Lord Cobham to Walsingham, May–June 1588

runs.txt

# Sign-level transcription of the cipher runs in the four Cobham letters (Harley 287), from full-resolution crops.
# One run per line:  folio | clear text before | cipher words (space-separated) | clear text after
# Sign codes (see signs.tsv for the glossed evidence):
#   U cup (a)          A caret ∧ (s t a)     + (b)        8 (c)          D ∞ (d)        T barred t ŧ (d t)
#   7 (e)              H barred H (f)        G Ӿ (g)      h stem+bowl (h)               I ⊥ (i a y)
#   k ω (k)            l circle+stem ϕ (l t) m ∽ (m)      # plain double cross (m n)    n ǂǂ (n)
#   z 2-shape (o)      d (o)                 c (o a e)    p loop+tail ϑ (p)             V (r)
#   y γ (r y)          : two dots / colon (u v)           w dot+stroke (w)              X undotted x (i)
#   Q reversed c ɔ (a, r?; 'Italian' f.88)   L L-shape (e; glossed nowhere, fixed by 'haven' on f.88 and f.80)   K K-shape (unknown)
#   ? unidentified sign (any letter)         [..] code sign or number, left as is
# Doubtful readings of a sign are written as the first choice; the solver treats every sign as its whole set.
f80a | hoping them | Xn Ah7 [◻] pUn87A | for what chaunces so ever you bestow
f80b | (and that must be great) it will | ncA +7 ??lA Ah7 hc:7n IA Xd+z:87 | ) and me
f80c | yf honorable for | 7 AcD7mncI Ap7p :VAI Ac Ah7A AcVm7A | as usuall
f80d | as usuall in all | AVmATA | in numbers
f80e | that at the | AVmAT dn V7DD | which was the 20
f80f | which was the 20 and the | A: IG8A | theyr
f80g | Dunkergh: 22 is so | HcVwUVd7 | yn the
f80h | yn the | cAAIcn | that he promised Q:
f80i | that he promised Q: to | Ahnc AD V?IA | 27 to begin the
f88a | There is captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland. | 8IpAkcn ?UllApcV?h | with 40 men of
f88b | with 40 men of | A8cnU | have promised
f88c | have promised | Ah7 hc:Ln | of
f88d | of | VUIn ApdIl | yn
f88g | of 30 | cnn | [struck]
f88h | Ther | 7A?T IAQlIUnA UQV:InG cAAh7 | 
f88i | | hdc:y IA nQpIcA UnAcnIc | 
f88e | yn | XcIVU Ah7V | to 15:
f88f | of latte there is | A7H?V?A | which have
f92a | Dunkergh: 4 sent by | pcc:GlcA | are
f92b | are | I7GIA lIGhl7n | and
f92c | and | 8lIUV Icn Ucn | sent by
f92d | imprisoned in | V+c?7A | it is reported that they have
f92e | it is reported that they have | 8hcV? |
f92f | of | l7AA:IVA | which

READING.md

# Cobham to Walsingham, May–June 1588 (Harley 287): consolidated reading, 21 Sept 2026

Deciphered words in **bold** with grades (H sign-certain + solver exact; M one sign or 1–2 edits; I guess).
Code numbers glossed on f. 79: 7 = the Queen, 10 = Lord Admiral, 15 = Duke of Parma, 16 = King of Spain.

## f. 80r (R8490, Ostend 5 May 1588)
- "hoping them **in the** ◻**pances** [expences] (M) for what chaunces so ever you bestow"
- "it will **not be** … **the haven** (H) is …"
- "… **to these termes** (M) as usuall **in all armadas** (H) in numbers, that at the **armada** (M) **on** … which was the 20"
- "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (H) in the **action** (M) that he promised Q[ueen] to … 27 to begin the …"

## f. 80r, second full-resolution pass (reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- New sign: a short horizontal stroke "-" = b ("be", "subiects", "Brede").
- "hoping theym in the ◻ lances(?)"; the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem sign (l/t), so "expences" is doubtful.
- "touching **hostages** (M) yt ys honorable for **7** [the Queen] (H) … **they** (H) … **to these termes** (H)"
- "in all **armada** (H) … at the armad[a] **of Brede**(I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (H)"
- "22 … promised Q: to **send** (M) … 27 to begin the **openning** (M) **of the** (H)"
- "a **broth[er]**(I) about 15 who promised the mayor … a **haven** (M) to open"

## f. 81r top
- "22 hath a **desire** (M) **to retourne** (M) from theym yf he be not more **restrain[ed]**(I)"

## f. 88r (R8492) — see reading_f88.md
- "captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland … **captain** (M) [name] with 40 men of …, [who] have promised
  **the haven** (H) **of Rain** (M) … **spoil** (M) … **there** (H) to **15** [Parma] (H)"
- "… promised they **deliverd** (M) of the … to us by reason of our abode"
- "**Italians** (H) **arriving** (M) … **Antonio** (H) … **Naples**(I)"
- "there are coming of other Scottishmen **divers** (H) … **soldiers** (I) … away the **number of** (M) …"

## f. 92r (R8495, 27 May 1588)
- "4 sent by the **Portugals** (I) are …"; "imprisoned in **Bruges** (I)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"

## f. 96v (R8496, Bourbourg 9 June 1588) — see reading_f96v.md
- "**passed** (M) … in Bruges works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "his **servants** (M) … **priests** (M)";
  "**seventy** (M)"

## Third pass on ff. 88 (lower half), 92r and 96v (reading_f88_full.md, reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- f. 88 lines 12–20 are mostly clear (Parma's commissioners; "80 sayles … with saddelles, bryddelles, bootes and
  spurres"; "he ys goyng to Caleys"); the seven cipher words there stay unread (a recurring group "Tnn" unresolved).
- f. 92r: "imprisoned in **Bridges** [Bruges] (M)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"; "**ancient of
  Newport** (M)"; "**captain** (M) [surname] is also **in prison** (M) [at] **Bridges** (M), the cause whereof is not
  knowen"; "of late ther are come … from **Irish** (M) **noblemen**(I)".
- f. 96v: "**the** … **passed** (M) yn B… works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "**Roper**(I) and of his
  **servants** (M) … **priests** (M) a doctor in …"; "caried **of letters for the people** (M)".
- New sign value: ϕ (circle crossed by stem) also = p (captain, prison, priests, people). "seventy" on f. 96v withdrawn.

## Status
Read in part: the key and sign inventory are fixed, the code numbers glossed, and about a third of the cipher words
read with grade H or M. The rest are unread because their signs could not be resolved confidently from the scans:
the ∧ and γ signs stand for several letters, and a few signs are glossed nowhere.

reading_ff80_92_96_full.md

# Cobham to Walsingham: full-resolution re-read of ff. 80r, 81r, 92r, 96v (cipher runs)

Grades: H certain, M one doubtful sign / 1-2 edits, I guess. Sign codes as in runs.txt.

## f. 80r (R8490 P1, Ostend 5 May 1588)

L1 "...to our drawe our forces from ... hoping theym **in** (Xn, H) **the** (Ah7, H) [◻ code] **lances?** (pUn87A read lUn87A; circle+stem = l/t, I) for what chaunces so ever you bestowe"
- note: the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem ϕ (l/t), not the p-loop; "lances"/"tances" both unsatisfying; possibly ◻+word = one code group.

L2 "(and that muste be great) yt will **not** (#cA, H) **be** (+7, dash-like +, M) **we?t** (wLlA; "wells"/"west" I) **the** (Ah7, H) **haven** (hc:7n, H) **is** (IA, H) [**Xd+c:87** unread: i-o/d-b-o/a/e-u/v-c-e; solver nothing] ) and me ..."
- The "-" sign in this hand is a short horizontal stroke used for **b** (= "+"): confirmed by "subiects" below; hence #cA-7 "not be".

L3 "...touching **hostages?** (HcAVUGL A: f?-o-s/t-r-a-g-e-s; the 1st and 4th signs doubtful, solver fuzzy 2 = hostages, M/I) yt ys honorable for **7** [her Majesty] (code, H) [**AcdD7p#cI** unread: t-o-?-d-e-p-n-o-i/e; possibly "to d...", solver nothing] **they** (Ah7y, H; last sign loop read as γ) [**A:VAI** unread: s/t-u-r-s/t-i; 'stay'/'surety'? I] **to** (Ac, H) **these** (Ah7A, H) **termes** (AcVm7A, H) as usuall"
- Word dividers | separate every word in this run.

L4 "in all **armada** (AVmATA = a-r-m-a-d-a, ∧=a, H) in numbers, that at the **armad[a]** (AVmAT, M) **of** (dH, H) **Brede?** (-V7D7: b-r-e-d-e, Breda? I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (A:-I78A = s-u-b-i-e-c-t-s, H) ther wer ... Julio Romeo, Cristophero Mondragon, Mor Dausey"

L5 "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (HcVw UVD7, H) yn the **action** (cAAIcn, 2nd sign doubtful, M) that he promised Q: to **send** (A7nd: small 7 between ∧ and ǂǂ, last sign d-type = o/d, M) [**Ac-D:XL** unread: t/s-o-b-?-u-i-e ...] 27 to begin the **openning** (dp7# | #I#G split by a line-end hyphen; o-p-e-n-n-i-n-g, the first two signs blotted together, M) **of** (dH, H) **the** (Ah7, H) [**-Tcw7A** unread: b-d/t-o-w-e-s; 'Downes'? I]: w[hich] myght bee to the [**Ac## GcH AcVIw7** unread: t-o-n-n ... ; I] ..."
L6 "... that a **broth[er]?** (-VcAh + 1-2 signs, b-r-o-t-h, solver exact 'broth', I) about 15 who promised the mayor [**V z L ### A l c c A** unread: signs uncertain] a **haven** (h:7n, missing the a-sign, M) to open..."

## f. 81r top (R8490 P2, continuation of 5 May letter)

L1 "22 hath a **desire** (?7AI?V: d-e-s-i-(r)-r, two doubtful signs, M) **to** (Ac, M: run-on, divider not visible) **retourne** (V7ATcVn: r-e-t-?-o-r-n, M) [ʃʃ mark] from theym yf he be not more"
L2 "**restrain[ed]?** (VGAAVcIn-8: r-?-s-t-r-a-i-n-?-?; solver fuzzy 'restrained', 2nd and last two signs doubtful, I): ther ys great want of us to cumfort our poure soldiers ..."

## f. 92r (R8495 P1, 27 May 1588) - partial pass only

L1 "that 200 maryners of Hambourgh that wer at Sluse are retourned to Dunkergh: 4 sent by the **Portugals?** (pd?:XlcA: p-o-?-u-i-l-a-s; r-sign not seen, I) are"
L2 "[**I7GIA dp IXpp7#** unread: i-e-g-i-s / o-p / i-i-p-p-e-n; solver nothing] and [**8-l:Vd Icn AcH** unread: c-b-l-u-r-o / ian / sof] sent by ..."
- Remaining f.92r lines (imprisoned in -V?c?7A ..., charge, letters, and the four further cipher lines down to "of latte ther are ...") NOT re-read in this pass.

