-D12), ending *D P#* before the clear # text resumes. The lines slope slightly down to the right. # D13-D19 image 4 right page, top (y about 110-370), opening with the two-bar sign and ending *S° P#* before the # clear paragraph *Lo que vuestra magestad ha parecido bien...*; the lines slope slightly up to the right. # Read from 2.45-3.2x crops in three columns per line. Diagonal strokes cross both pieces; they hide no sign. # Labels as in a_transcription.txt, b_transcription.txt and c_transcription.txt; new: c# = plain c with a double bar; # ε = rounded epsilon (D08, D11), distinct from the capital E (checked on image 3, 4 Nov 2026). # [[...]] = clear text D01 = ratio S° tim tum oo q O c) gto -oo- mok a# L # + g# 7 L ef ff p tue fel p noy sol D02 fid sot L# m# tue gto ll. E m# fup zig mik n+ % p g# O tue L m# tum fid sif D03 sam zok fax e# ref tue oo L p + z q- ff zes % tum fid sif mik tud m# mif rel D04 m# zen fus mok z# tak c)# L m# q- g# c) L# ff p fel p gnc fed L# z# top rio D05 zue q- mie tuf P# D06 fid S° D sob mo mok mik x# O m# fid per tef gnd tue m# d# % z ff p tul D07 -oo- gto p c# L ll. 5# # g# Lo % m# ff c p fed e# zis pul q- rio c)# p q- L# p tue nek q zig D08 q- ll. miz T mj mok tum tep nep tef n+ m# % fid fao q- ε p fup tin roq mok D09 mik oo L p g# O 5# m# tum ten mj fed mok z# sot tue gto O % fao q- tin n+ Lo D10 gto tum tue tum tum tak gnd fao pul n+ # % O g# c) 5# -oo- gto tum O L fid not D11 e# po d# Lo 5# p + tum tak n+ # % fid fao q- ε p toq Lo m# zok nez fed mok nag D12 tip fao p g# z E Tb° D P# D13 = P# zis nis mok 5# p m# z c) L# m# z# -oo- tif mok zok fao nom nag tum c# c) zis D14 tue zis pul q- n+ m# z fed d# m# A p q- e# zis pul q- z L nek fup mok mik pul q- zag D15 m# tep mig T tof pe mok zen fus nom fao r+ p zih q- m# % O sol tan L# e# sol D16 nez ef fed ef gif mok x# c) gnc Tb° L tum z# top fip tum c# 7 zis tef tak zis D17 pul q- n+ m# z fed x# zos mok m# mif n+ m# 5# L ll. pul q- tue r+ p A m# 5# p D18 tum moq c Tb° p e# 5# p tic mok mik mel zus m# zok tif mok fem mif n+ c) Tb° D19 % O tuf tud Tb° rel m# zen fus S° P#
Decryption
A01 EN tosas LA do DEL preuill?eg O DES? SE
A02 s NI SI ma MENTE y LO sn OTRAS tmass LA NOS DICHO spreui
A03 ll?e?gi? O sse CON f IR maz O n ES QUE LOS as HA CON cedu
A04 lad? O? es TO SE EN ti ESSE DE EN UER LO syre CON p
A05 cer LO s Y EL PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? y ESTA bando DE UER LO sa
A06 uisaremi PO? a LOS DICHO QUE a LO sd E re AL
A07 TI? MI parecie?rra QUE ELLO POR QUE pueda PO? r
A08 LO QUE SA? re SU re AL {nes} teses PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE
A09 SI EN EST pedrona LE rroarribare EN E s
A10 MA s QUE SE reciba Y a MI goy SE as DE n
A11 {zoq} {er} ca {res} {nis} SE HA ra Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y O d? A aperci
A12 b IR SU TODO s LO s MA s POR QUE E npreue NI NOS QUE
A13 SI EN LA EST adosi SI ES SE E AL g UN or SU asto MI
A14 s AL ga CON ELLO yd E terni DO? cuydaua
A15 MI EN tra QUE llo LA EST andouiere? CON LA COSAS? QUE
A16 TO {fek} tees PAR a LO QUE LOS DICEN QUE adui SI ERA QUE
A17 LA PARTE DE gaeta PORQUE fizi ERA SU SANTIDAD QUE LA s COSA s
A18 DE LOS QUE E articu LO {na} EN {sab} SE HA u II? se
A19 FUE? SE DE MAS QUE MI parec O QUE SE t EN NI ng UN
A20 rece? LO DE UE? NI DE {gee} {mod} yu E QUE TO NO HA y PER SON
A21 a QUE lgasto SE HA n DE spedilp LO scincu
A22 EN ta NE s QUE ESTAS SE pu SI erontes
B01 QUE HA nquitado LA carcel?
