Siege of Dole (1636) — Key from adjacent plaintext

At a glanceKey from adjacent plaintext · complete

The letters: Four letters from Dole, besieged by the Prince of Condé from 27 May to 15 August 1636, to the Marquis of Conflans and Jean Girardot de Beauchemin, who were raising a relief army: the Parlement and the Archbishop (7 June and 22 July), the commis au gouvernement (25 June) and the procureur général Antoine Brun ([1 July]).
Where: Besançon, Bibliothèque municipale, Ms 1594 (Ms 1591–1595 vol. IV, papers of Jean Girardot de Nozeroy), fols. 127, 181, 183, 191 and 200; clear copy fol. 182. Not on DECODE and not in the project’s catalogue.
The cipher: A simple substitution of one number (1–54) per letter, the numbers separated by points and set inside clear text. 23 distinct numbers; c has two (20 and 29).
How it was deciphered: The key was learnt from block 1 of fol. 200, whose 177 numbers line up one to one with the marginal gloss, and frozen. One measurement on block 2 of the same folio (341 numbers) gave 0.907 of letters against at most 0.229 for 200 shuffled keys. The unglossed letters were then read with the frozen key.
What it says: Come as soon as you can with the cavalry relief; bring rations and tools to reap; burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler and Mirebeau and destroy the forge of Drambon where the bombs thrown on Dole are made.
Still open: Four words: a struck-out group, a word under a blot, ?atlons and o…. No number for k was seen. Fol. 106 (12 August) is in another cipher, not broken.
Credit: Brice Dudout transcribed the numbers, recovered and tested the key and read the letters, working with Claude Opus 5.5 agents. The clear text of the letters was already printed by É. Longin (1912), a fact found after the reading.

01 The letters

Dole, capital of the Franche-Comté, was besieged by the Prince of Condé from 27 May to 15 August 1636. The Parlement and the governor wrote to the relief army of the Marquis of Conflans and of Jean Girardot de Beauchemin, and the letters that reached it are kept among Girardot’s papers at Besançon. Only the words that mattered were enciphered. The rest is clear French, with the cipher passages set in it as strings of numbers.

The cipher did not stay secret. Antoine Rossignol deciphered the intercepted dispatches in Paris, and in July Richelieu sent him to Condé’s camp with “the decipherment of the letters that those of Dole were writing to the Marquis of Conflans” (Longin, no. CCLXXVIII). In late July and early August the court warned Conflans three times that “the enemy has found the key of the cipher”, and the letter of 12 August (fol. 106) changes to another cipher.

02 The key and its test

The numbers run in two stretches: p = 1, then o 5, n 7, m 9, l 11 going up by two; a = 35, b 31 going down; q = 36, r 38, s 40, t 42, u 44 going up. Fol. 200 carries two blocks of cipher, each glossed in the margin at the time. Block 1 gave the key: 177 numbers aligned with 177 letters of the gloss, the majority letter per number, frozen before anything else was decrypted.

Letters	Numbers
p o n m l	1 5 7 9 11
i (and j) h g	15 17 19
c f e d c	20 21 25 27 29
b a	31 35
q r s t u (and v)	36 38 40 42 44
x y z	50 52 54

Block 2 (341 numbers) was the test, with the protocol written and hashed before the measurement: letter agreement with its gloss 0.9072, against a best of 0.229 and a mean of 0.131 for 200 shuffled keys. The thresholds (0.85, and the best control plus 0.30) were fixed in advance and the key passed. Three numbers had no value in training (17, 21, 50) and were given h, f and x by the gloss afterwards. The value 20 = c comes from sense (cavalerie), 54 = z from the clear copy fol. 182 (douze).

03 The reading

Fol. 191 (Brun, [1 July]) and fol. 127v (7 June) carry no gloss. The frozen key gives French from the first line:

le plus tost que vous pourez venir sera le meilleur … le secours de cavalerie envoyé par son altesse … a vous aller joindre a Salins

Brun asks the army to come at once with the cavalry relief, not to go to Salins to join it, and warns that four or five days lost would be a great risk. He recalls the diversions, the signals and the recognition marks, and the cutting of the enemy’s communications; an attack by day would be more honourable and more useful than one by night. They are to bring flour and corn and tools to reap, the garrison of Gray is to burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler and Mirebeau, and above all to destroy the forge of Drambon and the others where the bombs thrown on Dole are made. Of 128 cipher words on fols. 191 and 127v, 113 are certain, 11 probable and 4 unresolved (96.9%). Fol. 127v reads “c’est[oit] un piège pour l’ennemi”.

Fol. 183 (25 June) read with the key matches the period clear copy fol. 182 apart from vous/nous and ou/a: the commis describe the French quarters, with a separate attack by the bridge of three or four hundred horse and six hundred foot, and elsewhere one of twelve hundred men. Fol. 200 (22 July) is the glossed folio itself: the Parlement praises the relief army’s resolution to come without delay and says it is better to risk something than to lose everything.

The reading was made from the numbers alone. Only afterwards was the clear text found, printed by É. Longin in Le siège de Dole par le prince de Condé (1912, nos. LIV, CXXXII, CLXXVIII and CCLXXXVII) from Brun’s drafts, the words to be enciphered in brackets. Letter agreement of the mechanical decryption with Longin’s text is 0.967 (584 of 589 letters on fols. 191 and 127v). Longin used the drafts, not the letters received, and gives no key; his text differs in “par S. A.” for par son altesse and “à plein” for à plain.

04 What remains uncertain

Four unresolved words on fols. 191 and 127v: a struck-out group, a word under a blot, ?atlons (Longin: rations) and o… (Longin: c’estoit).
Longin brackets “de Mercy et de Forgats” and “accueillir” in the 1 July letter; they were not read on fol. 191 and have not been checked against the image.
No number for k has been seen. 17, 21 and 50 were given by the gloss after the measurement.
Fol. 106 (12 August) is another cipher with no key material here.
The images are from the library’s Mémoire vive and are not reproduced here; the numbers are given as read.

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.

The Parlement of Dole, 22 July 1636 (fol. 200r, both blocks glossed in the margin)

On 22 July the Parlement of Dole praises the relief army's resolution to come without delay, admits some slight danger in an arrival put off too long, and says it is better to risk something than to lose everything, hoping all will go to their glory and the confusion of their enemies. The text is the period marginal gloss, which the key was learnt from and tested on.

Transcription

transcription.txt

# BM Besançon Ms 1594 (Ms 1591-1595 vol. IV, papers of Jean Girardot de Nozeroy), siege of Dole 1636. Cipher numbers as read
# from the library images (Mémoire vive; images not reproduced). One passage per line: <id> | numbers. Marks: ■ blot; ✕ struck-out
# group; … edge lost; 15(1.5?) read 15, perhaps 1.5; 38? doubtful. Clear text of the letters is not transcribed here.