## f. 96v top five lines (R8496 P2) - NOT re-read in this pass; see reading_f96v.md.

## f.92r lines 3–end (R8495 P1; deskew −3.25°, per-line crops at full resolution, 21 Sept 2026)

Line numbering continues from the two cipher lines above ("4 sent by the Portugals? are / I7GIA ... sent by ...").

L3 "imprisoned in **Bridges** [= Bruges] (-V+dӾ7A: b-r-(+ read i)-d-g-e-s; 4th sign is the o/d sign, Elizabethan 'Bridges' for Bruges; same word recurs in L8 as -V⊥dӾLA, M). It is reported that they have **charge** (8hcVX with the final sign read as Ӿ g, final e unwritten; M)"
L4 "**detain?** (TcAA·n: d-e-t-a-(i)-n, the 5th mark a small tick read as I; I) [**l7XA** unread: l/t-e-i/g-s; 'legs' fits signs, not context] [**l+HAT nUnA** unread: l/t-b-f-s-d / n-a-n-s; solver nothing] of words of **letters** (l7AAALVA: l-e-t-t-(t)-e-r-s, one extra caret; M) whereupon (clear?)"
L5 "to have been determined and appointed [**cn pc'n cz +lcAA** unread: o/a-n / p-e-n / o-? / b-l-o-s-s; solver nothing usable]"
L6 "[**-λ ApLcA** unread: b-? / s-p-e-o-s] [**n7V** unread: 'ner'] [**w+Ap··Xcl** unread] — (end of sentence, flourish)"
L7 "That day was [**Al7VLAT8:·** unread: s-l-e-r-e-t-d-c-u; solver 'already' at 2 edits, rejected] [**A+c 7n** unread: a-b-o / e-n] **ancient** (cnϸI7nA: a-n-c-i-e-n-t, the 3rd sign a stem-and-bowl read as c; solver exact with 8; M) **of** (cH, H) **Newport** (nL·\pcVA: n-e-w-p-o-r-t = Nieuport; exact; M)"
L8 "**forward** (HdV·\VT: f-o-r-w-(a)-r-d, one letter missing; M) [**nXcH** unread: n-i-o-f]; [**··7VA** unread: 'verse' exact, no sense] **it/is** (IA, M) **to** (Ac, H) [**Ap77l** unread: s-p-e-e-l; 'speed' at 1 edit, I] [**V?XAT** unread: 'raised' at 1 edit, I]"
L9 "**captain** (8cϕA7In: c-a-(p)-t-e-i-n, the ϕ-like sign taken as p; fuzzy 1 'captain'; M) [**-cX8L** unread: b-o-i-c-e, likely a surname; I 'Boice'?] is also **in prison** (In ϕVIAcn: i-n / p-r-i-s-o-n with ϕ for p; exact as two words; M) [**LcVA** unread: e-o-r-s] **Bridges** (-V⊥dӾLA, M) [clear: the cause whereof] is not knowen:"
L10 "Of late ther are come to [**AA7n ϕIX** unread: two carets then e-n / p?-i-i; possibly a place name] from **Irish** (IVILAϸ: i-r-i-(e)-s-h; fuzzy 1; M) **noblemen?** (nc-l7 / ϑcn across the line end: n-o-b-l-e / ?-e-n, the ϑ unexplained as m; I) —"

f.92r counts (this pass): H 2 (of in L7, to in L8), M 11 (Bridges x2, charge, letters, ancient, Newport, forward, it/is, captain, in prison, Irish), I 2 (detain, noblemen), unread 22 sign groups (incl. the surname -cX8L).

## f.96v (R8496 P2; deskew −1.5°, top four cipher lines and the cipher run on the eighth line)

L1 "**the** (AϸT, H) [**TVϕϕLcH** unread: d/t-r-l/t-l/t-e-o-f; perhaps '... of' with cH = of; 'troops of' does not fit the ϕ signs] [**·\7∩Aϑ·· Vϑ?+c** unread: w-e-s-s-p-u / r-p-?-b-o; solver nothing] **passed** (ϑUAAT∞: p-a-s-s-e-d with ŧ = e; exact; M) **by?** (-X: b-i/y; I) yn B[…] works overthrown" (the clear place name is not certain from the crop)
L2 "**within** (·\⊥AϸcN: w-i-t-h-o-n, fuzzy 1; M) **France** (HVTn8L: f-r-a-n-c-e with ŧ = a; fuzzy 1; M) [**A?V:·cA** 'serves' exact, sense unclear; I] of they commanding hes informed you of"
L3 "**Roper?** (Vcϕ7V: r-o-p-e-r with ϕ for p; a surname, exact in lexicon as 'roper'; I) and of his **servants** (A?V··7nA: s-e-r-v-e-n-t-s; fuzzy 1; M) [**⊥ϸcn** unread: i-h-o-n; 'Iohn' would fit the signs, I] **priests** (ϕV7XAA: p-r-e-i-s-t-s with ϕ for p; M) a doctor in [**AV7AA7ϑ** unread: s-r-e-s-s-e-p; solver 'treated/arrested' at 1 edit, no fit] and a"
L4 "caried **of** (cH, H) **letters** (ϕLAAALVA: l-e-t-t-(t)-e-r-s, same spelling as f.92r L4; M) **for** (HcV, H) **the** (AϸT with ŧ = e, M) **people** (ϕ7cϕl: p-e-o-p-l; exact with ϕ = p; M) [**·\U··8T** unread: w-a-u-c-d; solver nothing] and that shortly"
L8 "that he had **written?** (·\VLAAATn: w-r-e-t-t-(t/e)-n, one carries a tilde; I) [**AnAAT7nӾ ϕ7nc** unread: s-n-s-s-d-e-n-g / l-e-n-o] is fully ..."

f.96v counts: H 3 (the, of, for), M 8 (passed, within, France, servants, priests, letters, the, people), I 4 (by, serves, Roper, written), unread 8 sign groups (incl. ⊥ϸcn, possibly "Iohn").

R8490_reading.md

# R8490 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, Ostend, 5 May 1588 (BL Harley MS 287 ff. 80r-80v) — reading

Rests on: the clear text transcribed on 22 Oct 2026 from the DECODE images IMG_R8490_I39188_P1 (f. 80r) and P2 (f. 80v),
7,200 px per page (the main checkout's `tmp/cobham/`, BL images, not committed), read in strips at 0.45x and the cipher at
0.5-1.0x; the cipher signs read with the key rebuilt from the glossed sibling letters (`../signs.tsv`; R8481, R8488,
R8489, R8493) and checked against the candidate-set solver (`../solve.py`). The secretary hand is read only as far as the
crops allow: clear words not made out are `[?word]` or `[…]` too. No contemporary decipherment on these leaves, no clear
duplicate (CSP Foreign 21 pt 4 calendars none of these Harley letters). Cipher in *italics*; `[?word]` partly carried
by the signs or the hand, `[word]` supplied, `[…]` unread, `[22]` a code number. Re-read 22 Oct 2026, batch b13
(`R8490-R8496_reread_log.md`).

## Reading

Sir, I dowt not but that yow know what [?Pyne] hath to delyver from me to hys master, for he promised me to doo the same
to yow. Ther ys not ony nation (and yf ther be mony) that [?sayeth] so of the D[uke]; but severally, and [?together],
spoke that ther [?inbasied] unto Englande, saying that they wylle ether doo yt at the [?barkeday] or at the [?forder].
Therfor my poor opinion ys to strengthen our havens at home, boothe by lande and see, and to drawe our forces from
*[…]*, hoping theym *in the [?ex]pances*, for what chaunges so ever yow bestowe (and that muste be great) yt will *not be
[…] the haven is […]*; and moreover the wynde hath blown here these three wekes out [of the] north east, and ther hath
not come owt of Holland and Zelande above three boottes, and yf the wynde [had been] good to doo hether. By that yow may
see what help ther ys nor hope to be had from those parties.

Touching *hostages*, yt ys honorable for *[7] to […] their surety to these termes*, as usuall yn all *treaties* in
[?numbers], that at the *treaty of [?Breda]*, which was the 20, and the *subiects* ther were delivered Julio Romeo,
Cristophero Mondragon, Mor Daussy, as they have bene done by a [?sovereign] prince to hys subiect: much rather to his
[?royall] for the surety of her subiect and saufgarde.

Mr Controller was sycke [?yesterday], and hys owne [?] for me; he informes us [?tacitely] that he hath informed ther
Mr of hys doynge, and satisfyed hym yn these [?] proceedinges: such [?touching] the [?] of armes, and the [?] for the
better confirmation [?] according to her Mty's direction. Doctor Dayll yowr [?] [?moved] to [?] […].

I am informed that ther preparation doth dayly encrease; they chose the place of rendevous ys at Dunkergh. *[22]* is so
*forwarde* yn the *action* that he promised Q[ueen] to *send to […] [27]* to begyn the *openning of the […]*, which
myght bee to the *[?towne] of […]*, that a *[?brother]* about *[15]*, who promised the mayor *[…]* a *haven* to open.

*[22] hath a desire to retourne* from theym, yf he be not more *[?restrained]*. Ther ys great want of us to cumfort our
[…] and kepe them [?here], hoping that by yowr good meanes that we shall [be] [?relived] here. I commyt yow to the
allmyghtye. From Ostende the 5 of May a 1588.