B02 ena DE EN cima DEL OS yec HA do LA QUE E MUCHO
B03 SI n DAR? {gie} CON QUE pagar SE
B04 y LA inpo SI bilidal QUE HA se
B05 POR NI ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE y EN da NO QUE PUEDE n E Y
B06 arribadigo SU plicoa LOS ME man DE DA? r
B07 LA {gie} QUE EN TODO {zad} DE t EN er CON ELLO sy DE don DE a
B08 Y HA n DE SE rpagre NOS pu ES LO s LA s CAPITAN? ES y EN
B09 CA? danugo NO curaran SI NO DE E p LA ce
B10 bos AL OS yec HA r EN MIL a NO DE SU A dosepo
B11 ner LO ESTADO EN DE LOS
C01 ya MI iuyp O NO
C02 creo QUE EN OS HA ga COSA? {ga} enypu ES LA DICHA GENTE LUGAR a
C03 cure ME QUE ELLO {soe} COSA? s LA pri ME ra QUE PAR MAS pr E
C04 SA? repo SI bas EL PAPA man DE PO? r EN LA AUN QUE SE HAN
C05 DE ENTRE t EN er LA DICHA GENTE pu ES LOS quee QUE ESTA NO HA y PUES
C06 NO PUES QUE NO t EN E CON QUE pagarl ES NO ES SI NO
C07 DE stru IR EN MUCHO es EN SE g UN do QUE SI LOS HA DE
C08 ENTRE t EN er LA ES TO DAR? el? ES QUE E PUES QUE A ndoacu
C09 sos ANO HA ran SI NO DE s CON s cordan
C10 la LOS DE ENTRE t EN er LO s ES NECESARIO? redua IR LO sesr
C11 PUES ses ES a UN nu ME ro QUE a LOS parecie
C12 rey QUE SE ant AL ES LO s QUE QUE DAR? EN QUE SE an
C13 POR NI SE ru IR don DE EL PAPA LO s EN b re SU? E NO
C14 SE PUEDE mui TO E SI npagar LO seneste PUES LA COSA
C15 QUE maraill?a ME trazo DE LOS qui TODO LO QUE EL
C16 PAPA ESTO|CARDENALES? LE dize SE DE SU {mod} AL mag NI ficobur
C17 g ES DE petrucis QUE LA s COSA? s DE {nac} y {feg} QUE SE
C18 nuuosacredo LA CIUDAD as EN bieall?amreryle
C19 dize LO QUE LOS ME ES creu se LO QUE MAS ME a
C20 curr O POR QUE l LA mag NI fucoburg ES QUE d
C21 a SE satis A Y LO QUE do DO? y POR NO s AL IR
C22 DES? {gie} y ESTO|CARDENALES? MI EN to DE LOS y SE gu IR EN TODO se PUES
C23 TODO EN FAUOR? r DE EL PAPA QUE SU s COSA? spu ES SU DE SE o ERA ui
C24 u IR ymor IR DE bazo DES? protec O n DE EL PAPA
C25 Y SU padrey LO s SU O LO HA u n A do {nef}
C26 DE SU coronaypu ES CON LA pre SE nte LE COSA SU
C27 POR LOS NO terne EN A {gae} QUE DEZIR SI NO re MI t
C28 IR ME a ELLOS
D01 ESSE EN pneita QUE francirsco DE SAN o AY? CON
D02 LA {sot} sa DE te?rra MI LE SE proce DE ra EN LA SENTENCIA?
