At a glanceCiphertext-only break · complete
- The letter
- Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector-Archbishop of Cologne, to his brother Duke Maximilian I, Bonn, 22 December 1619, on quartering and paying the Catholic League’s troops.
- Where
- Kurbayern Äußeres Archiv 4591; DECODE R9426, entered with no author, recipient or place.
- The cipher
- Homophonic substitution on the even two-digit numbers 10 to 78, two word-end symbols and a three-digit nomenclator.
- How it was read
- Simulated annealing against a 16th-century German model recovered the key with no crib. The same key deciphers the sibling R9425 (97.3% of 1,567 tokens).
- What it says
- The letter speaks of his cathedral chapter, his estates and calling his diet, and of Paderborn.
- Still open
- 31 of 32 nomenclator groups (74 tokens, 2.8%); no key for this cipher survives.
01 The record, and what was known about it
Kurbayern Äußeres Archiv 4591 is the Bavarian ducal chancery’s collection of cipher keys, running from the 1530s to about 1620; DECODE has 102 key records from it (R9277–R9423), with a scatter of ciphertexts bound in among the keys. Two of those ciphertexts are dated 1619 and lie at the very end of the volume:
| Record | Folios | Pages | DECODE status | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R9425 | 278–280 | 4 | Decrypted | Archduke Albert’s resolution for Licentiate Morreus, 15 December 1619, with a contemporary abstract in red in the left margin; deciphered here 2 October 2026 (section 05) |
| R9426 | 281–286 | 10 | Non-decrypted | the letter read here |
R9426’s record gives “Author: …”, no sender, no receiver, no origin city, no plaintext language, cipher type “Unknown”, symbol set “Numerical”. The images are behind a login and carry the archive’s reservation (“The image is not in the public domain. Publishing it is only possible with the permission of the Archive”), so no page of the manuscript is reproduced here. Eleven images cover ten pages: image 7 is a second photograph of the page on image 6, and pages 3 to 10 were photographed upside down.
The last page is not in cipher. It closes:
… und E. L. hierbei zu Bezeigung aller angenehmer freundbrüderlicher Dienste jederzeit geneigt. Geben in meiner Statt Bonn den 22. Decembris Anno 1619.
… williger Bruder und Diener — Ferdinand
Bonn was the Cologne elector’s residence. Ferdinand of Bavaria (1577–1650) had been Elector-Archbishop of Cologne since 1612 and held Paderborn, Münster, Hildesheim and Liège with it; Maximilian I, head of the Catholic League, was his elder brother, which is what “herr Schwager” and “freundbrüderlich” in the clear passages, and the letter’s presence in the Munich archive, together establish. The ciphered text confirms the identification from the inside: the writer speaks of mein Thumb[capitel], meine Landtstendt, meinem … Ertz[stift], of calling meinen Landtag, and of Paderborn: an ecclesiastical prince with a cathedral chapter, territorial estates and a diet to summon.
02 The cipher
Every cipher group is a number written between dots. The letters are the even two-digit numbers, in two series; the odd two-digit numbers and the three-digit numbers are the nomenclator, so the two can never be confused.
| a | b | c | d | e | f |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
| g | h | i | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | x | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 |
and a second series that supplies the homophones and the two letters the first series omits: a 60, 70 · e 62, 72 · i 64 · o 66, 76 · u 68 · k 74 · w 78. So each vowel has two or three equivalents and each consonant one. The values 22 to 28 never occur. Two symbols recur at every word boundary and carry no letter value; they are the word division. Single cipher letters also stand alone as initials, so that “E. L.” (Euer Liebden, the form the brothers use for one another) is written 18 . 36.
The design is conservative for 1619: an alphabet in order, with homophones only on the vowels, is a sixteenth-century habit, and it is what lets the key be recovered from 2,500 letters. The nomenclator covers what the alphabet does not: the groups stand exactly where a name, a title or an office belongs.
03 How the key was recovered
There was no key and no crib. The ten pages were transcribed line by line, with the clear passages bracketed
and the cipher copied as written. A homophonic solver (simulated annealing) then searched for the assignment of numbers to letters that maximises
the probability of the whole text under the repository’s de-1500s model, a five-gram character model
built on German printed and chancery prose of 1470–1610. Six restarts over the first three pages (932 letters) were already
producing German: gelegenen, Landtag ausschreiben, Quartiermeister. Ten restarts over all ten pages
(2,482 letters) fixed the table, and the decryption gave continuous German.
What remained were transcription errors. This clerk’s 0 and 6, 3 and 5, 1 and 4, 2 and 7 are nearly the same stroke, and a mis-transcribed digit turns one letter into another. The decoder flagged every word the language model scores poorly, a repair pass proposed single-token substitutions restricted to those confusable digit pairs, and about sixty were accepted. They are corrections of the transcription, never of the key, and a sample of them was checked again on the images at full zoom (catolischen, einzuquartiern, wolermelt, Erwitte).