Yowr very loving frend, W. Cobham

## Alignment notes (cipher words against the key)

* f. 80r l. 8 `c∪ǂǂ8ϕ` (after the clear "from"): o/a/e-a-n-c-l/t: no word; not "France" (no f, r).
* l. 9 `X ǂǂ | Λϸ7 | ◻ ϑ∪ǂǂ87Λ`: *in the*; ◻ an unglossed code sign + p-a-n-c-e-s: *[?ex]pances* (the clear "for what
  chaunges so ever yow bestowe" wants *expenses*; ◻ = ex- rests on this one place).
* l. 11 `ǂǂcΛ -7 WLϕΛ Λϸ7 ϸc··7ǂǂ ⊥Λ Xd+c:·87`: *not be*; `WLϕΛ` (W unglossed) unread; *the haven is*; `Xd+c:·87`
  (i/g-o-b-o-u-c-e) unread.
* l. 18 `ϸcΛΛ∪ӾLΛ`: h-o-s-t-a-g-e-s, *hostages* (L = e, from "haven" on f. 88).
* l. 19-20, words divided by bars: `7 | Λc | ∞7γǂǂcL | Λϸ7γ | Λ··VΛ⊥ | ΛT | Λϸ7Λ | ΛcV∽7Λ`: the code *[7]* (her Majesty,
  glossed f. 79); *to*; `∞7γǂǂcL` d-e-r/y-n/i-o-e unread; *their* (t-h-e-r); *surety* (s-u-r-t-y); `ΛT` *to* (T = ŧ
  read t); *these*; *termes*.
* l. 20-21 `ΛV7ΛTΛ` (t-r-e-a-t-s) and `ΛV7ΛT dH -V7∞∞`: *treaties*, *treaty of [?Breda]* (b-r-e-d-d). The third sign was read
  ∽ (m) and the word "armada" on 21 Sept; at 1:1 it is the 7-form (e). The clear names that follow (Julián Romero,
  Cristóbal de Mondragón, d'Aussy: commanders on the Spanish side in the 1570s) and "hostages" two lines above agree with
  a precedent from the Breda peace talks of 1575; that the three were the hostages there is not checked (a web search on
  22 Oct found nothing either way), so the reading rests on the signs, not on the history.
* l. 21 `Λ:-I78Λ`: s-u-b-i-e-c-t-s, *subiects*.
* l. 31-34 `22 … HcVw∪V∞7 … cΛΛ⊥cǂǂ … Λ7ǂǂ∞ Λc -··XLΛ 27 … dϑ7ǂǂǂǂ⊥ǂǂӾ dH Λϸ7 -Tcw7Λ … Λcǂǂǂǂ ӾcH ΛcVIw7 … -VcΛϸ7V … VcL##ΛϕcIΛ
  … ϸ··7ǂǂ`: *forwarde*, *action*, *send*, *to*, `-··XLΛ` (b-u-i-e-s) unread, *openning of the*, `-Tcw7Λ` unread, `Λcǂǂǂǂ`
  t-o-n-n *[?towne]*, `ӾcH ΛcVIw7` unread, *[?brother]* (b-r-o-t-h-e-r with the last sign a γ), `VcL##ΛϕcIΛ` unread,
  *haven* (h-[a]-v-e-n, the a-sign not written).
* f. 80v l. 1-2 `∞7Λ⊥VL ΛcV7ΛcV:ǂǂ … VӾΛΛVc⊥ǂǂ-8`: *desire* *to retourne* (Λc to + r-e-t-o-u-r-n, the run written without a
  bar); `VӾΛΛVc⊥ǂǂ-8` r-?-s-t-r-a-i-n-b-c: *[?restrained]*, the second sign and the ending unexplained.

R8490_en.md

# R8490 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, Ostend, 5 May 1588 — modern English

Modernised version of `R8490_reading.md`, with the same holes. Passages in cipher in the original are in *italics*.

Sir, I do not doubt that you know what [?Pyne] has to deliver from me to his master, for he promised me to do the same to
you. There is not any nation (and if there be many) that [?says] so of the Duke; but severally, and [?together], they
spoke of their [?embassy] to England, saying that they will either do it at the [?] or at the [?]. Therefore my poor
opinion is to strengthen our havens at home, both by land and sea, and to draw our forces from *[…]*, hoping them *in
the [?ex]penses*, for whatever charges you bestow (and they must be great) it will *not be […] the haven is […]*; and
moreover the wind has blown here these three weeks out of the north-east, and there have not come out of Holland and
Zeeland above three boats, and if the wind [had been] good to come hither. By that you may see what help there is, or
hope to be had, from those parts.

Touching *hostages*, it is honourable for *[her Majesty] to […] their surety on these terms*, as usual in all *treaties*
in [?numbers], since at the *treaty of [?Breda]*, which was the 20[th], and the *subjects*, there were delivered Julián
Romero, Cristóbal de Mondragón and Monsieur d'Aussy, as they have been [given] by a [?sovereign] prince to his subject:
much rather to his [?royal] [?] for the surety of her subject and safeguard.

Mr Controller was sick [?yesterday], and his own [?] for me; he informs us [?tacitly] that he has informed their master
of his doing, and satisfied him in these [?] proceedings: such [?touching] the [?] of arms, and the [?] for the better
confirmation [?] according to her Majesty's direction. Doctor Dale your [?] [?moved] to [?] […].

I am informed that their preparation daily increases; the place of rendezvous they chose is Dunkirk. *[22]* is so
*forward* in the *action* that he promised the Queen to *send to […] [27]* to begin the *opening of the […]*, which
might be to the *[?town] of […]*, that a *[?brother]* about *[15]*, who promised the mayor *[…]* a *haven* to open.

*[22] has a desire to return* from them, if he be not more *[?restrained]*. There is great want of us to comfort our
[…] and keep them [?here], hoping that by your good means we shall [be] [?relieved] here. I commit you to the Almighty.
From Ostend, 5 May 1588.

Your very loving friend, W. Cobham

runs.txt

# Sign-level transcription of the cipher runs in the four Cobham letters (Harley 287), from full-resolution crops.
# One run per line:  folio | clear text before | cipher words (space-separated) | clear text after
# Sign codes (see signs.tsv for the glossed evidence):
#   U cup (a)          A caret ∧ (s t a)     + (b)        8 (c)          D ∞ (d)        T barred t ŧ (d t)
#   7 (e)              H barred H (f)        G Ӿ (g)      h stem+bowl (h)               I ⊥ (i a y)
#   k ω (k)            l circle+stem ϕ (l t) m ∽ (m)      # plain double cross (m n)    n ǂǂ (n)
#   z 2-shape (o)      d (o)                 c (o a e)    p loop+tail ϑ (p)             V (r)
#   y γ (r y)          : two dots / colon (u v)           w dot+stroke (w)              X undotted x (i)
#   Q reversed c ɔ (a, r?; 'Italian' f.88)   L L-shape (e; glossed nowhere, fixed by 'haven' on f.88 and f.80)   K K-shape (unknown)
#   ? unidentified sign (any letter)         [..] code sign or number, left as is
# Doubtful readings of a sign are written as the first choice; the solver treats every sign as its whole set.
f80a | hoping them | Xn Ah7 [◻] pUn87A | for what chaunces so ever you bestow
f80b | (and that must be great) it will | ncA +7 ??lA Ah7 hc:7n IA Xd+z:87 | ) and me
f80c | yf honorable for | 7 AcD7mncI Ap7p :VAI Ac Ah7A AcVm7A | as usuall
f80d | as usuall in all | AVmATA | in numbers
f80e | that at the | AVmAT dn V7DD | which was the 20
f80f | which was the 20 and the | A: IG8A | theyr
f80g | Dunkergh: 22 is so | HcVwUVd7 | yn the
f80h | yn the | cAAIcn | that he promised Q:
f80i | that he promised Q: to | Ahnc AD V?IA | 27 to begin the
f88a | There is captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland. | 8IpAkcn ?UllApcV?h | with 40 men of
f88b | with 40 men of | A8cnU | have promised
f88c | have promised | Ah7 hc:Ln | of
f88d | of | VUIn ApdIl | yn
f88g | of 30 | cnn | [struck]
f88h | Ther | 7A?T IAQlIUnA UQV:InG cAAh7 | 
f88i | | hdc:y IA nQpIcA UnAcnIc | 
f88e | yn | XcIVU Ah7V | to 15:
f88f | of latte there is | A7H?V?A | which have
f92a | Dunkergh: 4 sent by | pcc:GlcA | are
f92b | are | I7GIA lIGhl7n | and
f92c | and | 8lIUV Icn Ucn | sent by
f92d | imprisoned in | V+c?7A | it is reported that they have
f92e | it is reported that they have | 8hcV? |
f92f | of | l7AA:IVA | which

READING.md

# Cobham to Walsingham, May–June 1588 (Harley 287): consolidated reading, 21 Sept 2026

Deciphered words in **bold** with grades (H sign-certain + solver exact; M one sign or 1–2 edits; I guess).
Code numbers glossed on f. 79: 7 = the Queen, 10 = Lord Admiral, 15 = Duke of Parma, 16 = King of Spain.

## f. 80r (R8490, Ostend 5 May 1588)
- "hoping them **in the** ◻**pances** [expences] (M) for what chaunces so ever you bestow"
- "it will **not be** … **the haven** (H) is …"
- "… **to these termes** (M) as usuall **in all armadas** (H) in numbers, that at the **armada** (M) **on** … which was the 20"
- "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (H) in the **action** (M) that he promised Q[ueen] to … 27 to begin the …"

## f. 80r, second full-resolution pass (reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- New sign: a short horizontal stroke "-" = b ("be", "subiects", "Brede").
- "hoping theym in the ◻ lances(?)"; the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem sign (l/t), so "expences" is doubtful.
- "touching **hostages** (M) yt ys honorable for **7** [the Queen] (H) … **they** (H) … **to these termes** (H)"
- "in all **armada** (H) … at the armad[a] **of Brede**(I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (H)"
- "22 … promised Q: to **send** (M) … 27 to begin the **openning** (M) **of the** (H)"
- "a **broth[er]**(I) about 15 who promised the mayor … a **haven** (M) to open"

## f. 81r top
- "22 hath a **desire** (M) **to retourne** (M) from theym yf he be not more **restrain[ed]**(I)"

## f. 88r (R8492) — see reading_f88.md
- "captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland … **captain** (M) [name] with 40 men of …, [who] have promised
  **the haven** (H) **of Rain** (M) … **spoil** (M) … **there** (H) to **15** [Parma] (H)"
- "… promised they **deliverd** (M) of the … to us by reason of our abode"
- "**Italians** (H) **arriving** (M) … **Antonio** (H) … **Naples**(I)"
- "there are coming of other Scottishmen **divers** (H) … **soldiers** (I) … away the **number of** (M) …"

## f. 92r (R8495, 27 May 1588)
- "4 sent by the **Portugals** (I) are …"; "imprisoned in **Bruges** (I)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"

## f. 96v (R8496, Bourbourg 9 June 1588) — see reading_f96v.md
- "**passed** (M) … in Bruges works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "his **servants** (M) … **priests** (M)";
  "**seventy** (M)"

## Third pass on ff. 88 (lower half), 92r and 96v (reading_f88_full.md, reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- f. 88 lines 12–20 are mostly clear (Parma's commissioners; "80 sayles … with saddelles, bryddelles, bootes and
  spurres"; "he ys goyng to Caleys"); the seven cipher words there stay unread (a recurring group "Tnn" unresolved).
- f. 92r: "imprisoned in **Bridges** [Bruges] (M)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"; "**ancient of
  Newport** (M)"; "**captain** (M) [surname] is also **in prison** (M) [at] **Bridges** (M), the cause whereof is not
  knowen"; "of late ther are come … from **Irish** (M) **noblemen**(I)".
- f. 96v: "**the** … **passed** (M) yn B… works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "**Roper**(I) and of his
  **servants** (M) … **priests** (M) a doctor in …"; "caried **of letters for the people** (M)".
- New sign value: ϕ (circle crossed by stem) also = p (captain, prison, priests, people). "seventy" on f. 96v withdrawn.

## Status
Read in part: the key and sign inventory are fixed, the code numbers glossed, and about a third of the cipher words
read with grade H or M. The rest are unread because their signs could not be resolved confidently from the scans:
the ∧ and γ signs stand for several letters, and a few signs are glossed nowhere.

reading_f88_full.md

# f.88 fuller pass (21 Sept 2026) - PARTIAL, lines 1-11 only
Line numbers follow the deskewed page. Sign codes as in runs.txt. Grades H/M/I; [...] unread.