== fol. 200r (view 351), Parlement of Dole, 22 July 1636: block 1 (training) and block 2 (held out); both glossed in the margin at the time
T1 | 7 5 44 40 11 5 44 5 7 40 27 15 25 44 27 25 11 35 31 5 7 7 25 25 42 29 5 44 38 35 19 25 44 40 25 38 25 40 5 11 44 42 15 5 7 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 35 44 25 40 1 38 15 40 25 27 25 44 25 7 15 38 15 7 29 25 40 40 35 9 9 25 7 44 35 7 5 44 40 35 36 44 5 52 7 5 44 40 44 5 44 40 15 7 44 15 42 5 7 40 27 25 7 5 44 44 25 35 44 35 44 42 35 7 42 36 44 15 11 7 5 44 40 25 40 42 1 5 40 40 15 31 11 25 1 5 44 38 29 25 36 44 25 42 5 44 42 25 40 29 5 7 40 15 27 25 38 35 42 15 5 7 40 1 38 25 40 40 25 7 42
H2 | 25 7 29 5 38 25 36 44 25 7 5 44 40 44 5 52 5 7 40 36 44 25 11 36 44 25 1 25 38 15 11 35 44 5 40 42 38 25 35 38 15 44 25 25 1 5 44 38 35 44 5 15 38 25 40 42 25 42 38 5 1 27 15 21 21 25 25 7 25 35 44 9 5 15 7 40 15 11 7 25 40 42 1 35 40 1 5 40 40 15 31 11 25 27 25 11 35 9 25 42 42 38 25 1 11 44 40 35 44 11 5 15 7 19 25 42 44 35 44 42 9 15 25 44 50 17 35 40 35 38 29 25 38 36 44 25 11 35 44 25 29 17 5 40 25 36 44 25 42 5 44 42 1 25 38 27 38 25 9 35 15 40 7 5 44 40 25 40 1 25 38 5 7 40 36 44 35 19 15 40 40 35 7 42 27 25 31 5 7 7 25 40 5 38 42 25 17 35 38 27 15 9 25 7 42 25 42 29 5 44 38 35 19 25 44 40 25 9 25 7 42 29 5 9 9 25 44 5 44 40 40 29 35 44 38 25 40 31 15 25 7 21 35 15 38 25 25 42 7 5 44 40 35 29 17 25 44 35 7 42 11 25 38 25 40 42 25 27 25 7 5 40 25 21 21 5 38 42 40 1 5 44 38 44 5 44 40 40 25 29 5 7 27 25 38 42 5 44 42 15 38 35 35 7 5 40 42 38 25 19 11 5 15 38 25 25 42 35 11 35 29 5 7 21 44 40 15 5 7 27 25 7 5 40 25 7 7 25 9 15 40

== fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]
P1 | 11 25 1 11 44 40 42 5 40 42 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 1 5 44 38 25 40 44 25 7 15 38 40 25 38 35 11 25 9 25 15 11 11 25 44 38
P2 | 11 25 40 25 29 5 44 38 40 27 25 20 35 44 35 11 25 38 15 25 25 7 44 5 15 25 1 35 38 40 5 7 35 11 42 25 40 40 25 40 9 25
P3 | 35 44 5 44 40 35 11 11 25 38 15 5 15 7 27 38 25 35 40 35 11 15 7 40
P4 | 27 25 42 35 38 27 25 38 11 25 9 5 15 7 40 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 1 5 44 38 25 40 25 42 27 25 7 25 44 5 44 40 ✕ 35 42 42 25 7 27 38 25 35 35 44 29 44 7 25 7 5 44 44 25 11 11 25 35 15 27 25 17 5 38 40 29 25 11 11 25 27 44 27 15 29 42 40 25 29 5 44 38 40
P5 | ■ 31 25 35 44 29 5 44 1 17 35 40 35 38 27 25 38 36 44 25 27 25 1 35 40 40 25 38 35 44 35 42 38 25 5 44 29 15 7 36 15 5 44 38 40 40 35 7 40 44 5 44 45 38 25 7 27 38 25 35 7 5 40 1 5 38 42 25 40
P6 | 11 25 40 27 15 44 25 38 42 15 40 40 25 9 25 7 42 40
P7 | 11 25 40 40 15 19 7 35 11 40 11 15 44 38 25 25 40
P8 | 29 5 9 9 44 7 15 29 35 42 15 5 7 40 27 44 27 15 29 42 25 7 7 25 9 15
P9 | 25 42 1 11 44 40 17 15 7 7 15 38 35 31 11 25 25 42 1 11 44 40 44 42 15 11 25 35 11 35 29 11 35 38 42 25 27 44 40 5 11 25 15 11 36 44 25 27 35 7 40 11 35 7 44 15 29 42
P10 | 38? 35 42 11 5 7 40 21 35 38 15 7 25 40 25 42 31 11 25 27 40
P11 | 35 44 25 29 11 25 40 5 44 42 15 11 40 1 5 44 38 52 9 5 15 40 40 5 7 7 25 38
P12 | 31 38 44 11 25 7 42 38 15 19 7 52 42 35 11 25 9 35 52 1 5 7 42 35 15 11 11 15 25 38 9 15 38 25 31 25 38 44
P13 | 27 25 42 38 44 15 40 25 7 42 35 1 11 35 15 7 11 35 21 5? 38 19 25 27 25 27 38 35 9 31 5 7 25 42 35 44 42 38 25 40 5 44 40 25 21 5 7 42 11 25 40 31 5 7 31 25 40 36 44 5 7 7 5 44 40 15 25 42 42 25
P14 | 35 44 27 44 29 17 25 36 44 25 31 35 40 40 15 19 7 15 25 42 31 38 25 40 40 25

== fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636
R1 | 29 25 40 42 5 ■4 44 7 15(1.5?) 25 19 25 15(1.5) 44 38 11 25 7 7 25 9 15

== fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)
Q1 | 36 44 15 7 25 44 5 44 40 29 5 7 44 15 25 7 42 36 44 …
Q2 | 25 38 35 42 42 35 36 44 25 1 35 38 42 15 29 44 11 15 25 38 …
Q3 | 5 44 29 25 7 42 29 17 25 44 35 44 50 25 42 40 15 …
Q4 | 17 5 9 9 25 40 27 25 1 15 25 27
Q5 | 36 5 44 38 35 ■ 42 42 35 36 44 25 27 25 27 …
Q6 | 17 5 9 9 25 40
V1 | 36 44 15 7 25 44 5 44 40 29 5 7 44 15 25 7 42 36 44 25 1 5 44 38 27 5 7 7 25 38 35 42 42 35 36 44 25 1 35 38 42 15 29 44 11 15? 25 38 25 27 25 42 38 5 40 5 44 36 44 35 42 38 25 29 25 7 42 ■ 29 19 25 44 35 44 50 25 42 40 15 50 29 25 7 42 17 5 9 9 25 40 27 25 1 15 25 27
V2 | 1 5 44 38 35 42 42 36 44 25 27 25 27 5 44 54 25 29 25 7 42 17 5 9 9 25 40

Decryption

decryption.txt

# Mechanical decryption of transcription.txt with key.tsv (unchanged). Capitals = deciphered letters; · = blot; ? = no value.