D03 Y LOS ESTO|CARDENALES? y SANTIDAD DE pronunc r EN LA SENTENCIA? SE DAR? a SU {rel}
D04 a EL PAPA QUE l LA francisco SAN o NI LO sl A AL
D05 CA? n {mie} DES? en
D06 LA esta COSA POR QUE SE quea LA CAUSA DEL MES? DE abruco ENTRE
D07 atounre?dacreracho LO y O HA n AL fonso DE SI n LE
D08 ne? O? se PUES QUE EN E {nep} DEL par LA ME nto MI ES TO QUE
D09 SE proceda EN ELLOS PUES LO QUE l {sot} DE ter ME n ES pre
D10 t EN DE EN EN LA MES? ME HA parecidat EN er LA PAGA
D11 y SA? bredon EN LA par LA ME nto DA? rea LOS TODO LO QUE QUE
D12 E ME ocurre
D13 O {nis} QUE doauisala DICHO QUE LOS ME DICEN QUE EN uni O
D14 DE O HA npau LO ball?ony O HA nur SI MI QUE SE HA n LUEGO
D15 a E MUCHO se DES? AUN QUE EL PAPA DICEN ME go UER nare CON ELLO sy CON
D16 TODO s LO s OTRAS QUE qui NI er EN l A MAS EN uni O DEL LA O
D17 HA npau LO qu E QUE a SU padre? HA n DE goll?ado
D18 EN ESTE heoydo DEZIR QUE SE MANDO? IR a LOS DICHO QUE MAS SU pie
D19 re DES? DAR? e {rel} a EL PAPAReading
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
Translation
# cardona1517: reading of the cipher passages (draft 4, 4 Nov 2026) **Status: decoded, not read.** The sign alphabet and the frequent code groups are secure. Two historical names confirm the key: *Burgès de Petrucis* (Borghese Petrucci) in 1517 and *[Io]han Paulo Ballón* (Giampaolo Baglioni) in 1520. But many sentences still have holes, so only the passages that build sense are given as sentences. Draft 4 follows a context pass (NOTES.md, step 12): signs `A` *ll* and `ll` *e*, and the code groups `nag` *que*, `tic` *dezir*, `sal` *cosa* and `gec` *necesario*, among others. The full line-by-line decryption is `decode.txt`; transcription line numbers are in brackets. Notation: - `[...]` unread, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied; - spelling as decoded (*u* for *v*, *z* for *ç*). ## Document 1: Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 5 October 1517 (MSS/20210/11/1) **Summary.** Cardona reports to the young king on the troops in the kingdom of Naples and on Rome: - the men cannot be kept or paid; he asked the Pope for a loan to keep the infantry, and the cost requires discharging fifty men; - the affairs of Siena after Leo X crushed the cardinals' plot of 1517. Cardinal Alfonso Petrucci was executed that summer; his brother Borghese, the former lord of Siena, wishes to live and die under the Pope's protection. **Context in clear.** - Before block A: the 260 lances Cardona could not bring. - After A: the count of Potenza's men want their back pay. - Before C: the infantry coming to the kingdom sacked Fabriano, in the March of Ancona; Cardona sent Don Ramón de Perellós to the ambassador Don Pedro de Urrea, asking the Pope to lend *dineros para entretener la dicha ynfanteria*. ### Block A > [A01-A04] [...] del preuillegio [...] y los [...] otras [...] la[s] nos dichos preuillegios, se [...] confirmazón, es > que los [...] ha con cédula de esto [...] de verlos. > [A05-A06] [...] y el papa [?esto] y esta [...] de verlos. Avisaré [...] a los dichos, que a los de real. > [A07] [...] me pareciera que ello, porque pueda por[...]. > [A08] Lo que [...] su real [...], para lo que los dicen que > [A09] si en est[o] [...] arriba [...]. > [A10-A12] [...] que se reciba, y a mí [...] se hará, y los [?esto] [...] apercibir su[s] todos los más, porque en > breue [...]. > [A13-A14] Si en la [...] si esse algún [...] su [...] mi salga con ello [...]. > [A15] [...] mientra que [...] estando viere[n] con las cosas que [...]. > [A16] [...] para lo que los dicen que [...] si era que > [A17] la parte de Gaeta, porque fiziera Su Santidad que las cosas de los [...] artículo [...]. > [A18-A20] Fue se de más, que me pareció que se tene ningún recelo de veni[r] de [...] [...] no hay persona > [A21-A22] que el gasto se ha[n] de despedi[r] los cincuenta [...] que estas se pusieron. - [A01-A04] [...] of the privilege [...] and the [...] other [...] the said privileges, [...] confirmation, is that the [...] has with a warrant of this [...] of seeing them. - [A05-A06] [...] and the Pope [?this] and this [...] of seeing them. I shall advise [...] the said, that those of the camp. - [A07] [...] it would seem to me that it, so that it may [...]. - [A08] What [...] his camp [...], for what they say of them that - [A09] if in this [...] above [...]. - [A10-A12] [...] that it be received, and to me [...] it will be done, and those [?this] [...] to warn all his others, because soon [...]