L1: There is captain Montgomery ... 8AAkwTn (captain? M, prior) Kc?llApcV [...] with 40 men of [pc8cn...] have promised the p[...]
L2: [hc]:Ln (haven, prior M) of V:Ln (Rain/Raen? I) [...] Dp8Dcl [...] yn XcIVU [...] Ah7V (there H) to 15: of latte there is
L3: [sorry?] of 30 [struck] T7HLVTA [...] which have promised they p7nATcn [...] pcnAllT [...]
L4: Ther 7AAT (east H) IAQlIUnA (Italians H) QV:InG (arriving M) cAAh7 [...] hdc:y (honour M) IA nQpIcA (Naples I) UnAcnIc (Antonio H)
L5: the other ?cAp:V [...] theys be bootes(?) ... ys good ... they have promised they cllT: 7VTcnA pLAcn [...] to us by reason of our aboode
L6: there are coming of other Scottishmen cl..7VAcn (divers M, prior) Xd:Vz (your? I) Acllc7Vp (soldiers? I) [...] pcTVDn [...] of latt they have sent
L7: nc:pll..7VTc [...] away the n:.x.. (number of M, prior)
L8: lVXTlVc [...] IAIA [...] unto them 500 7nIAIAT (ensigns? I) cA8cA [...] who have sent them
L9: those as she more / our aboode doeth me grieve here, which
L10: ... IHAcpllIXlnA [...] they ys ...
L11: me the 7n?pT [...] 15 [...] V:nAcVAT [...] to XV7ALV [...] pnAV [...]
Lines 12-21: see below.

## Lines 12–21
(21 Sept 2026, second pass.) The page ends at line 20 on the deskewed image (last line "delivered ... sent"); there is no line 21 of text. The lower half is mostly clear English; cipher is confined to lines 12, 17 and 19. Clear-text readings are palaeographic, cipher grades as above.

L12: Tnn (ten? I; solver fuzzy don/ten) HVcnnG: [...] (solver only 'freeing', 2 edits, rejected) they that he wyll have cp-IQ--V [...] (no candidate) to ... with [...]
L13: b?ll? the D[uke] of Parmas comm[i]ssioners ... wind(?) lyeth far(?) there   [clear, several words uncertain]
L14: yeare; and ther b: have ... here a great Mercado ys   [clear, middle unread]
L15: [pu]bly(?); ... days ther passed by 80 sayles which ys the Landers   [clear]
L16: Landers with saddelles, bryddelles(?), bootes and spurres with ...   [clear]
L17: made readie: as blade(?): and [struck; '2000' interlined] Lo?? 56 [struck; interlined TAcnn = ten/tone I] Lo...
L18: for his Lettres(?); he ys goyng to Caleys: I praye forgett yt not.   [clear]
L19: [T..7?]TnnX (deny? I, 1 edit) and [?.]TnnAVV [...] (no candidate) worde(s) / send money to them by such ...
L20: delivered to be ... whether yt maye be taken and sent   [clear]

Counts for lines 12-20 cipher words: H 0, M 0, I 3 (ten, ten/tone, deny), unread 4 (HVcnnG:, cp-IQ--V, TnnAVV, and the prefix of L19's first group).
Note: the recurring group "Tnn" (L12, L17 interlineation, L19 twice) is probably one sign cluster misread as T + n n; recheck at higher zoom before trusting any of these.

reading_f88.md

# f. 88 (DECODE R8492), working reading, 21 Sept 2026

Clear text in roman, deciphered words in **bold**, unread runs as […]. Grades: H certain from signs + solver exact,
M one sign doubtful or 1–2 edits, I guess.

There is captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland. **captain** (M) […name…] with 40 men of […], […] have
promised **the haven** (H) of **Rain** (M) […] **spoil** (M) yn […] **there** (H) to **15** [the Duke of Parma] (H):
of latte there is […] which have promised they **deliverd** (M) of **the** […] to us by reason of our abode …
[struck: 30 …] **east(?)** **Italians** (H) **arriving** (M) … **honour(?)** … **Naples(?)** (I) **Antonio** (H) …
there are coming of other Scottishmen **divers** (H) … **soldiers(?)** (I) … away the **number of** (M) […]
… unto them 500 **ensigns(?)** (I) … who have sent him …

Grades show how little of the line is secure: the letter is read in part. Clear-text lines 4–9 were read from the
deskewed page (tmp/cobham/f88_deskew.png, rotation −1.75°).

R8492_reading.md

# R8492 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, [Ostend, May 1588] (BL Harley MS 287 f. 88r) — partial reading

Rests on: the 21 Sept sign transcription and line readings (`../reading_f88_full.md`, `../runs.txt`, `../solve_out.txt`),
re-checked line by line on 22 Oct 2026 against the DECODE image IMG_R8492_I39196_P1 (7,200 px; main checkout
`tmp/cobham/`, not committed) in eight strips at 0.45x; the key rebuilt from the glossed siblings (`../signs.tsv`). The
clear lines between the runs are transcribed only where the cramped secretary hand could be made out; whole clear
passages left out are marked `[…]`. No contemporary decipherment, no clear duplicate, not calendared. Cipher in
*italics*; `[?word]` partly carried (one sign doubtful, or the solver's near match), `[…]` unread, `[15]` a code number
(15 = the Duke of Parma, glossed f. 79). Re-read 22 Oct 2026, batch b13 (`R8490-R8496_reread_log.md`).

## Reading

There ys captayne Mongomery of latt gone into Schotland. *[?captain] […]* with 40 men of *[…]* have promised *the haven
of […] […]* yn *[…] there* to *[15]*. Of latte there ys *[…]* of 30 *[…]* which have promised they *[…] […]*. Ther *[…]
Italians [?arriving] […]* […] *[?Naples] Antonio* […] the other *[…]* […] they have promised they *[…] […]* to us by reason
of our aboode. There are coming of other Scottishmen *[?divers] […] […] […]*; of late they have sent *[…]* away the
*[?number] of […]* […] unto them 500 *[…]* who have sent them […]. Our aboode doeth me grieve here, which […] me the
*[…]* [15] *[…]*.

[…] *[…] [?freeing]*, they [say] that he wyll have *[…]* to […] with […]. The D[uke] of Parmas commissioners ys [?wind]
lyeth far there […] yeare; and ther be [?] have here a great Mercado ys [?publy]; thys day ther passed by 80 sayles which
ys the Landers, with saddelles, bryddelles, bootes and spurres with [?] made readie, as blade [?]; and [2000, interlined]
[…] for his lettres; he ys goyng to Caleys. I praye forgett yt not. *[…]* and *[…]* worde[s]; send money to them by such
[…] delivered to be […] whether yt maye be taken and sent over.

## Alignment notes

* l. 2 `8⊥ϑΛkwTǂǂ` c-a/i-p-t-k-w-d-n: *[?captain]* (solver near, two signs unexplained); `Kcϕϕ⊥ϑcVΛϸ` (K unglossed)
  a surname, not read (not Semple, whom CSP Foreign has going to Scotland in May 1588); `⊃8cǂǂΛ` unread.
* l. 2-3 `Λϸ7 ϸc··Lǂǂ`: *the haven* (h-a-v-e-n, c = a, L = e; the same word on f. 80r); `V∪⊥ǂǂ` r-a-i-n and `∩ϕdΛ`
  unread (the 21 Sept "of Rain" and "spoil" are guesses); `XcIVU Λϸ7V`: *there* certain, the word before it not.
* l. 5 `IΛQlIUnΛ` *Italians*, `QV:InG` *[?arriving]*, `nQpIcΛ` *[?Naples]*, `UnΛcnIc` *Antonio*: signs as on 21 Sept,
  the Q sign (ɔ) read a/r only here.
* l. 6-7 `cl··7VΛcn` *[?divers]*; `n:·x··` *[?number] of*. Every other run of the page (`T7HLVTA`, `p7nATcn`, `7nIAIAT`,
  `Tnn HVcnnG`, `cp-IQ--V`, `TnnAVV`) gives no word with the glossed sign values; the 22 Oct look at the image did not
  change any reading. The clear text of the lower half is as read on 21 Sept, checked on the image.

R8492_en.md

# R8492 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, [Ostend, May 1588] — modern English

Modernised version of `R8492_reading.md`, with the same holes. Passages in cipher in the original are in *italics*.

Captain Montgomery has lately gone into Scotland. *[?Captain] […]* with 40 men of *[…]* have promised *the haven of […]
[…]* in *[…] there* to *[the Duke of Parma]*. Lately there is *[…]* of 30 *[…]* who have promised they *[…] […]*. There
*[…] Italians [?arriving] […]* […] *[?Naples] Antonio* […] the other *[…]* […] they have promised they *[…] […]* to us by
reason of our stay. Other Scotsmen are coming, *[?divers] […] […] […]*; lately they have sent *[…]* away the *[?number]
of […]* […] to them 500 *[…]* who have sent them […]. Our stay here grieves me, which […] me the *[…]* [the Duke of
Parma] *[…]*.

[…] *[…] [?freeing]*, they [say] that he will have *[…]* to […] with […]. The Duke of Parma's commissioners [?] the
[?wind] lies far there […] year; and there [?] have here a great market [?publicly]; this day there passed by 80 sail,
which is the Landers, with saddles, bridles, boots and spurs with [?] made ready, as blade [?]; and [2000] […] for his
letters; he is going to Calais. I pray you, forget it not. *[…]* and *[…]* word[s]; send money to them by such […]
delivered to be […] whether it may be taken and sent over.

runs.txt

# Sign-level transcription of the cipher runs in the four Cobham letters (Harley 287), from full-resolution crops.
# One run per line:  folio | clear text before | cipher words (space-separated) | clear text after
# Sign codes (see signs.tsv for the glossed evidence):
#   U cup (a)          A caret ∧ (s t a)     + (b)        8 (c)          D ∞ (d)        T barred t ŧ (d t)
#   7 (e)              H barred H (f)        G Ӿ (g)      h stem+bowl (h)               I ⊥ (i a y)
#   k ω (k)            l circle+stem ϕ (l t) m ∽ (m)      # plain double cross (m n)    n ǂǂ (n)
#   z 2-shape (o)      d (o)                 c (o a e)    p loop+tail ϑ (p)             V (r)
#   y γ (r y)          : two dots / colon (u v)           w dot+stroke (w)              X undotted x (i)
#   Q reversed c ɔ (a, r?; 'Italian' f.88)   L L-shape (e; glossed nowhere, fixed by 'haven' on f.88 and f.80)   K K-shape (unknown)
#   ? unidentified sign (any letter)         [..] code sign or number, left as is
# Doubtful readings of a sign are written as the first choice; the solver treats every sign as its whole set.
f80a | hoping them | Xn Ah7 [◻] pUn87A | for what chaunces so ever you bestow
f80b | (and that must be great) it will | ncA +7 ??lA Ah7 hc:7n IA Xd+z:87 | ) and me
f80c | yf honorable for | 7 AcD7mncI Ap7p :VAI Ac Ah7A AcVm7A | as usuall
f80d | as usuall in all | AVmATA | in numbers
f80e | that at the | AVmAT dn V7DD | which was the 20
f80f | which was the 20 and the | A: IG8A | theyr
f80g | Dunkergh: 22 is so | HcVwUVd7 | yn the
f80h | yn the | cAAIcn | that he promised Q:
f80i | that he promised Q: to | Ahnc AD V?IA | 27 to begin the
f88a | There is captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland. | 8IpAkcn ?UllApcV?h | with 40 men of
f88b | with 40 men of | A8cnU | have promised
f88c | have promised | Ah7 hc:Ln | of
f88d | of | VUIn ApdIl | yn
f88g | of 30 | cnn | [struck]
f88h | Ther | 7A?T IAQlIUnA UQV:InG cAAh7 | 
f88i | | hdc:y IA nQpIcA UnAcnIc | 
f88e | yn | XcIVU Ah7V | to 15:
f88f | of latte there is | A7H?V?A | which have
f92a | Dunkergh: 4 sent by | pcc:GlcA | are
f92b | are | I7GIA lIGhl7n | and
f92c | and | 8lIUV Icn Ucn | sent by
f92d | imprisoned in | V+c?7A | it is reported that they have
f92e | it is reported that they have | 8hcV? |
f92f | of | l7AA:IVA | which