== fol. 200r
T1  NOUSLOUONSDIEUDELABONNEETCOURAGEUSERESOLUTIONQUEUOUSAUESPRISEDEUENIRINCESSAMMENUANOUSAQUOYNOUSUOUSINUITONSDENOUUEAUAUTANTQUILNOUSESTPOSSIBLEPOURCEQUETOUTESCONSIDERATIONSPRESSENT
    gloss: nous louons dieu de la bonne et courageuse resolution que vous avez prise de venir incessamment a nous a quoy nous vous invitons de nouveau autant quil nous est possible pour ce que toutes considerations pressent
H2  ENCOREQUENOUSUOYONSQUELQUEPERILAUOSTREARIUEEPOURAUOIRESTETROPDIFFEENEAUMOINSILNESTPASPOSSIBLEDELAMETTREPLUSAULOINGETUAUTMIEUXHASARCERQUELAUECHOSEQUETOUTPERDREMAISNOUSESPERONSQUAGISSANTDEBONNESORTEHARDIMENTETCOURAGEUSEMENTCOMMEUOUSSCAURESBIENFAIREETNOUSACHEUANTLERESTEDENOSEFFORTSPOURUOUSSECONDERTOUTIRAANOSTREGLOIREETALACONFUSIONDENOSENNEMIS
    gloss: En ce que nous voyons quelque leger peril a vostre arrivee, pour avoir este trop differee, neantmoins il n'est pas possible de la mettre plus au loing, et vault mieux hazarder quelque chose que tout perdre ; mais nous esperons qu'agissant de bonne sorte, hardiment et courageusement comme vous scaurez bien faire, et nous achevans le reste de nos efforts pour vous seconder, tout ira a nostre gloire, et a la confusion de nos ennemys.

== fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]
P1  LEPLUSTOSTQUEUOUSPOURESUENIRSERALEMEILLEUR
P2  LESECOURSDECAUALERIEENUOIEPARSONALTESSESME
P3  AUOUSALLERIOINDREASALINS
P4  DETARDERLEMOINSQUEUOUSPOURESETDENEUOUS [struck out] ATTENDREAAUCUNENOUUELLEAIDEHORSCELLEDUDICTSECOURS
P5  ·BEAUCOUPHASARDERQUEDEPASSERAUATREOUCINQIOURSSANSUOU?RENDREANOSPORTES
P6  LESDIUERTISSEMENTS
P7  LESSIGNALSLIUREES
P8  COMMUNICATIONSDUDICTENNEMI
P9  ETPLUSHINNIRABLEETPLUSUTILEALACLARTEDUSOLEILQUEDANSLANUICT
P10 RATLONSFARINESETBLEDS
P11 AUECLESOUTILSPOURYMOISSONNER
P12 BRULENTRIGNYTALEMAYPONTAILLIERMIREBERU
P13 DETRUISENTAPLAINLAFORGEDEDRAMBONETAUTRESOUSEFONTLESBONBESQUONNOUSIETTE
P14 AUDUCHEQUEBASSIGNIETBRESSE

== fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636
R1  CESTO·?UN⟨I|PO⟩EGE⟨I|PO⟩URLENNEMI

== fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)
Q1  QUINEUOUSCONUIENTQU |…
Q2  ERATTAQUEPARTICULIER |…
Q3  OUCENTCHEUAUXETSI |…
Q4  HOMMESDEPIED
Q5  QOURA·TTAQUEDED |…
Q6  HOMMES
V1  QUINEUOUSCONUIENTQUEPOURDONNERATTAQUEPARTICULIEREDETROSOUQUATRECENT·CGEUAUXETSIXCENTHOMMESDEPIED
V2  POURATTQUEDEDOUZECENTHOMMES

Reading

f200_reading.md

# fol. 200r, Parlement of Dole, 22 July 1636: the two blocks as glossed in the margin at the time

The reading of this folio is the period marginal decipherment, spelling kept. The key was learnt from block 1 (177 numbers aligned one to one with the gloss) and tested on block 2 (341 numbers; letter agreement 0.9072, see validation.txt).

## Block 1 (T1, training)

nous louons dieu de la bonne et courageuse resolution que vous avez prise de venir incessamment a nous a quoy nous vous invitons de nouveau autant quil nous est possible pour ce que toutes considerations pressent

## Block 2 (H2, held out)

En ce que nous voyons quelque leger peril a vostre arrivee, pour avoir este trop differee, neantmoins il n'est pas possible de la mettre plus au loing, et vault mieux hazarder quelque chose que tout perdre ; mais nous esperons qu'agissant de bonne sorte, hardiment et courageusement comme vous scaurez bien faire, et nous achevans le reste de nos efforts pour vous seconder, tout ira a nostre gloire, et a la confusion de nos ennemys.

Translation

f200_translation.md

# English translation of fol. 200r (22 July 1636)

## Block 1

We praise God for the good and courageous resolution you have taken to come to us without delay, to which we invite you again as far as we can, because every consideration presses.

## Block 2

Although we see some slight danger in your arrival, having been put off too long, it is nevertheless not possible to delay it any further, and it is better to risk something than to lose everything; but we hope that, acting in good order, boldly and courageously as you know how to do, and we on our side making the rest of our efforts to second you, all will go to our glory and to the confusion of our enemies.

A. Brun, [1 July 1636] (fol. 191) and the Parlement, 7 June 1636 (fol. 127v)

On 1 July (fol. 191) Brun writes that they must come as soon as possible with the cavalry relief sent by “His Most Serene Highness” (not identified here), without going to join it at Salins; that letting four or five days pass is a great risk; he recalls the diversions, the signals and recognition marks, the cutting of the enemy’s communications; an attack by day would be more honourable and more useful than by night. They are to bring rations, flour and corn, with tools to reap; the Gray garrison is to burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler and Mirebeau, and above all destroy the forge of Drambon and the others where the bombs thrown on Dole are made; raids are to go into the Duchy, Bassigny and Bresse.

Transcription

transcription.txt

# BM Besançon Ms 1594 (Ms 1591-1595 vol. IV, papers of Jean Girardot de Nozeroy), siege of Dole 1636. Cipher numbers as read
# from the library images (Mémoire vive; images not reproduced). One passage per line: <id> | numbers. Marks: ■ blot; ✕ struck-out
# group; … edge lost; 15(1.5?) read 15, perhaps 1.5; 38? doubtful. Clear text of the letters is not transcribed here.