. - [A13-A14] If in the [...] if there were any [...] his [...] may come out of it [...]. - [A15] [...] while [...], being there, they see the things that [...]. - [A16] [...] for what they say of them that [...] if it were that - [A17] towards Gaeta, because His Holiness would have the affairs of the [...] article [...]. - [A18-A20] It went further, for it seemed to me that there is no fear of coming from [...] [...] there is no one - [A21-A22] that because of the cost the fifty [...] that were placed must be discharged. ### Block B > [B01] Es que han quitado la cárcel > [B02] [...] de encima de los, y echado la que mucho > [B03] sin [?dar] [...] con que pagarse. > [B04] [...] y la imposibilidad que ha [...]. > [B05] Por ni entretener la dicha gente, y en daño que pueden [...]. > [B06-B07] Arriba digo: suplico a [...] me mande [?dar] la [...] que en todo [...] de tener con ellos, y de donde > ay [...]. > [B08] Y han de ser [...] pues los [...] las capitanes, y en > [B09-B11] cada [...] no curarán sino de [...] y echar en [?Milán] de su [...] poner lo[s] [...]. - [B01] It is that they have removed the prison - [B02] [...] from on top of them, and thrown out the one that much - [B03] without giving [...] with which to pay themselves. - [B04] [...] and the impossibility that there is [...]. - [B05] Nor to keep the said troops, and to the harm that they may [...]. - [B06-B07] I say above: I beg [...] to order me to be given the [...] that in everything [...] to keep with them, and from where there is [...]. - [B08] And they have to be [...] since the [...] the captains, and in - [B09-B11] each [...] they will care for nothing but [...] and to throw into Milan(?) [...] to put [...]. ### Block C > [C01-C02] [...] o no. Creo que [...] haga cosa [...], pues la dicha gente [...] lugar a [...] > [C03-C05] que ello [...] cosas: la primera, que para más [...], el papa mande po[ner] [...], aunque se han de > entretener la dicha gente, pues los [...] que esta no hay; > [C05-C07] pues no, pues que no tene con que pagarles. No es sino destruir en mucho. Es en segundo, que si los ha de > [C08] entretener [...] es que, pues que [...] > [C09] [...] no harán sino [...]. > [C10-C11] Los de entretener, los es necesario reduzirlos [...] a un número que a los pareciere, > [C12] y que sean tales los que [?quedaren], en que se [...] > [C13-C14] por ni servir donde el papa los [...] en breue. No se puede muito, e sin pagarlos en este, pues la cosa > [C15-C17] que [...] me trazó de los [...], todo lo que el papa [?esto] le dize, se de su [...] al magnífico > Burgès de Petrucis, que las cosas de [...] y [...] que se > [C18] [...] la ciudad. [?Assí enbié a llamar], y le > [C19-C20] dize lo que los me escreve, lo que más me ocurrió, porque el magnífico Burgès que [...] > [C21] se satis[faga] y lo que [...], y por no salir > [C22] de[s] [...] y esto mi [...] de los, y seguir en todo, pues > [C23-C24] todo en favor del papa, que sus cosas, pues su deseo era vivir y morir debazo [de la] protección del papa, > [C25] y su padre y los suyos lo ha[...] [...] > [C26] de su corona. Y pues con la presente [...], > [C27-C28] por los no terné en a [...] que dezir, si no remitirme a ellos. - [C01-C02] [...] or not. I believe that [...] would do a thing [...], since the said troops [...] room for [...] - [C03-C05] that it [...] things: the first, that for more [...], the Pope orders to put [...], although the said troops must be maintained, since the [...] which is not there; - [C05-C07] since not, since he has nothing to pay them with. It is nothing but to destroy much. Secondly, that if he must - [C08] maintain them [...] it is that, since [...] - [C09] [...] they will do nothing but [...]. - [C10-C11] Those to be maintained must be reduced [...] to a number that seems good to them, - [C12] and that those who remain be such, in which [...] - [C13-C14] nor to serve where the Pope [...] them soon. Much cannot be done, and without paying them in this, since the matter - [C15-C17] that [...] drew me of the [...], all that the Pope [?this] tells him, let it be given of his [...] to the Magnificent Borghese Petrucci, that the affairs of [...] and [...] that - [C18] [...] the city. [?So I sent for him], and he - [C19-C20] tells him what they write to me, what most occurred to me, because the Magnificent Borghese that [...] - [C21] be satisfied, and what [...], and in order not to depart - [C22] from [...] and this my [...] of them, and to follow in everything, since - [C23-C24] everything in favour of the Pope, that his affairs, since his wish was to live and die under the protection of the Pope, - [C25] and his father and his family [...] - [C26] of his crown. And since with the present [...], - [C27-C28] for this I shall have nothing more [...] to say, but to refer myself to them. ## Document 2: Ramón de Cardona to Charles V, Naples, 18 June 1520 (MSS/20210/11/4) **Summary.