READING.md

# Cobham to Walsingham, May–June 1588 (Harley 287): consolidated reading, 21 Sept 2026

Deciphered words in **bold** with grades (H sign-certain + solver exact; M one sign or 1–2 edits; I guess).
Code numbers glossed on f. 79: 7 = the Queen, 10 = Lord Admiral, 15 = Duke of Parma, 16 = King of Spain.

## f. 80r (R8490, Ostend 5 May 1588)
- "hoping them **in the** ◻**pances** [expences] (M) for what chaunces so ever you bestow"
- "it will **not be** … **the haven** (H) is …"
- "… **to these termes** (M) as usuall **in all armadas** (H) in numbers, that at the **armada** (M) **on** … which was the 20"
- "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (H) in the **action** (M) that he promised Q[ueen] to … 27 to begin the …"

## f. 80r, second full-resolution pass (reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- New sign: a short horizontal stroke "-" = b ("be", "subiects", "Brede").
- "hoping theym in the ◻ lances(?)"; the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem sign (l/t), so "expences" is doubtful.
- "touching **hostages** (M) yt ys honorable for **7** [the Queen] (H) … **they** (H) … **to these termes** (H)"
- "in all **armada** (H) … at the armad[a] **of Brede**(I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (H)"
- "22 … promised Q: to **send** (M) … 27 to begin the **openning** (M) **of the** (H)"
- "a **broth[er]**(I) about 15 who promised the mayor … a **haven** (M) to open"

## f. 81r top
- "22 hath a **desire** (M) **to retourne** (M) from theym yf he be not more **restrain[ed]**(I)"

## f. 88r (R8492) — see reading_f88.md
- "captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland … **captain** (M) [name] with 40 men of …, [who] have promised
  **the haven** (H) **of Rain** (M) … **spoil** (M) … **there** (H) to **15** [Parma] (H)"
- "… promised they **deliverd** (M) of the … to us by reason of our abode"
- "**Italians** (H) **arriving** (M) … **Antonio** (H) … **Naples**(I)"
- "there are coming of other Scottishmen **divers** (H) … **soldiers** (I) … away the **number of** (M) …"

## f. 92r (R8495, 27 May 1588)
- "4 sent by the **Portugals** (I) are …"; "imprisoned in **Bruges** (I)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"

## f. 96v (R8496, Bourbourg 9 June 1588) — see reading_f96v.md
- "**passed** (M) … in Bruges works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "his **servants** (M) … **priests** (M)";
  "**seventy** (M)"

## Third pass on ff. 88 (lower half), 92r and 96v (reading_f88_full.md, reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- f. 88 lines 12–20 are mostly clear (Parma's commissioners; "80 sayles … with saddelles, bryddelles, bootes and
  spurres"; "he ys goyng to Caleys"); the seven cipher words there stay unread (a recurring group "Tnn" unresolved).
- f. 92r: "imprisoned in **Bridges** [Bruges] (M)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"; "**ancient of
  Newport** (M)"; "**captain** (M) [surname] is also **in prison** (M) [at] **Bridges** (M), the cause whereof is not
  knowen"; "of late ther are come … from **Irish** (M) **noblemen**(I)".
- f. 96v: "**the** … **passed** (M) yn B… works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "**Roper**(I) and of his
  **servants** (M) … **priests** (M) a doctor in …"; "caried **of letters for the people** (M)".
- New sign value: ϕ (circle crossed by stem) also = p (captain, prison, priests, people). "seventy" on f. 96v withdrawn.

## Status
Read in part: the key and sign inventory are fixed, the code numbers glossed, and about a third of the cipher words
read with grade H or M. The rest are unread because their signs could not be resolved confidently from the scans:
the ∧ and γ signs stand for several letters, and a few signs are glossed nowhere.

reading_ff80_92_96_full.md

# Cobham to Walsingham: full-resolution re-read of ff. 80r, 81r, 92r, 96v (cipher runs)

Grades: H certain, M one doubtful sign / 1-2 edits, I guess. Sign codes as in runs.txt.

## f. 80r (R8490 P1, Ostend 5 May 1588)

L1 "...to our drawe our forces from ... hoping theym **in** (Xn, H) **the** (Ah7, H) [◻ code] **lances?** (pUn87A read lUn87A; circle+stem = l/t, I) for what chaunces so ever you bestowe"
- note: the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem ϕ (l/t), not the p-loop; "lances"/"tances" both unsatisfying; possibly ◻+word = one code group.

L2 "(and that muste be great) yt will **not** (#cA, H) **be** (+7, dash-like +, M) **we?t** (wLlA; "wells"/"west" I) **the** (Ah7, H) **haven** (hc:7n, H) **is** (IA, H) [**Xd+c:87** unread: i-o/d-b-o/a/e-u/v-c-e; solver nothing] ) and me ..."
- The "-" sign in this hand is a short horizontal stroke used for **b** (= "+"): confirmed by "subiects" below; hence #cA-7 "not be".

L3 "...touching **hostages?** (HcAVUGL A: f?-o-s/t-r-a-g-e-s; the 1st and 4th signs doubtful, solver fuzzy 2 = hostages, M/I) yt ys honorable for **7** [her Majesty] (code, H) [**AcdD7p#cI** unread: t-o-?-d-e-p-n-o-i/e; possibly "to d...", solver nothing] **they** (Ah7y, H; last sign loop read as γ) [**A:VAI** unread: s/t-u-r-s/t-i; 'stay'/'surety'? I] **to** (Ac, H) **these** (Ah7A, H) **termes** (AcVm7A, H) as usuall"
- Word dividers | separate every word in this run.

L4 "in all **armada** (AVmATA = a-r-m-a-d-a, ∧=a, H) in numbers, that at the **armad[a]** (AVmAT, M) **of** (dH, H) **Brede?** (-V7D7: b-r-e-d-e, Breda? I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (A:-I78A = s-u-b-i-e-c-t-s, H) ther wer ... Julio Romeo, Cristophero Mondragon, Mor Dausey"

L5 "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (HcVw UVD7, H) yn the **action** (cAAIcn, 2nd sign doubtful, M) that he promised Q: to **send** (A7nd: small 7 between ∧ and ǂǂ, last sign d-type = o/d, M) [**Ac-D:XL** unread: t/s-o-b-?-u-i-e ...] 27 to begin the **openning** (dp7# | #I#G split by a line-end hyphen; o-p-e-n-n-i-n-g, the first two signs blotted together, M) **of** (dH, H) **the** (Ah7, H) [**-Tcw7A** unread: b-d/t-o-w-e-s; 'Downes'? I]: w[hich] myght bee to the [**Ac## GcH AcVIw7** unread: t-o-n-n ... ; I] ..."
L6 "... that a **broth[er]?** (-VcAh + 1-2 signs, b-r-o-t-h, solver exact 'broth', I) about 15 who promised the mayor [**V z L ### A l c c A** unread: signs uncertain] a **haven** (h:7n, missing the a-sign, M) to open..."

## f. 81r top (R8490 P2, continuation of 5 May letter)

L1 "22 hath a **desire** (?7AI?V: d-e-s-i-(r)-r, two doubtful signs, M) **to** (Ac, M: run-on, divider not visible) **retourne** (V7ATcVn: r-e-t-?-o-r-n, M) [ʃʃ mark] from theym yf he be not more"
L2 "**restrain[ed]?** (VGAAVcIn-8: r-?-s-t-r-a-i-n-?-?; solver fuzzy 'restrained', 2nd and last two signs doubtful, I): ther ys great want of us to cumfort our poure soldiers ..."

## f. 92r (R8495 P1, 27 May 1588) - partial pass only

L1 "that 200 maryners of Hambourgh that wer at Sluse are retourned to Dunkergh: 4 sent by the **Portugals?** (pd?:XlcA: p-o-?-u-i-l-a-s; r-sign not seen, I) are"
L2 "[**I7GIA dp IXpp7#** unread: i-e-g-i-s / o-p / i-i-p-p-e-n; solver nothing] and [**8-l:Vd Icn AcH** unread: c-b-l-u-r-o / ian / sof] sent by ..."
- Remaining f.92r lines (imprisoned in -V?c?7A ..., charge, letters, and the four further cipher lines down to "of latte ther are ...") NOT re-read in this pass.

## f. 96v top five lines (R8496 P2) - NOT re-read in this pass; see reading_f96v.md.

## f.92r lines 3–end (R8495 P1; deskew −3.25°, per-line crops at full resolution, 21 Sept 2026)

Line numbering continues from the two cipher lines above ("4 sent by the Portugals? are / I7GIA ... sent by ...").