== fol. 200r (view 351), Parlement of Dole, 22 July 1636: block 1 (training) and block 2 (held out); both glossed in the margin at the time
T1 | 7 5 44 40 11 5 44 5 7 40 27 15 25 44 27 25 11 35 31 5 7 7 25 25 42 29 5 44 38 35 19 25 44 40 25 38 25 40 5 11 44 42 15 5 7 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 35 44 25 40 1 38 15 40 25 27 25 44 25 7 15 38 15 7 29 25 40 40 35 9 9 25 7 44 35 7 5 44 40 35 36 44 5 52 7 5 44 40 44 5 44 40 15 7 44 15 42 5 7 40 27 25 7 5 44 44 25 35 44 35 44 42 35 7 42 36 44 15 11 7 5 44 40 25 40 42 1 5 40 40 15 31 11 25 1 5 44 38 29 25 36 44 25 42 5 44 42 25 40 29 5 7 40 15 27 25 38 35 42 15 5 7 40 1 38 25 40 40 25 7 42
H2 | 25 7 29 5 38 25 36 44 25 7 5 44 40 44 5 52 5 7 40 36 44 25 11 36 44 25 1 25 38 15 11 35 44 5 40 42 38 25 35 38 15 44 25 25 1 5 44 38 35 44 5 15 38 25 40 42 25 42 38 5 1 27 15 21 21 25 25 7 25 35 44 9 5 15 7 40 15 11 7 25 40 42 1 35 40 1 5 40 40 15 31 11 25 27 25 11 35 9 25 42 42 38 25 1 11 44 40 35 44 11 5 15 7 19 25 42 44 35 44 42 9 15 25 44 50 17 35 40 35 38 29 25 38 36 44 25 11 35 44 25 29 17 5 40 25 36 44 25 42 5 44 42 1 25 38 27 38 25 9 35 15 40 7 5 44 40 25 40 1 25 38 5 7 40 36 44 35 19 15 40 40 35 7 42 27 25 31 5 7 7 25 40 5 38 42 25 17 35 38 27 15 9 25 7 42 25 42 29 5 44 38 35 19 25 44 40 25 9 25 7 42 29 5 9 9 25 44 5 44 40 40 29 35 44 38 25 40 31 15 25 7 21 35 15 38 25 25 42 7 5 44 40 35 29 17 25 44 35 7 42 11 25 38 25 40 42 25 27 25 7 5 40 25 21 21 5 38 42 40 1 5 44 38 44 5 44 40 40 25 29 5 7 27 25 38 42 5 44 42 15 38 35 35 7 5 40 42 38 25 19 11 5 15 38 25 25 42 35 11 35 29 5 7 21 44 40 15 5 7 27 25 7 5 40 25 7 7 25 9 15 40

== fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]
P1 | 11 25 1 11 44 40 42 5 40 42 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 1 5 44 38 25 40 44 25 7 15 38 40 25 38 35 11 25 9 25 15 11 11 25 44 38
P2 | 11 25 40 25 29 5 44 38 40 27 25 20 35 44 35 11 25 38 15 25 25 7 44 5 15 25 1 35 38 40 5 7 35 11 42 25 40 40 25 40 9 25
P3 | 35 44 5 44 40 35 11 11 25 38 15 5 15 7 27 38 25 35 40 35 11 15 7 40
P4 | 27 25 42 35 38 27 25 38 11 25 9 5 15 7 40 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 1 5 44 38 25 40 25 42 27 25 7 25 44 5 44 40 ✕ 35 42 42 25 7 27 38 25 35 35 44 29 44 7 25 7 5 44 44 25 11 11 25 35 15 27 25 17 5 38 40 29 25 11 11 25 27 44 27 15 29 42 40 25 29 5 44 38 40
P5 | ■ 31 25 35 44 29 5 44 1 17 35 40 35 38 27 25 38 36 44 25 27 25 1 35 40 40 25 38 35 44 35 42 38 25 5 44 29 15 7 36 15 5 44 38 40 40 35 7 40 44 5 44 45 38 25 7 27 38 25 35 7 5 40 1 5 38 42 25 40
P6 | 11 25 40 27 15 44 25 38 42 15 40 40 25 9 25 7 42 40
P7 | 11 25 40 40 15 19 7 35 11 40 11 15 44 38 25 25 40
P8 | 29 5 9 9 44 7 15 29 35 42 15 5 7 40 27 44 27 15 29 42 25 7 7 25 9 15
P9 | 25 42 1 11 44 40 17 15 7 7 15 38 35 31 11 25 25 42 1 11 44 40 44 42 15 11 25 35 11 35 29 11 35 38 42 25 27 44 40 5 11 25 15 11 36 44 25 27 35 7 40 11 35 7 44 15 29 42
P10 | 38? 35 42 11 5 7 40 21 35 38 15 7 25 40 25 42 31 11 25 27 40
P11 | 35 44 25 29 11 25 40 5 44 42 15 11 40 1 5 44 38 52 9 5 15 40 40 5 7 7 25 38
P12 | 31 38 44 11 25 7 42 38 15 19 7 52 42 35 11 25 9 35 52 1 5 7 42 35 15 11 11 15 25 38 9 15 38 25 31 25 38 44
P13 | 27 25 42 38 44 15 40 25 7 42 35 1 11 35 15 7 11 35 21 5? 38 19 25 27 25 27 38 35 9 31 5 7 25 42 35 44 42 38 25 40 5 44 40 25 21 5 7 42 11 25 40 31 5 7 31 25 40 36 44 5 7 7 5 44 40 15 25 42 42 25
P14 | 35 44 27 44 29 17 25 36 44 25 31 35 40 40 15 19 7 15 25 42 31 38 25 40 40 25

== fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636
R1 | 29 25 40 42 5 ■4 44 7 15(1.5?) 25 19 25 15(1.5) 44 38 11 25 7 7 25 9 15

== fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)
Q1 | 36 44 15 7 25 44 5 44 40 29 5 7 44 15 25 7 42 36 44 …
Q2 | 25 38 35 42 42 35 36 44 25 1 35 38 42 15 29 44 11 15 25 38 …
Q3 | 5 44 29 25 7 42 29 17 25 44 35 44 50 25 42 40 15 …
Q4 | 17 5 9 9 25 40 27 25 1 15 25 27
Q5 | 36 5 44 38 35 ■ 42 42 35 36 44 25 27 25 27 …
Q6 | 17 5 9 9 25 40
V1 | 36 44 15 7 25 44 5 44 40 29 5 7 44 15 25 7 42 36 44 25 1 5 44 38 27 5 7 7 25 38 35 42 42 35 36 44 25 1 35 38 42 15 29 44 11 15? 25 38 25 27 25 42 38 5 40 5 44 36 44 35 42 38 25 29 25 7 42 ■ 29 19 25 44 35 44 50 25 42 40 15 50 29 25 7 42 17 5 9 9 25 40 27 25 1 15 25 27
V2 | 1 5 44 38 35 42 42 36 44 25 27 25 27 5 44 54 25 29 25 7 42 17 5 9 9 25 40

Decryption

decryption.txt

# Mechanical decryption of transcription.txt with key.tsv (unchanged). Capitals = deciphered letters; · = blot; ? = no value.