** - **Rome, June 1520.** Leo X had Giampaolo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, lured to Rome and beheaded in Castel Sant'Angelo. The cipher speaks of the proceedings, the sentence and the cardinals. It names *[Io]han Paulo Ballón*, and *[Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado*: the words before the second name are unread. The phrase fits Baglioni's sons, whose father was beheaded. - **Naples.** A *parlamento* (presumably the Neapolitan parliament), and the pay of the troops. **Context in clear.** - Before the block: defence against the Turkish fleet on the coast of Apulia, money for the castles and pay, ending *de lo que ocurriere a la hora daré aviso a v. al.* - After it: the 200 houses to be built on the *monte de Gaeta*. ### Block D > [D01-D02] [...] esse en [...] que Francisco de San[...]o [...] con la [...] de terra [...] se procederá en la > [?sentencia]. > [D03-D04] Y los [?cardenales] y Su Santidad de pronunc[ia]r en la [?sentencia], se [?dará] a su [...] al papa, > que el [...] Francisco [...]. > [D06-D07] [...] a esta cosa, porque se [...] a la causa del [...] de Abruço entre [...] y [Io]han Alfonso de [...]. > [D08-D10] [...] pues que en [...] del parlamento mi [...] es que se proceda en ellos, pues lo que los [...] > determinen es [lo que] pretenden [...]. En la [...] me ha parecido tener la paga, > [D11-D12] y [...] en el parlamento. [?Daré] a [...] todo lo que me ocurre. > [D13-D14] [...] lo dicho, que los me dicen que en unión de [Io]han Paulo Ballón y [Io]han Ur[...] que se han > luego [...] > [D15-D16] [...] mucho [...], aunque el papa [...], me governaré con ellos y con todos los otros que [?quisieren] > [...] más en unión de la > [D17] [...] [Io]han Paulo, que a su padre han degollado. > [D18-D19] En este he oído dezir que se [?mandó] ir a los dichos, que más su[...] [...] al papa. - [D01-D02] [...] that Francisco de San[...]o [...] with the [...] of land [...] there will be proceeding in the [?sentence]. - [D03-D04] And the [?cardinals] and His Holiness to pronounce the [?sentence]; it will be given to his [...] to the Pope, that the [...] Francisco [...]. - [D06-D07] [...] to this matter, because [...] to the cause of the [...] of the Abruzzi, between [...] and Juan Alfonso de [...]. - [D08-D10] [...] since in [...] of the parliament my [...] is that they be proceeded against, since what the [...] decide is [what] they intend [...]. In the [...] it seemed to me [right] to keep the pay, - [D11-D12] and [...] in the parliament. I shall give [...] all that occurs to me. - [D13-D14] [...] the said, that they tell me that in union with Gian Paolo Baglioni and Juan Ur[...] who then [...] - [D15-D16] [...] much [...]; although the Pope [...], I shall govern myself by them and by all the others that [?wish] [...] more in union with the - [D17] [...] Gian Paolo, whose father they have beheaded. - [D18-D19] In this I have heard it said that the said were ordered to go, that more [...] to the Pope.
Key: key.tsv
07 Sources
- Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España, MSS/20210/11/1–4, Cartas de Ramón de Cardona, Virrey de Nápoles, a la Sacra Cesárea y muy Católica Magestad, BNE Digital. Public domain.
- Olga Kolosova, El lenguaje secreto de la diplomacia de Carlos V (1521–1527), thesis, Valencia 2017, hdl.handle.net/10550/66216, pp. 65–89: Lannoy’s Naples cipher and its class rule.
- Galende Díaz 1994 on BRAH 9/15, the “Cifra del visorrey” (DECODE R9815–R9820): the candidate key, not compared.
- Michael Brackx, issue #262 and pull request #264, 4 November 2026; the joint annealer is that of vich1515 (issue #94).
Everything is in targets/cardona1517/ in the project repository: the four transcriptions, key/key.tsv, decryption/decode.txt and reading.md, the scripts (read.py decodes, wsa5.c and real5.py are the annealer, the controls) and NOTES.md. Text and data CC BY 4.0, code MIT.
Cite this page
Michael Brackx and Daniel Bourdeau, “Ramón de Cardona to Charles I, Naples, 1517 and 1520”, Cyphersolver, posted 5 November 2026, https://cyphersolver.com/cardona1517.html.