L3 "imprisoned in **Bridges** [= Bruges] (-V+dӾ7A: b-r-(+ read i)-d-g-e-s; 4th sign is the o/d sign, Elizabethan 'Bridges' for Bruges; same word recurs in L8 as -V⊥dӾLA, M). It is reported that they have **charge** (8hcVX with the final sign read as Ӿ g, final e unwritten; M)"
L4 "**detain?** (TcAA·n: d-e-t-a-(i)-n, the 5th mark a small tick read as I; I) [**l7XA** unread: l/t-e-i/g-s; 'legs' fits signs, not context] [**l+HAT nUnA** unread: l/t-b-f-s-d / n-a-n-s; solver nothing] of words of **letters** (l7AAALVA: l-e-t-t-(t)-e-r-s, one extra caret; M) whereupon (clear?)"
L5 "to have been determined and appointed [**cn pc'n cz +lcAA** unread: o/a-n / p-e-n / o-? / b-l-o-s-s; solver nothing usable]"
L6 "[**-λ ApLcA** unread: b-? / s-p-e-o-s] [**n7V** unread: 'ner'] [**w+Ap··Xcl** unread] — (end of sentence, flourish)"
L7 "That day was [**Al7VLAT8:·** unread: s-l-e-r-e-t-d-c-u; solver 'already' at 2 edits, rejected] [**A+c 7n** unread: a-b-o / e-n] **ancient** (cnϸI7nA: a-n-c-i-e-n-t, the 3rd sign a stem-and-bowl read as c; solver exact with 8; M) **of** (cH, H) **Newport** (nL·\pcVA: n-e-w-p-o-r-t = Nieuport; exact; M)"
L8 "**forward** (HdV·\VT: f-o-r-w-(a)-r-d, one letter missing; M) [**nXcH** unread: n-i-o-f]; [**··7VA** unread: 'verse' exact, no sense] **it/is** (IA, M) **to** (Ac, H) [**Ap77l** unread: s-p-e-e-l; 'speed' at 1 edit, I] [**V?XAT** unread: 'raised' at 1 edit, I]"
L9 "**captain** (8cϕA7In: c-a-(p)-t-e-i-n, the ϕ-like sign taken as p; fuzzy 1 'captain'; M) [**-cX8L** unread: b-o-i-c-e, likely a surname; I 'Boice'?] is also **in prison** (In ϕVIAcn: i-n / p-r-i-s-o-n with ϕ for p; exact as two words; M) [**LcVA** unread: e-o-r-s] **Bridges** (-V⊥dӾLA, M) [clear: the cause whereof] is not knowen:"
L10 "Of late ther are come to [**AA7n ϕIX** unread: two carets then e-n / p?-i-i; possibly a place name] from **Irish** (IVILAϸ: i-r-i-(e)-s-h; fuzzy 1; M) **noblemen?** (nc-l7 / ϑcn across the line end: n-o-b-l-e / ?-e-n, the ϑ unexplained as m; I) —"

f.92r counts (this pass): H 2 (of in L7, to in L8), M 11 (Bridges x2, charge, letters, ancient, Newport, forward, it/is, captain, in prison, Irish), I 2 (detain, noblemen), unread 22 sign groups (incl. the surname -cX8L).

## f.96v (R8496 P2; deskew −1.5°, top four cipher lines and the cipher run on the eighth line)

L1 "**the** (AϸT, H) [**TVϕϕLcH** unread: d/t-r-l/t-l/t-e-o-f; perhaps '... of' with cH = of; 'troops of' does not fit the ϕ signs] [**·\7∩Aϑ·· Vϑ?+c** unread: w-e-s-s-p-u / r-p-?-b-o; solver nothing] **passed** (ϑUAAT∞: p-a-s-s-e-d with ŧ = e; exact; M) **by?** (-X: b-i/y; I) yn B[…] works overthrown" (the clear place name is not certain from the crop)
L2 "**within** (·\⊥AϸcN: w-i-t-h-o-n, fuzzy 1; M) **France** (HVTn8L: f-r-a-n-c-e with ŧ = a; fuzzy 1; M) [**A?V:·cA** 'serves' exact, sense unclear; I] of they commanding hes informed you of"
L3 "**Roper?** (Vcϕ7V: r-o-p-e-r with ϕ for p; a surname, exact in lexicon as 'roper'; I) and of his **servants** (A?V··7nA: s-e-r-v-e-n-t-s; fuzzy 1; M) [**⊥ϸcn** unread: i-h-o-n; 'Iohn' would fit the signs, I] **priests** (ϕV7XAA: p-r-e-i-s-t-s with ϕ for p; M) a doctor in [**AV7AA7ϑ** unread: s-r-e-s-s-e-p; solver 'treated/arrested' at 1 edit, no fit] and a"
L4 "caried **of** (cH, H) **letters** (ϕLAAALVA: l-e-t-t-(t)-e-r-s, same spelling as f.92r L4; M) **for** (HcV, H) **the** (AϸT with ŧ = e, M) **people** (ϕ7cϕl: p-e-o-p-l; exact with ϕ = p; M) [**·\U··8T** unread: w-a-u-c-d; solver nothing] and that shortly"
L8 "that he had **written?** (·\VLAAATn: w-r-e-t-t-(t/e)-n, one carries a tilde; I) [**AnAAT7nӾ ϕ7nc** unread: s-n-s-s-d-e-n-g / l-e-n-o] is fully ..."

f.96v counts: H 3 (the, of, for), M 8 (passed, within, France, servants, priests, letters, the, people), I 4 (by, serves, Roper, written), unread 8 sign groups (incl. ⊥ϸcn, possibly "Iohn").

R8495_reading.md

# R8495 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, "Belgia", 27 May 1588 (BL Harley MS 287 f. 92r) — partial reading

Rests on: the clear text transcribed on 22 Oct 2026 from the DECODE image IMG_R8495_I39207_P1 (7,200 px; main checkout
`tmp/cobham/`, not committed) in ten strips at 0.42x; the cipher signs as transcribed on 21 Sept at full resolution
(`../reading_ff80_92_96_full.md`, `../runs.txt`, deskewed per-line crops) and re-checked on the strips; the key rebuilt
from the glossed siblings (`../signs.tsv`). No contemporary decipherment, no clear duplicate, not calendared. Cipher in
*italics*; `[?word]` partly carried (one doubtful sign or one edit), `[…]` unread; secretary-hand words not made out
are `[?word]` or `[…]` too. Re-read 22 Oct 2026, batch b13 (`R8490-R8496_reread_log.md`).

## Reading

27 of May 1588.

Ther cam a shippe from Alvaredo, whyche bryngeth worde that the Armado of Spayne was yet at Lisbona; yt was sayde that
they shulde presently come to Coluna yn Galicia, and so passe a longe the coste from port to port. Gonzaga lyeth at a
place called Waten, with the greatest part of the horsemen. It ys thought that thes weke the greatest parte of [the]
horsemen and footemen wylbe about S[t] Omers.

Ther 200 maryners of Hambourgh that wer at Sluse are retourned to Dunkergh; 4 sent by *[…]* are *[…] […]* and *[…] […]
[…]* sent by […] imprisoned in *[?Bruges]*. It ys reported that they have *[?charge] […] […] […]* of words of *[?letters]*
[…] to have been determined and appointed *[…] […] […]*. That day was *[…] […] [?ancient] of Newport [?forward] […] […]
is to […] […]*. *[?Captain] […] ys also in [?prison] […] [?Bruges]*, the cause whereof ys not knowen. Of late ther are
come to *[…] […]* from *[?Irish] […]*.

4 Italians that wer engineers, sent out of thys contrye to Bulleyn, wherof ony was slayne. 20 Spaniardes of good
accounte sent thether. Of latte ther passed through Mons and Arras a great [?proportion] of armour, bothe for horsemen
and footemen. At Antwerpe ther was 4000 armours ys a redyness to be sent to Cambray. The laste paymaynt that was made to
the soldiers at Cambray was yn pistolettes. By the laste shippes that cam out of Spayne to Dunkerg, ladyn with oranges,
whyche brought money, yt ys thought that yt shalbe sent to Bulleyn. Duk Casemerus hath yelded to Ferdinand, son to the
Archeduke Ferdinand, these passages for hym self and for 50 or 100 [?horse] only, whyche ys not accepted but mislyked;
wherupon Casemerus hath reinforced hys passages and contynueth hys [?menn]. It ys here reported that the Frenche K[ing]
continueth hys displeasure ageynst these [?persons], and doeth call all hys forces out of Langedock, Gyen and Gascon;
the K[ing] ys loked for at Roan; the D[uke] of Guyse hath taken […]

## Alignment notes

* Run 92a `pcc:GlcA` (after "4 sent by"): p-o-?-u-g-l-a-s; the 21 Sept "Portugals" lacks the r and the t: a hole.
* Runs 92b-c (`I7GIA lIGhl7n`, `8lIUV Icn Ucn`): no word with the glossed values or with the solver's two edits.
* 92d `-V+dӾ7A` (re-read `-VϕcӾ7Λ`) b-r-?-o-g-e-s: *[?Bruges]*; 92e `8hcVӾ` c-h-a-r-g: *[?charge]* (final e not
  written); 92f `l7AAALVA` l-e-t-t-t-e-r-s: *[?letters]* (one extra caret).
* Line 7 `cnϸI7nA cH nL·\pcVA`: *[?ancient] of Newport* (n-e-w-p-o-r-t exact; the third sign of "ancient" is the h-sign);
  line 8 `HdV·\VT` *[?forward]* (one letter missing); line 9 `8cϕA7In` *[?Captain]*, `-cX8L` (a surname) unread,
  `In ϕVIAcn` *in [?prison]* (ϕ for p), `-V⊥dӾLA` *[?Bruges]*; line 10 `IVILAϸ` *[?Irish]*; `nc-l7 ϑcn` "noblemen" is a
  guess (the ϑ is not m) and stays a hole.
* All other runs of the page (about 20 sign groups, listed in `../reading_ff80_92_96_full.md`) give no word; the 22 Oct
  look at the strips changed none of them.

R8495_en.md

# R8495 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, "Belgia", 27 May 1588 — modern English

Modernised version of `R8495_reading.md`, with the same holes. Passages in cipher in the original are in *italics*.

27 May 1588.

A ship came from Alvaredo which brings word that the Armada of Spain was still at Lisbon; it was said that they should
presently come to Coruña in Galicia, and so pass along the coast from port to port. Gonzaga lies at a place called
Watten, with the greater part of the horse. It is thought that this week the greater part of [the] horse and foot will
be about Saint-Omer.

The 200 mariners of Hamburg who were at Sluys have returned to Dunkirk; 4 sent by *[…]* are *[…] […]* and *[…] […]
[…]* sent by […] imprisoned in *[?Bruges]*. It is reported that they have *[?charge] […] […] […]* of words of
*[?letters]* […] to have been determined and appointed *[…] […] […]*. That day was *[…] […] the [?ensign] of Nieuwpoort
[?forward] […] […] is to […] […]*. *[?Captain] […] is also in [?prison] […] [?Bruges]*, the cause of which is not known.
Lately there have come to *[…] […]* from *[?Irish] […]*.