The control. The key was then applied, without changing a single value, to the neighbouring record R9425, a different letter of the same correspondence that this work had not touched. Its first cipher line is
60·36·12·48·18·14·32·52 54·42·40 30·66·52·52·18·50 30·40·10·16·18·40
→ “Albrecht von Gottes Gnaden”
This is Archduke Albert of Austria, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, whose troops are the subject of that letter. A key recovered from one text and applied unchanged to another that gives a correct opening formula and a correct name is the strongest check available here. On 2 October 2026 the whole of R9425 was transcribed and deciphered with the key, letter values unchanged; it is given in section 05.
04 The letter
Ferdinand has had Maximilian’s letter of the 10th “gestrigen tags”. The first half is logistics, and it is specific. On the frontier of the county of Horn and at Montfort companies are to be accommodated; the levies (Werbungen) are “nit sufficient”; the agent, Licentiat Morres, reports and is to negotiate. Troops are to be quartered in the villages nearest the city and at Deutz, across the Rhine from Cologne, under a particular ordinance for the quartermaster, and the march (Fortzug) is to follow when they are ready. Pay is fixed:
… iedtwedern zwei Kopfstückh oder zwei Ort [eines] Königs-Dalers täglich zu versprechen …
Then the constraint that runs through the whole letter: Ferdinand will not let his own territory be eaten. He must keep his Domkapitel and Landstände “in guetem Willen und Devotion”, he is about to call a Landtag, and his Estates must “nit alienirt werden”. Lintelo’s company is placed near the city; Herberstorff and other recruitments are to have every possible support, and “daran nichts erwinden lassen”. For Paderborn he asks a year’s respite, where troops are already levied and a contribution and a mustering-place have been granted; he can give no firm promise about the rest.
The second half is the argument for the war, and it is the passage the reveal below decrypts symbol by symbol. If the other side is reprimirt and the adversary is strengthened with so considerable a reinforcement while Catholic power is diminished, then
… den Catolischen ins gemein und ohne underschied [wird] geringer Zeit übrig sein, sich [vor] des andern Theils Einfal, Gwalt und Betrangnus zu entweren. Ich vermeine, das die gemeine Zusammensetzung zu Conservation unser und in kurzer Zeit unser catolischer Religion und Seelen Seligkeit …
Against that he sets the gemeine Zusammensetzung, the common union, for the preservation “of us” (unser, the genitive) and soon of the Catholic religion and the salvation of souls, and for posterity. (Corrected 30 September 2026: the clear words before the cipher read Ich vermeine, das die on the image, not Ich hoffe, and the words between “Conservation unser” and “catolischer” are group 248 = und and the clear in kurzer Zeit followed by unser in cipher; the passage now runs without a cut.) His agent’s relation shows that a resolution cannot wait: levies are to be feared “für dem Früeling”, before the spring. The closing ciphered lines name Alexandro, the King, his lands, and “die Austilgung der ca[t]olischen Religion”.
The date matters. Frederick V of the Palatinate had been crowned in Prague on 4 November 1619; Maximilian and Ferdinand II signed the Munich treaty in October and the League was mobilising through that winter. Ferdinand was one of the two brothers who were about to pay for and lead that mobilisation, and here works out in cipher where the men will sleep, what they will be paid a day, and how much of it his own bishopric can be made to carry.
05 The sibling: Archduke Albert’s resolution, 15 December 1619
R9425 (ff. 278–280) is four cipher pages (ff. 278r, 278v, 279r, 279v), a clear closing line on f. 280r, “Zur
fernern nachricht und nachschreiben, den 15. 10bris Ao 1619”, and an endorsement on f. 280v: “Resolutio
deß hertzogs Albrechts dem L. Morreo … ertailt”. It was transcribed from the DECODE images on 2 October 2026
and deciphered with the key recovered from R9426, every letter value unchanged. 1,524 of its 1,567 cipher tokens give
sense: 97.3% (r9425/count_r9425.py; letters 1,471 of 1,482, nomenclator 53 of 85 tokens, of which 24 are
nulls; 97.2% with the nulls left out of the count). The language check on the decrypt puts German first.
It opens “Albrecht von Gottes Gnaden” and is Albert’s written answer to what Licentiate Morreus, the agent of the Duke of Bavaria as head of the Catholic League, had put to him “so woll mündlich als schriftlich”. In order:
- He thanks the Duke for commending to him the preservation of the Emperor and of “unsers hochlöblichen [Hauses] Angelegenheit”, and promises the same correspondence in return.
- He agrees that the recovery and reconquest of the kingdom [of Bohemia] and the other lands calls for every possible effort, has done “alle müglichste getrewe gute Officia” with the Emperor and the King [of Spain], and awaits their answer.
- Meanwhile, should the worst happen, the troops he has “anitzo auf den Beinen” are to go up to the Catholic army with orders to join it and obey its commander.
- A muster place, a regiment of foot and five hundred [horse] he cannot grant at present: his own levies are destined for Luxembourg, because of its situation.