== fol. 200r
T1  NOUSLOUONSDIEUDELABONNEETCOURAGEUSERESOLUTIONQUEUOUSAUESPRISEDEUENIRINCESSAMMENUANOUSAQUOYNOUSUOUSINUITONSDENOUUEAUAUTANTQUILNOUSESTPOSSIBLEPOURCEQUETOUTESCONSIDERATIONSPRESSENT
    gloss: nous louons dieu de la bonne et courageuse resolution que vous avez prise de venir incessamment a nous a quoy nous vous invitons de nouveau autant quil nous est possible pour ce que toutes considerations pressent
H2  ENCOREQUENOUSUOYONSQUELQUEPERILAUOSTREARIUEEPOURAUOIRESTETROPDIFFEENEAUMOINSILNESTPASPOSSIBLEDELAMETTREPLUSAULOINGETUAUTMIEUXHASARCERQUELAUECHOSEQUETOUTPERDREMAISNOUSESPERONSQUAGISSANTDEBONNESORTEHARDIMENTETCOURAGEUSEMENTCOMMEUOUSSCAURESBIENFAIREETNOUSACHEUANTLERESTEDENOSEFFORTSPOURUOUSSECONDERTOUTIRAANOSTREGLOIREETALACONFUSIONDENOSENNEMIS
    gloss: En ce que nous voyons quelque leger peril a vostre arrivee, pour avoir este trop differee, neantmoins il n'est pas possible de la mettre plus au loing, et vault mieux hazarder quelque chose que tout perdre ; mais nous esperons qu'agissant de bonne sorte, hardiment et courageusement comme vous scaurez bien faire, et nous achevans le reste de nos efforts pour vous seconder, tout ira a nostre gloire, et a la confusion de nos ennemys.

== fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]
P1  LEPLUSTOSTQUEUOUSPOURESUENIRSERALEMEILLEUR
P2  LESECOURSDECAUALERIEENUOIEPARSONALTESSESME
P3  AUOUSALLERIOINDREASALINS
P4  DETARDERLEMOINSQUEUOUSPOURESETDENEUOUS [struck out] ATTENDREAAUCUNENOUUELLEAIDEHORSCELLEDUDICTSECOURS
P5  ·BEAUCOUPHASARDERQUEDEPASSERAUATREOUCINQIOURSSANSUOU?RENDREANOSPORTES
P6  LESDIUERTISSEMENTS
P7  LESSIGNALSLIUREES
P8  COMMUNICATIONSDUDICTENNEMI
P9  ETPLUSHINNIRABLEETPLUSUTILEALACLARTEDUSOLEILQUEDANSLANUICT
P10 RATLONSFARINESETBLEDS
P11 AUECLESOUTILSPOURYMOISSONNER
P12 BRULENTRIGNYTALEMAYPONTAILLIERMIREBERU
P13 DETRUISENTAPLAINLAFORGEDEDRAMBONETAUTRESOUSEFONTLESBONBESQUONNOUSIETTE
P14 AUDUCHEQUEBASSIGNIETBRESSE

== fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636
R1  CESTO·?UN⟨I|PO⟩EGE⟨I|PO⟩URLENNEMI

== fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)
Q1  QUINEUOUSCONUIENTQU |…
Q2  ERATTAQUEPARTICULIER |…
Q3  OUCENTCHEUAUXETSI |…
Q4  HOMMESDEPIED
Q5  QOURA·TTAQUEDED |…
Q6  HOMMES
V1  QUINEUOUSCONUIENTQUEPOURDONNERATTAQUEPARTICULIEREDETROSOUQUATRECENT·CGEUAUXETSIXCENTHOMMESDEPIED
V2  POURATTQUEDEDOUZECENTHOMMES

Reading

reading.md

# Reading (French, spelling of the cipher, word division restored), Daniel Bourdeau's rule

plain word = certain; {x} = probable; [x] = restored from the sense; ‹…› = unresolved. After each line, in italics, the clear text
printed by É. Longin (1912) from Brun's drafts (fols. 191, 127v, 181) or the period clear copy fol. 182 (fol. 183); it was found after the reading.

## fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]

P1 le plustost que vous pourez venir sera le meilleur  
*le plus tost que vous pourés venir sera le meilleur*

P2 le secours de {cavalerie} {envoie} par son altesse Sme  
*le secours de cavalerie envoyé par S. A. Sme*

P3 a vous aller ioindre a Salins  
*à vous aller joindre à Salins*

P4 de tarder le moins que vous pourez et de ne vous ‹biffé› attendre a aucune nouvelle aide hors celle dudict secours  
*de tarder le moins que vous pourés et de ne vous attendre à aucune nouvelle aide, hors celle du dict secours*

P5 ‹…› beaucoup hasarder que de passer {quatre} ou cinq iours sans {vous} rendre a nos portes  
*que c’est beaucoup hasarder que de passer quatre ou cinq jours sans vous rendre à nos portes*

P6 les divertissements  
*les divertissements*

P7 les signals {livrées}  
*les signals, livrées*

P8 communications dudict ennemi  
*communications du dict ennemi*

P9 et plus {honnorable} et plus utile a la clarté du soleil que dans la nuict  
*et plus honnorable et plus utile à la clarté du soleil que dans la nuict*

P10 ‹?atlons› farines et bleds  
*rations, farines et bleds*

P11 avec les outils pour y moissonner  
*avec les outils pour y moissonner*

P12 brulent Rigny, Talemay, {Pontailler}, {Mirebeau}  
*brûlent Rigny, Talemay, Pontaillier, Mirebeau*

P13 détruisent a plain la {forge} de Drambon et autres ou se font les {bombes} qu’on nous iette  
*détruisent à plein la forge de Drambon et autres où se font les bombes qu’on nous jette*

P14 au duché que Bassigni et Bresse  
*au [duché] que [Bassigny] et [Bresse]*


## fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636

R1 c’est ‹o…› un {piège} pour l’ennemi  
*c’estoit un piège pour l’ennemi*


## fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)

Q1 qui ne vous convient [que]  
*qui ne vous convient que*

Q2 ‹…er› attaque particulier  
*donner attaque particulière*

Q3 ou cent {chevaux} et [six]  
*de 3 ou 4 cent chevaux et six cent*

Q4 hommes de pied  
*hommes de pied*

Q5 {pour} {attaque} de ‹d…›  
*pour attaque de douze cent*

Q6 hommes  
*hommes*

V1 qui ne vous convient que pour donner attaque {particuliere} de {tros} {ou} quatre cent {cheuaux} et six cent hommes de pied  
*qui ne nous convient que pour donner attaque particulière de trois a quatre cent chevaux et six cent hommes de pied (f. 182)*

V2 pour {attaque} de {douze} cent hommes  
*pour attaque de douze cens hommes (f. 182)*

## Count (mechanical, recompte.py)

| | words | certain | probable | restored | unresolved | certain + probable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fol. 191 + fol. 127v | 128 | 113 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 124 (96.9%) |
| fol. 181 + fol. 183 | 48 | 35 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 44 (91.7%) |

fols. 181 + 183: fol. 183 alone (complete second copy) is 27 words, 21 certain, 6 probable (100%); fol. 181 has its right edge lost.