Four Italians who were engineers, sent out of this country to Boulogne, of whom one was killed. Twenty Spaniards of good
standing sent there. Lately a great [?quantity] of armour passed through Mons and Arras, both for horse and foot. At
Antwerp there were 4,000 armours in readiness to be sent to Cambrai. The last payment made to the soldiers at Cambrai
was in pistolets. By the last ships that came out of Spain to Dunkirk, laden with oranges, which brought money, it is
thought that it will be sent to Boulogne. Duke Casimir has yielded to Ferdinand, son of the Archduke Ferdinand, these
passages for himself and for 50 or 100 [?horse] only, which is not accepted but disliked; whereupon Casimir has
reinforced his passages and keeps his [?men]. It is reported here that the French King continues his displeasure against
these [?persons], and calls all his forces out of Languedoc, Guyenne and Gascony; the King is expected at Rouen; the Duke
of Guise has taken […]

reading_f96v.md

# f. 96v (DECODE R8496, Bourbourg 9 June 1588), cipher lines at the head: working reading

Line 1: Λϑ7ŧVϕϕLcH ·\7ΩΛγϑ·· Vϑz+o ϑ∪ΛΛŧ∞ – X yn Bruges' works overthrown …
        **passed** (M; ϑ=p, ŧ=e) … "in Bruges works overthrown" clear.
Line 2: ·\⊥Λϑc∞∞ HVŧǂǂ8L Λɔ V:·cΛ o[f] they commanding his forces …
        **within** (M) **France** (M; H-r-a-n-c-e with ŧ=a, L=e) …
Line 3: [clear] and of his ɔV··7ǂǂΛ ⊥ϑcǂǂ ϕV7XɔΛ a letter …
        **servants** (M; ɔ=s) … **priests** (M) …
Line 4: … ·7ǂǂΛ7Vϑ ϕ·IV ·· 8ŧ and that shortly …  (unread)
Line 8: … ΛΛΛ·· 7ǂǂΛ ⊥ϑcǂǂ …  **seventy** (M, solver exact A7:7nAI) …

READING.md

# Cobham to Walsingham, May–June 1588 (Harley 287): consolidated reading, 21 Sept 2026

Deciphered words in **bold** with grades (H sign-certain + solver exact; M one sign or 1–2 edits; I guess).
Code numbers glossed on f. 79: 7 = the Queen, 10 = Lord Admiral, 15 = Duke of Parma, 16 = King of Spain.

## f. 80r (R8490, Ostend 5 May 1588)
- "hoping them **in the** ◻**pances** [expences] (M) for what chaunces so ever you bestow"
- "it will **not be** … **the haven** (H) is …"
- "… **to these termes** (M) as usuall **in all armadas** (H) in numbers, that at the **armada** (M) **on** … which was the 20"
- "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (H) in the **action** (M) that he promised Q[ueen] to … 27 to begin the …"

## f. 80r, second full-resolution pass (reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- New sign: a short horizontal stroke "-" = b ("be", "subiects", "Brede").
- "hoping theym in the ◻ lances(?)"; the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem sign (l/t), so "expences" is doubtful.
- "touching **hostages** (M) yt ys honorable for **7** [the Queen] (H) … **they** (H) … **to these termes** (H)"
- "in all **armada** (H) … at the armad[a] **of Brede**(I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (H)"
- "22 … promised Q: to **send** (M) … 27 to begin the **openning** (M) **of the** (H)"
- "a **broth[er]**(I) about 15 who promised the mayor … a **haven** (M) to open"

## f. 81r top
- "22 hath a **desire** (M) **to retourne** (M) from theym yf he be not more **restrain[ed]**(I)"

## f. 88r (R8492) — see reading_f88.md
- "captain Montgomery of late gone into Scotland … **captain** (M) [name] with 40 men of …, [who] have promised
  **the haven** (H) **of Rain** (M) … **spoil** (M) … **there** (H) to **15** [Parma] (H)"
- "… promised they **deliverd** (M) of the … to us by reason of our abode"
- "**Italians** (H) **arriving** (M) … **Antonio** (H) … **Naples**(I)"
- "there are coming of other Scottishmen **divers** (H) … **soldiers** (I) … away the **number of** (M) …"

## f. 92r (R8495, 27 May 1588)
- "4 sent by the **Portugals** (I) are …"; "imprisoned in **Bruges** (I)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"

## f. 96v (R8496, Bourbourg 9 June 1588) — see reading_f96v.md
- "**passed** (M) … in Bruges works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "his **servants** (M) … **priests** (M)";
  "**seventy** (M)"

## Third pass on ff. 88 (lower half), 92r and 96v (reading_f88_full.md, reading_ff80_92_96_full.md)
- f. 88 lines 12–20 are mostly clear (Parma's commissioners; "80 sayles … with saddelles, bryddelles, bootes and
  spurres"; "he ys goyng to Caleys"); the seven cipher words there stay unread (a recurring group "Tnn" unresolved).
- f. 92r: "imprisoned in **Bridges** [Bruges] (M)"; "they have **charge** (M)"; "of **letters** (M)"; "**ancient of
  Newport** (M)"; "**captain** (M) [surname] is also **in prison** (M) [at] **Bridges** (M), the cause whereof is not
  knowen"; "of late ther are come … from **Irish** (M) **noblemen**(I)".
- f. 96v: "**the** … **passed** (M) yn B… works overthrown"; "**within France** (M)"; "**Roper**(I) and of his
  **servants** (M) … **priests** (M) a doctor in …"; "caried **of letters for the people** (M)".
- New sign value: ϕ (circle crossed by stem) also = p (captain, prison, priests, people). "seventy" on f. 96v withdrawn.

## Status
Read in part: the key and sign inventory are fixed, the code numbers glossed, and about a third of the cipher words
read with grade H or M. The rest are unread because their signs could not be resolved confidently from the scans:
the ∧ and γ signs stand for several letters, and a few signs are glossed nowhere.

reading_ff80_92_96_full.md

# Cobham to Walsingham: full-resolution re-read of ff. 80r, 81r, 92r, 96v (cipher runs)

Grades: H certain, M one doubtful sign / 1-2 edits, I guess. Sign codes as in runs.txt.

## f. 80r (R8490 P1, Ostend 5 May 1588)

L1 "...to our drawe our forces from ... hoping theym **in** (Xn, H) **the** (Ah7, H) [◻ code] **lances?** (pUn87A read lUn87A; circle+stem = l/t, I) for what chaunces so ever you bestowe"
- note: the sign after ◻ is the circle-with-stem ϕ (l/t), not the p-loop; "lances"/"tances" both unsatisfying; possibly ◻+word = one code group.

L2 "(and that muste be great) yt will **not** (#cA, H) **be** (+7, dash-like +, M) **we?t** (wLlA; "wells"/"west" I) **the** (Ah7, H) **haven** (hc:7n, H) **is** (IA, H) [**Xd+c:87** unread: i-o/d-b-o/a/e-u/v-c-e; solver nothing] ) and me ..."
- The "-" sign in this hand is a short horizontal stroke used for **b** (= "+"): confirmed by "subiects" below; hence #cA-7 "not be".

L3 "...touching **hostages?** (HcAVUGL A: f?-o-s/t-r-a-g-e-s; the 1st and 4th signs doubtful, solver fuzzy 2 = hostages, M/I) yt ys honorable for **7** [her Majesty] (code, H) [**AcdD7p#cI** unread: t-o-?-d-e-p-n-o-i/e; possibly "to d...", solver nothing] **they** (Ah7y, H; last sign loop read as γ) [**A:VAI** unread: s/t-u-r-s/t-i; 'stay'/'surety'? I] **to** (Ac, H) **these** (Ah7A, H) **termes** (AcVm7A, H) as usuall"
- Word dividers | separate every word in this run.

L4 "in all **armada** (AVmATA = a-r-m-a-d-a, ∧=a, H) in numbers, that at the **armad[a]** (AVmAT, M) **of** (dH, H) **Brede?** (-V7D7: b-r-e-d-e, Breda? I) which was the 20 and the **subiects** (A:-I78A = s-u-b-i-e-c-t-s, H) ther wer ... Julio Romeo, Cristophero Mondragon, Mor Dausey"

L5 "Dunkergh: 22 is so **forwarde** (HcVw UVD7, H) yn the **action** (cAAIcn, 2nd sign doubtful, M) that he promised Q: to **send** (A7nd: small 7 between ∧ and ǂǂ, last sign d-type = o/d, M) [**Ac-D:XL** unread: t/s-o-b-?-u-i-e ...] 27 to begin the **openning** (dp7# | #I#G split by a line-end hyphen; o-p-e-n-n-i-n-g, the first two signs blotted together, M) **of** (dH, H) **the** (Ah7, H) [**-Tcw7A** unread: b-d/t-o-w-e-s; 'Downes'? I]: w[hich] myght bee to the [**Ac## GcH AcVIw7** unread: t-o-n-n ... ; I] ..."
L6 "... that a **broth[er]?** (-VcAh + 1-2 signs, b-r-o-t-h, solver exact 'broth', I) about 15 who promised the mayor [**V z L ### A l c c A** unread: signs uncertain] a **haven** (h:7n, missing the a-sign, M) to open..."

## f. 81r top (R8490 P2, continuation of 5 May letter)

L1 "22 hath a **desire** (?7AI?V: d-e-s-i-(r)-r, two doubtful signs, M) **to** (Ac, M: run-on, divider not visible) **retourne** (V7ATcVn: r-e-t-?-o-r-n, M) [ʃʃ mark] from theym yf he be not more"
L2 "**restrain[ed]?** (VGAAVcIn-8: r-?-s-t-r-a-i-n-?-?; solver fuzzy 'restrained', 2nd and last two signs doubtful, I): ther ys great want of us to cumfort our poure soldiers ..."

## f. 92r (R8495 P1, 27 May 1588) - partial pass only

L1 "that 200 maryners of Hambourgh that wer at Sluse are retourned to Dunkergh: 4 sent by the **Portugals?** (pd?:XlcA: p-o-?-u-i-l-a-s; r-sign not seen, I) are"
L2 "[**I7GIA dp IXpp7#** unread: i-e-g-i-s / o-p / i-i-p-p-e-n; solver nothing] and [**8-l:Vd Icn AcH** unread: c-b-l-u-r-o / ian / sof] sent by ..."
- Remaining f.92r lines (imprisoned in -V?c?7A ..., charge, letters, and the four further cipher lines down to "of latte ther are ...") NOT re-read in this pass.

## f. 96v top five lines (R8496 P2) - NOT re-read in this pass; see reading_f96v.md.

## f.92r lines 3–end (R8495 P1; deskew −3.25°, per-line crops at full resolution, 21 Sept 2026)

Line numbering continues from the two cipher lines above ("4 sent by the Portugals? are / I7GIA ... sent by ...").

L3 "imprisoned in **Bridges** [= Bruges] (-V+dӾ7A: b-r-(+ read i)-d-g-e-s; 4th sign is the o/d sign, Elizabethan 'Bridges' for Bruges; same word recurs in L8 as -V⊥dӾLA, M). It is reported that they have **charge** (8hcVX with the final sign read as Ӿ g, final e unwritten; M)"
L4 "**detain?** (TcAA·n: d-e-t-a-(i)-n, the 5th mark a small tick read as I; I) [**l7XA** unread: l/t-e-i/g-s; 'legs' fits signs, not context] [**l+HAT nUnA** unread: l/t-b-f-s-d / n-a-n-s; solver nothing] of words of **letters** (l7AAALVA: l-e-t-t-(t)-e-r-s, one extra caret; M) whereupon (clear?)"
L5 "to have been determined and appointed [**cn pc'n cz +lcAA** unread: o/a-n / p-e-n / o-? / b-l-o-s-s; solver nothing usable]"
L6 "[**-λ ApLcA** unread: b-? / s-p-e-o-s] [**n7V** unread: 'ner'] [**w+Ap··Xcl** unread] — (end of sentence, flourish)"
L7 "That day was [**Al7VLAT8:·** unread: s-l-e-r-e-t-d-c-u; solver 'already' at 2 edits, rejected] [**A+c 7n** unread: a-b-o / e-n] **ancient** (cnϸI7nA: a-n-c-i-e-n-t, the 3rd sign a stem-and-bowl read as c; solver exact with 8; M) **of** (cH, H) **Newport** (nL·\pcVA: n-e-w-p-o-r-t = Nieuport; exact; M)"
L8 "**forward** (HdV·\VT: f-o-r-w-(a)-r-d, one letter missing; M) [**nXcH** unread: n-i-o-f]; [**··7VA** unread: 'verse' exact, no sense] **it/is** (IA, M) **to** (Ac, H) [**Ap77l** unread: s-p-e-e-l; 'speed' at 1 edit, I] [**V?XAT** unread: 'raised' at 1 edit, I]"
L9 "**captain** (8cϕA7In: c-a-(p)-t-e-i-n, the ϕ-like sign taken as p; fuzzy 1 'captain'; M) [**-cX8L** unread: b-o-i-c-e, likely a surname; I 'Boice'?] is also **in prison** (In ϕVIAcn: i-n / p-r-i-s-o-n with ϕ for p; exact as two words; M) [**LcVA** unread: e-o-r-s] **Bridges** (-V⊥dӾLA, M) [clear: the cause whereof] is not knowen:"
L10 "Of late ther are come to [**AA7n ϕIX** unread: two carets then e-n / p?-i-i; possibly a place name] from **Irish** (IVILAϸ: i-r-i-(e)-s-h; fuzzy 1; M) **noblemen?** (nc-l7 / ϑcn across the line end: n-o-b-l-e / ?-e-n, the ϑ unexplained as m; I) —"

f.92r counts (this pass): H 2 (of in L7, to in L8), M 11 (Bridges x2, charge, letters, ancient, Newport, forward, it/is, captain, in prison, Irish), I 2 (detain, noblemen), unread 22 sign groups (incl. the surname -cX8L).

## f.96v (R8496 P2; deskew −1.5°, top four cipher lines and the cipher run on the eighth line)

L1 "**the** (AϸT, H) [**TVϕϕLcH** unread: d/t-r-l/t-l/t-e-o-f; perhaps '... of' with cH = of; 'troops of' does not fit the ϕ signs] [**·\7∩Aϑ·· Vϑ?+c** unread: w-e-s-s-p-u / r-p-?-b-o; solver nothing] **passed** (ϑUAAT∞: p-a-s-s-e-d with ŧ = e; exact; M) **by?** (-X: b-i/y; I) yn B[…] works overthrown" (the clear place name is not certain from the crop)
L2 "**within** (·\⊥AϸcN: w-i-t-h-o-n, fuzzy 1; M) **France** (HVTn8L: f-r-a-n-c-e with ŧ = a; fuzzy 1; M) [**A?V:·cA** 'serves' exact, sense unclear; I] of they commanding hes informed you of"
L3 "**Roper?** (Vcϕ7V: r-o-p-e-r with ϕ for p; a surname, exact in lexicon as 'roper'; I) and of his **servants** (A?V··7nA: s-e-r-v-e-n-t-s; fuzzy 1; M) [**⊥ϸcn** unread: i-h-o-n; 'Iohn' would fit the signs, I] **priests** (ϕV7XAA: p-r-e-i-s-t-s with ϕ for p; M) a doctor in [**AV7AA7ϑ** unread: s-r-e-s-s-e-p; solver 'treated/arrested' at 1 edit, no fit] and a"
L4 "caried **of** (cH, H) **letters** (ϕLAAALVA: l-e-t-t-(t)-e-r-s, same spelling as f.92r L4; M) **for** (HcV, H) **the** (AϸT with ŧ = e, M) **people** (ϕ7cϕl: p-e-o-p-l; exact with ϕ = p; M) [**·\U··8T** unread: w-a-u-c-d; solver nothing] and that shortly"
L8 "that he had **written?** (·\VLAAATn: w-r-e-t-t-(t/e)-n, one carries a tilde; I) [**AnAAT7nӾ ϕ7nc** unread: s-n-s-s-d-e-n-g / l-e-n-o] is fully ..."

f.96v counts: H 3 (the, of, for), M 8 (passed, within, France, servants, priests, letters, the, people), I 4 (by, serves, Roper, written), unread 8 sign groups (incl. ⊥ϸcn, possibly "Iohn").

reading_f96v.md

# f. 96v (DECODE R8496, Bourbourg 9 June 1588), cipher lines at the head: working reading

Line 1: Λϑ7ŧVϕϕLcH ·\7ΩΛγϑ·· Vϑz+o ϑ∪ΛΛŧ∞ – X yn Bruges' works overthrown …
        **passed** (M; ϑ=p, ŧ=e) … "in Bruges works overthrown" clear.
Line 2: ·\⊥Λϑc∞∞ HVŧǂǂ8L Λɔ V:·cΛ o[f] they commanding his forces …
        **within** (M) **France** (M; H-r-a-n-c-e with ŧ=a, L=e) …
Line 3: [clear] and of his ɔV··7ǂǂΛ ⊥ϑcǂǂ ϕV7XɔΛ a letter …
        **servants** (M; ɔ=s) … **priests** (M) …
Line 4: … ·7ǂǂΛ7Vϑ ϕ·IV ·· 8ŧ and that shortly …  (unread)
Line 8: … ΛΛΛ·· 7ǂǂΛ ⊥ϑcǂǂ …  **seventy** (M, solver exact A7:7nAI) …

R8496_reading.md

# R8496 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, Bourbourg ("Binborow"), 9 June 1588 (BL Harley MS 287 ff. 96r-96v) — partial reading

Rests on: the DECODE images IMG_R8496_I39208_P1-P3 (7,200 px; main checkout `tmp/cobham/`, not committed). f. 96r is
wholly in clear (news from France: the D. of Longueville, d'Epernon, the barricades and Rouen) and is not transcribed
here; f. 96v (the cipher, the close and the postscript) was transcribed on 22 Oct 2026 in strips at 0.42x; f. 97r is
blank (P3), so there are no f. 97r runs to transcribe. Cipher signs as transcribed on 21 Sept (`../reading_f96v.md`,
`../reading_ff80_92_96_full.md`) and re-checked on the strips; key from the glossed siblings (`../signs.tsv`). No
contemporary decipherment, no clear duplicate, not calendared. Cipher in *italics*; `[?word]` partly carried, `[…]`
unread; secretary-hand words not made out are `[?word]` or `[…]` too. Re-read 22 Oct 2026, batch b13
(`R8490-R8496_reread_log.md`).

## Reading

[f. 96r, in clear, not transcribed here.]

*The […] […] […] [?passed] […]* yn […] works overthrown. *[?Within] [?France] […] […]* they commanding hes informed yow
of. *[…]* and of his *[?servants] […] [?priests]*, a doctor in *[…]*, and a [?] caried *of [?letters] for the
[?people] […]*, and that shortly […]. The president Richardot ys not as yet come from the D[uke], but he ys loked for
this nyght, as he came accordinge to have [?] […] were made to proceede: 500 horsse that I did declare […] that he had
*[?written] […] […]* ys fully [?sette]. [?] and he are rather *[…]* theym *[…]*; ther cam sent a good [?fare] […] how
*[…]* yt ys.

I pray let me knowe by yowr next whether yow have receaved the cypher that I sent yow, what order yow have given for
*[…] […]*. I pray let me here from yow; he wolde doo me good service. Thus I commyt yow to the allmyghtye God. From
Binborow the 9 of June a 1588.

Yowr assured frend, W. Cobham

[Postscript, left margin:] My lord, Mr Controller and [?] […] the letter of the rest of [?] to be sent over […] yow;
which […] yt ys thought that they shall doo rather us [?harm]: for all our frendes and followers and very [?harm].

## Alignment notes

* l. 1 `AϸT TVϕϕLcH ·\7∩Aϑ·· Vϑ?+c ϑUAAT∞ -X`: *the*; the next three groups unread; `ϑUAAT∞` p-a-s-s-e-d (ŧ = e):
  *[?passed]*; `-X` b-i/y unread.
* l. 2 `·\⊥Aϸcǂǂ HVTǂǂ8L A?V:·cA`: w-i-t-h-o-n *[?Within]* (one edit), f-r-a-n-c-e *[?France]* (ŧ = a), `A?V:·cA` unread.
* l. 3 `Vcϕ7V`: r-o-p-e-r, a surname or nothing (the 21 Sept "Roper" is a guess): a hole; `A?V··7nA` *[?servants]*;
  `⊥ϸcn` unread ("Iohn" a guess); `ϕV7XAA` *[?priests]* (ϕ for p); `AV7AA7ϑ` unread.
* l. 4 `cH ϕLAAALVA HcV AϸT ϕ7cϕl ·\U··8T`: *of* *[?letters]* (one extra caret) *for the [?people]* (ϕ = p), last group
  unread. In the reading *for* and *the* are plain (H-c-V, A-ϸ-T with ŧ = e).
* l. 7 `·\VLAAATn` *[?written]* (a tilde over one sign), `AnAAT7nӾ ϕ7nc` unread; l. 8 `ӾVϸǂǂΛ⊥ΛV7⊥V∪` and `·⊥Λ∪L`,
  l. 9 `ǂǂϕ⊥8LΛT··V`, l. 11 `8·7ϕΛcΛǂǂ -⊃V·ΛǂǂX`: no word with the glossed values (22 Oct, on the strips).

R8496_en.md

# R8496 — Lord Cobham to Walsingham, Bourbourg, 9 June 1588 — modern English

Modernised version of `R8496_reading.md`, with the same holes. Passages in cipher in the original are in *italics*.

[f. 96r, in clear, not transcribed.]

*The […] […] […] [?passed] […]* in […] works overthrown. *[?Within] [?France] […] […]* they commanding, as he informed
you. *[…]* and of his *[?servants] […] [?priests]*, a doctor in *[…]*, and a [?] carried *of [?letters] for the
[?people] […]*, and that shortly […]. President Richardot has not yet come from the Duke, but he is expected tonight, as
he came according to have [?] […] were made to proceed: 500 horse that I did declare […] that he had *[?written] […]
[…]* is fully [?set]. [?] and he are rather *[…]* them *[…]*; there came sent a good [?] […] how *[…]* it is.

I pray you let me know by your next whether you have received the cipher I sent you, and what order you have given for
*[…] […]*. I pray let me hear from you; he would do me good service. So I commit you to Almighty God. From Bourbourg,
9 June 1588.

Your assured friend, W. Cobham

[Postscript:] My lord, Mr Controller and [?] […] the letter of the rest of [?] to be sent over […] you; which […] it is
thought that they will rather do us [?harm]: for all our friends and followers and very [?harm].