Translation

translation.md

# English translation of the ciphered passages (each passage is a phrase inside a letter written in clear)

## fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]

- P1: the sooner you can come, the better
- P2: the cavalry relief sent by His Most Serene Highness
- P3: to go and join you at Salins
- P4: to delay as little as you can, and to expect no new help other than that relief
- P5: [that it is] a great risk to let four or five days go by without your coming to our gates
- P6: the diversions
- P7: the signals, the liveries (recognition marks)
- P8: the communications of that enemy
- P9: both more honourable and more useful by daylight than at night
- P10: [rations], flour and corn
- P11: with tools to reap the harvest there
- P12: that they burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler, Mirebeau
- P13: that they destroy outright the forge of Drambon and the others where the bombs thrown at us are made
- P14: [raids] into the Duchy [of Burgundy] as well as Bassigny and Bresse

## fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636

- R1: it was a trap for the enemy

## fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)

- Q1: which suits you only [for]
- Q2: [giv]ing a separate attack
- Q3: [three] or [four] hundred horse and six [hundred]
- Q4: foot soldiers
- Q5: for an attack of tw[elve hundred]
- Q6: men
- V1: which suits you only for making a separate attack with three or four hundred horse and six hundred foot
- V2: for an attack of twelve hundred men

## Summary

On 7 June (fol. 127) the Archbishop and the court urge Conflans to attack quickly; a letter they had addressed to him “was a trap for the enemy”.
On 25 June (fols. 181, 183; clear on fol. 182) the commis describe the French quarters: on the side of the bridge, a separate attack with three or four hundred horse and six hundred foot; elsewhere, an attack of twelve hundred men.
On 1 July (fol. 191) Brun writes that they must come as soon as possible with the cavalry relief sent by “His Most Serene Highness” (not identified here), without going to join it at Salins; that letting four or five days pass is a great risk; he recalls the diversions, the signals and recognition marks, the cutting of the enemy’s communications; an attack by day would be more honourable and more useful than by night. They are to bring rations, flour and corn, with tools to reap; the Gray garrison is to burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler and Mirebeau, and above all destroy the forge of Drambon and the others where the bombs thrown on Dole are made; raids are to go into the Duchy, Bassigny and Bresse.
The cipher was broken at the time. Antoine Rossignol deciphered the intercepted dispatches in Paris; in July Richelieu sent him to Condé’s camp with “the decipherment of the letters that those of Dole were writing to the Marquis of Conflans” (Longin, no. CCLXXVIII). In late July and early August the court warned Conflans three times that “the enemy has found the key of the cipher”; the letter of 12 August (fol. 106) says so again and changes to another cipher, which we have not broken.

Commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636 (fols. 181 and 183; clear copy fol. 182)

On 25 June (fols. 181, 183; clear on fol. 182) the commis describe the French quarters: on the side of the bridge, a separate attack with three or four hundred horse and six hundred foot; elsewhere, an attack of twelve hundred men.

Transcription

transcription.txt

# BM Besançon Ms 1594 (Ms 1591-1595 vol. IV, papers of Jean Girardot de Nozeroy), siege of Dole 1636. Cipher numbers as read
# from the library images (Mémoire vive; images not reproduced). One passage per line: <id> | numbers. Marks: ■ blot; ✕ struck-out
# group; … edge lost; 15(1.5?) read 15, perhaps 1.5; 38? doubtful. Clear text of the letters is not transcribed here.

== fol. 200r (view 351), Parlement of Dole, 22 July 1636: block 1 (training) and block 2 (held out); both glossed in the margin at the time
T1 | 7 5 44 40 11 5 44 5 7 40 27 15 25 44 27 25 11 35 31 5 7 7 25 25 42 29 5 44 38 35 19 25 44 40 25 38 25 40 5 11 44 42 15 5 7 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 35 44 25 40 1 38 15 40 25 27 25 44 25 7 15 38 15 7 29 25 40 40 35 9 9 25 7 44 35 7 5 44 40 35 36 44 5 52 7 5 44 40 44 5 44 40 15 7 44 15 42 5 7 40 27 25 7 5 44 44 25 35 44 35 44 42 35 7 42 36 44 15 11 7 5 44 40 25 40 42 1 5 40 40 15 31 11 25 1 5 44 38 29 25 36 44 25 42 5 44 42 25 40 29 5 7 40 15 27 25 38 35 42 15 5 7 40 1 38 25 40 40 25 7 42
H2 | 25 7 29 5 38 25 36 44 25 7 5 44 40 44 5 52 5 7 40 36 44 25 11 36 44 25 1 25 38 15 11 35 44 5 40 42 38 25 35 38 15 44 25 25 1 5 44 38 35 44 5 15 38 25 40 42 25 42 38 5 1 27 15 21 21 25 25 7 25 35 44 9 5 15 7 40 15 11 7 25 40 42 1 35 40 1 5 40 40 15 31 11 25 27 25 11 35 9 25 42 42 38 25 1 11 44 40 35 44 11 5 15 7 19 25 42 44 35 44 42 9 15 25 44 50 17 35 40 35 38 29 25 38 36 44 25 11 35 44 25 29 17 5 40 25 36 44 25 42 5 44 42 1 25 38 27 38 25 9 35 15 40 7 5 44 40 25 40 1 25 38 5 7 40 36 44 35 19 15 40 40 35 7 42 27 25 31 5 7 7 25 40 5 38 42 25 17 35 38 27 15 9 25 7 42 25 42 29 5 44 38 35 19 25 44 40 25 9 25 7 42 29 5 9 9 25 44 5 44 40 40 29 35 44 38 25 40 31 15 25 7 21 35 15 38 25 25 42 7 5 44 40 35 29 17 25 44 35 7 42 11 25 38 25 40 42 25 27 25 7 5 40 25 21 21 5 38 42 40 1 5 44 38 44 5 44 40 40 25 29 5 7 27 25 38 42 5 44 42 15 38 35 35 7 5 40 42 38 25 19 11 5 15 38 25 25 42 35 11 35 29 5 7 21 44 40 15 5 7 27 25 7 5 40 25 7 7 25 9 15 40

== fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]
P1 | 11 25 1 11 44 40 42 5 40 42 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 1 5 44 38 25 40 44 25 7 15 38 40 25 38 35 11 25 9 25 15 11 11 25 44 38
P2 | 11 25 40 25 29 5 44 38 40 27 25 20 35 44 35 11 25 38 15 25 25 7 44 5 15 25 1 35 38 40 5 7 35 11 42 25 40 40 25 40 9 25
P3 | 35 44 5 44 40 35 11 11 25 38 15 5 15 7 27 38 25 35 40 35 11 15 7 40
P4 | 27 25 42 35 38 27 25 38 11 25 9 5 15 7 40 36 44 25 44 5 44 40 1 5 44 38 25 40 25 42 27 25 7 25 44 5 44 40 ✕ 35 42 42 25 7 27 38 25 35 35 44 29 44 7 25 7 5 44 44 25 11 11 25 35 15 27 25 17 5 38 40 29 25 11 11 25 27 44 27 15 29 42 40 25 29 5 44 38 40
P5 | ■ 31 25 35 44 29 5 44 1 17 35 40 35 38 27 25 38 36 44 25 27 25 1 35 40 40 25 38 35 44 35 42 38 25 5 44 29 15 7 36 15 5 44 38 40 40 35 7 40 44 5 44 45 38 25 7 27 38 25 35 7 5 40 1 5 38 42 25 40
P6 | 11 25 40 27 15 44 25 38 42 15 40 40 25 9 25 7 42 40
P7 | 11 25 40 40 15 19 7 35 11 40 11 15 44 38 25 25 40
P8 | 29 5 9 9 44 7 15 29 35 42 15 5 7 40 27 44 27 15 29 42 25 7 7 25 9 15
P9 | 25 42 1 11 44 40 17 15 7 7 15 38 35 31 11 25 25 42 1 11 44 40 44 42 15 11 25 35 11 35 29 11 35 38 42 25 27 44 40 5 11 25 15 11 36 44 25 27 35 7 40 11 35 7 44 15 29 42
P10 | 38? 35 42 11 5 7 40 21 35 38 15 7 25 40 25 42 31 11 25 27 40
P11 | 35 44 25 29 11 25 40 5 44 42 15 11 40 1 5 44 38 52 9 5 15 40 40 5 7 7 25 38
P12 | 31 38 44 11 25 7 42 38 15 19 7 52 42 35 11 25 9 35 52 1 5 7 42 35 15 11 11 15 25 38 9 15 38 25 31 25 38 44
P13 | 27 25 42 38 44 15 40 25 7 42 35 1 11 35 15 7 11 35 21 5? 38 19 25 27 25 27 38 35 9 31 5 7 25 42 35 44 42 38 25 40 5 44 40 25 21 5 7 42 11 25 40 31 5 7 31 25 40 36 44 5 7 7 5 44 40 15 25 42 42 25
P14 | 35 44 27 44 29 17 25 36 44 25 31 35 40 40 15 19 7 15 25 42 31 38 25 40 40 25

== fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636
R1 | 29 25 40 42 5 ■4 44 7 15(1.5?) 25 19 25 15(1.5) 44 38 11 25 7 7 25 9 15

== fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)
Q1 | 36 44 15 7 25 44 5 44 40 29 5 7 44 15 25 7 42 36 44 …
Q2 | 25 38 35 42 42 35 36 44 25 1 35 38 42 15 29 44 11 15 25 38 …
Q3 | 5 44 29 25 7 42 29 17 25 44 35 44 50 25 42 40 15 …
Q4 | 17 5 9 9 25 40 27 25 1 15 25 27
Q5 | 36 5 44 38 35 ■ 42 42 35 36 44 25 27 25 27 …
Q6 | 17 5 9 9 25 40
V1 | 36 44 15 7 25 44 5 44 40 29 5 7 44 15 25 7 42 36 44 25 1 5 44 38 27 5 7 7 25 38 35 42 42 35 36 44 25 1 35 38 42 15 29 44 11 15? 25 38 25 27 25 42 38 5 40 5 44 36 44 35 42 38 25 29 25 7 42 ■ 29 19 25 44 35 44 50 25 42 40 15 50 29 25 7 42 17 5 9 9 25 40 27 25 1 15 25 27
V2 | 1 5 44 38 35 42 42 36 44 25 27 25 27 5 44 54 25 29 25 7 42 17 5 9 9 25 40

Decryption

decryption.txt

# Mechanical decryption of transcription.txt with key.tsv (unchanged). Capitals = deciphered letters; · = blot; ? = no value.

== fol. 200r
T1  NOUSLOUONSDIEUDELABONNEETCOURAGEUSERESOLUTIONQUEUOUSAUESPRISEDEUENIRINCESSAMMENUANOUSAQUOYNOUSUOUSINUITONSDENOUUEAUAUTANTQUILNOUSESTPOSSIBLEPOURCEQUETOUTESCONSIDERATIONSPRESSENT
    gloss: nous louons dieu de la bonne et courageuse resolution que vous avez prise de venir incessamment a nous a quoy nous vous invitons de nouveau autant quil nous est possible pour ce que toutes considerations pressent
H2  ENCOREQUENOUSUOYONSQUELQUEPERILAUOSTREARIUEEPOURAUOIRESTETROPDIFFEENEAUMOINSILNESTPASPOSSIBLEDELAMETTREPLUSAULOINGETUAUTMIEUXHASARCERQUELAUECHOSEQUETOUTPERDREMAISNOUSESPERONSQUAGISSANTDEBONNESORTEHARDIMENTETCOURAGEUSEMENTCOMMEUOUSSCAURESBIENFAIREETNOUSACHEUANTLERESTEDENOSEFFORTSPOURUOUSSECONDERTOUTIRAANOSTREGLOIREETALACONFUSIONDENOSENNEMIS
    gloss: En ce que nous voyons quelque leger peril a vostre arrivee, pour avoir este trop differee, neantmoins il n'est pas possible de la mettre plus au loing, et vault mieux hazarder quelque chose que tout perdre ; mais nous esperons qu'agissant de bonne sorte, hardiment et courageusement comme vous scaurez bien faire, et nous achevans le reste de nos efforts pour vous seconder, tout ira a nostre gloire, et a la confusion de nos ennemys.

== fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]
P1  LEPLUSTOSTQUEUOUSPOURESUENIRSERALEMEILLEUR
P2  LESECOURSDECAUALERIEENUOIEPARSONALTESSESME
P3  AUOUSALLERIOINDREASALINS
P4  DETARDERLEMOINSQUEUOUSPOURESETDENEUOUS [struck out] ATTENDREAAUCUNENOUUELLEAIDEHORSCELLEDUDICTSECOURS
P5  ·BEAUCOUPHASARDERQUEDEPASSERAUATREOUCINQIOURSSANSUOU?RENDREANOSPORTES
P6  LESDIUERTISSEMENTS
P7  LESSIGNALSLIUREES
P8  COMMUNICATIONSDUDICTENNEMI
P9  ETPLUSHINNIRABLEETPLUSUTILEALACLARTEDUSOLEILQUEDANSLANUICT
P10 RATLONSFARINESETBLEDS
P11 AUECLESOUTILSPOURYMOISSONNER
P12 BRULENTRIGNYTALEMAYPONTAILLIERMIREBERU
P13 DETRUISENTAPLAINLAFORGEDEDRAMBONETAUTRESOUSEFONTLESBONBESQUONNOUSIETTE
P14 AUDUCHEQUEBASSIGNIETBRESSE

== fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636
R1  CESTO·?UN⟨I|PO⟩EGE⟨I|PO⟩URLENNEMI

== fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)
Q1  QUINEUOUSCONUIENTQU |…
Q2  ERATTAQUEPARTICULIER |…
Q3  OUCENTCHEUAUXETSI |…
Q4  HOMMESDEPIED
Q5  QOURA·TTAQUEDED |…
Q6  HOMMES
V1  QUINEUOUSCONUIENTQUEPOURDONNERATTAQUEPARTICULIEREDETROSOUQUATRECENT·CGEUAUXETSIXCENTHOMMESDEPIED
V2  POURATTQUEDEDOUZECENTHOMMES

Reading

reading.md

# Reading (French, spelling of the cipher, word division restored), Daniel Bourdeau's rule

plain word = certain; {x} = probable; [x] = restored from the sense; ‹…› = unresolved. After each line, in italics, the clear text
printed by É. Longin (1912) from Brun's drafts (fols. 191, 127v, 181) or the period clear copy fol. 182 (fol. 183); it was found after the reading.

## fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]

P1 le plustost que vous pourez venir sera le meilleur  
*le plus tost que vous pourés venir sera le meilleur*

P2 le secours de {cavalerie} {envoie} par son altesse Sme  
*le secours de cavalerie envoyé par S. A. Sme*

P3 a vous aller ioindre a Salins  
*à vous aller joindre à Salins*

P4 de tarder le moins que vous pourez et de ne vous ‹biffé› attendre a aucune nouvelle aide hors celle dudict secours  
*de tarder le moins que vous pourés et de ne vous attendre à aucune nouvelle aide, hors celle du dict secours*

P5 ‹…› beaucoup hasarder que de passer {quatre} ou cinq iours sans {vous} rendre a nos portes  
*que c’est beaucoup hasarder que de passer quatre ou cinq jours sans vous rendre à nos portes*

P6 les divertissements  
*les divertissements*

P7 les signals {livrées}  
*les signals, livrées*

P8 communications dudict ennemi  
*communications du dict ennemi*

P9 et plus {honnorable} et plus utile a la clarté du soleil que dans la nuict  
*et plus honnorable et plus utile à la clarté du soleil que dans la nuict*

P10 ‹?atlons› farines et bleds  
*rations, farines et bleds*

P11 avec les outils pour y moissonner  
*avec les outils pour y moissonner*

P12 brulent Rigny, Talemay, {Pontailler}, {Mirebeau}  
*brûlent Rigny, Talemay, Pontaillier, Mirebeau*

P13 détruisent a plain la {forge} de Drambon et autres ou se font les {bombes} qu’on nous iette  
*détruisent à plein la forge de Drambon et autres où se font les bombes qu’on nous jette*

P14 au duché que Bassigni et Bresse  
*au [duché] que [Bassigny] et [Bresse]*


## fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636

R1 c’est ‹o…› un {piège} pour l’ennemi  
*c’estoit un piège pour l’ennemi*


## fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)

Q1 qui ne vous convient [que]  
*qui ne vous convient que*

Q2 ‹…er› attaque particulier  
*donner attaque particulière*

Q3 ou cent {chevaux} et [six]  
*de 3 ou 4 cent chevaux et six cent*

Q4 hommes de pied  
*hommes de pied*

Q5 {pour} {attaque} de ‹d…›  
*pour attaque de douze cent*

Q6 hommes  
*hommes*

V1 qui ne vous convient que pour donner attaque {particuliere} de {tros} {ou} quatre cent {cheuaux} et six cent hommes de pied  
*qui ne nous convient que pour donner attaque particulière de trois a quatre cent chevaux et six cent hommes de pied (f. 182)*

V2 pour {attaque} de {douze} cent hommes  
*pour attaque de douze cens hommes (f. 182)*

## Count (mechanical, recompte.py)

| | words | certain | probable | restored | unresolved | certain + probable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fol. 191 + fol. 127v | 128 | 113 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 124 (96.9%) |
| fol. 181 + fol. 183 | 48 | 35 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 44 (91.7%) |

fols. 181 + 183: fol. 183 alone (complete second copy) is 27 words, 21 certain, 6 probable (100%); fol. 181 has its right edge lost.

Translation

translation.md

# English translation of the ciphered passages (each passage is a phrase inside a letter written in clear)

## fol. 191r-v (views 332-333), A. Brun, [Dole, 1 July 1636]

- P1: the sooner you can come, the better
- P2: the cavalry relief sent by His Most Serene Highness
- P3: to go and join you at Salins
- P4: to delay as little as you can, and to expect no new help other than that relief
- P5: [that it is] a great risk to let four or five days go by without your coming to our gates
- P6: the diversions
- P7: the signals, the liveries (recognition marks)
- P8: the communications of that enemy
- P9: both more honourable and more useful by daylight than at night
- P10: [rations], flour and corn
- P11: with tools to reap the harvest there
- P12: that they burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler, Mirebeau
- P13: that they destroy outright the forge of Drambon and the others where the bombs thrown at us are made
- P14: [raids] into the Duchy [of Burgundy] as well as Bassigny and Bresse

## fol. 127v (view 226), Archbishop and Parlement, Dole, 7 June 1636

- R1: it was a trap for the enemy

## fols. 181r (view 316) and 183 (view 319), commis au gouvernement, 25 June 1636; clear copy fol. 182 (view 318)

- Q1: which suits you only [for]
- Q2: [giv]ing a separate attack
- Q3: [three] or [four] hundred horse and six [hundred]
- Q4: foot soldiers
- Q5: for an attack of tw[elve hundred]
- Q6: men
- V1: which suits you only for making a separate attack with three or four hundred horse and six hundred foot
- V2: for an attack of twelve hundred men

## Summary

On 7 June (fol. 127) the Archbishop and the court urge Conflans to attack quickly; a letter they had addressed to him “was a trap for the enemy”.
On 25 June (fols. 181, 183; clear on fol. 182) the commis describe the French quarters: on the side of the bridge, a separate attack with three or four hundred horse and six hundred foot; elsewhere, an attack of twelve hundred men.
On 1 July (fol. 191) Brun writes that they must come as soon as possible with the cavalry relief sent by “His Most Serene Highness” (not identified here), without going to join it at Salins; that letting four or five days pass is a great risk; he recalls the diversions, the signals and recognition marks, the cutting of the enemy’s communications; an attack by day would be more honourable and more useful than by night. They are to bring rations, flour and corn, with tools to reap; the Gray garrison is to burn Rigny, Talmay, Pontailler and Mirebeau, and above all destroy the forge of Drambon and the others where the bombs thrown on Dole are made; raids are to go into the Duchy, Bassigny and Bresse.
The cipher was broken at the time. Antoine Rossignol deciphered the intercepted dispatches in Paris; in July Richelieu sent him to Condé’s camp with “the decipherment of the letters that those of Dole were writing to the Marquis of Conflans” (Longin, no. CCLXXVIII). In late July and early August the court warned Conflans three times that “the enemy has found the key of the cipher”; the letter of 12 August (fol. 106) says so again and changes to another cipher, which we have not broken.

Key: key.tsv

05 Sources

Besançon, Bibliothèque municipale, Ms 1594, fols. 127, 181, 182, 183, 191, 200 (Mémoire vive; not reproduced).
É. Longin (ed.), Le siège de Dole par le prince de Condé (27 mai – 15 août 1636). Documents inédits, Mémoires et documents inédits pour servir à l’histoire de la Franche-Comté X, Besançon, 1912 (Internet Archive).
Brice Dudout, Europe chiffrée, Girardot 1636.

Working files: targets/dole1636/ in the repository.

Cite this page

Brice Dudout and Daniel Bourdeau, “The siege of Dole, 1636: the “points” cipher”, Cyphersolver, posted 4 November 2026, https://cyphersolver.com/dole1636.html.