- On the garrisoning of the fortress of Breisach he writes by this ordinary post to the King and to Oñate; for the thousand cuirassiers the League asks to raise in the King’s name he writes to Ambrosio [Spinola], and refers the Duke to him.
It is the answer to the same mission that R9426 reports on a week later, where the agent appears as “Morres”. The clear passages are transcribed as a working reading with gaps; only the cipher is counted.
What it gives back to R9426. R9425 settles five nomenclator groups as nulls: 414 stands in “Kön. 414 M. und L.” beside “Kön. 165 und L.”, in “unsers 414 hochlöblichen” and in “iren L. 414 L.”; 415 in “ire L. 415 L.”; 419 in “zu gedachtem 419 End”; 416 and 417 in the same formulas. It also fixes 242 = und (a homophone of 248, in the twice-written “Kön. M. 417 242 415 L.”), 165 = Mt. and 2 = Ambrosio [Spinola], where the decipherer’s red margin has “Ambr.”. With 416 a null, R9426’s “ertz 232 416” and “zu meinem 416 232” make 232 = stift close to forced. Probable values, not counted as read: 41 = Chur-, 218 = Rath, 169 = Kriegs-, 216 = Pferd, 154 = Haus, 47 = Mt., 31 = Vettern, 157 = Hilf.
Open in R9425 (32 tokens, 2.0%): the groups 45, 149, 225 (twice each), 160, 219, 153, 15, 215, 155, 221, 136, 140 and 249, and the probable-only values above; each has one or two contexts and no key survives. 149 (“Weil 149 L. die Vestung Brisach … bedencken tragen”) is probably Archduke Leopold; “dem 140 249 Oñate” probably the Spanish ambassador. Two or three signs on f. 278v run into the binding; four single signs are illegible; five single-token slips in words whose sense is clear are counted unread.
06 What remains uncertain
Measured over the enciphered text (count.py), 2,504 of 2,614 cipher tokens give sense: 95.8%.
The letters are nearly complete, 2,483 of 2,519. Two kinds of item are open.
The nomenclator (31 of 32 groups, 74 tokens, 2.8% of the text). The groups that occur are 102, 122, 136, 142, 146, 154, 160, 165, 183, 200, 213, 215, 216, 221, 225, 232, 238, 239, 248, 258, 410, 412, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419 and the two-digit 33, 47, 49, 51, 57. From R9426 alone only 248 = und is established, and that from its own contexts (“Gwalt 248 Betrangnus”, “Eifer 248 Ernst”, “248 in kurzer Zeit”). The sibling R9425 (section 05) shows 414, 415, 416, 417 and 419 to be nulls: 23 of the 74 open tokens. Counting them would raise R9426 from 95.8% to 96.7% ((2,504 + 23) / 2,614); the figures on this page are not yet recounted, so they are left as measured. 410 and 412 (once each) are probably nulls of the same run but do not occur in R9425, and 232 is now close to forced as stift. No key for this cipher survives: the volume’s own key records were checked (R9419 at f. 267 is a Latin nomenclator on 1–99; R9420–R9423 are 1530s–1583 alphabets already worked through for the earlier letters in this file), and the sibling R9425’s red margin, enhanced by channel separation, is a contemporary abstract of that letter, not a group-by-group decipherment.
Three names and four words. Three words decrypt as proper names whose bearers are not identified: Leicker (the Doctor Ferdinand sends to negotiate), Dernersen (named beside Herberstorff), and Marreo/Morres (the agent). Four words, 37 tokens in all, do not decrypt to German: at P1.22, P2.05, P3.05 and P4.23. Each has a single mis-transcribed digit inside a word; at this scan resolution the strokes are ambiguous, and a return to the originals would settle them.
Neither 1619 letter was found in print. Briefe und Akten zur Geschichte des Dreißigjährigen Krieges, Neue Folge I/1 (ed. Georg Franz, Munich 1966), which covers January 1618 to December 1620, cites the Munich files by the old “Kasten schwarz” numbers rather than the current KAA shelfmarks, and nothing in its searchable text for November–December 1619 answers to this letter; Hurter’s Ferdinand II viii, Wolf and Breyer’s Maximilian I iv and Pastor were checked as well. “Kurbayern Äußeres Archiv 4591” is cited nowhere in the literature that can be searched.
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.
R9426, Ferdinand of Bavaria to Maximilian I, Bonn, 22 Dec 1619
Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector of Cologne, writes to his brother Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria about quartering and paying the Catholic League's troops in the Rhine-Westphalian circle (Horn, Montfort, Deutz, Lintelo's and Herberstorff's companies, a year's respite for Paderborn), and argues that the common union is needed for the conservation of the Catholic religion. Six weeks after Frederick V's coronation in Prague; nomenclator groups apart from 248 = und are open.
Transcription
# R9426 BayHStA KAA 4591 f.281-286, Ferdinand II to Maximilian I, Wien 22 Dec 1619 # Format: one manuscript line per row, prefixed P<page>.<line>. Clear text in [ ]. # Cipher tokens: numbers as written; separators: z = the 7-shaped sign, c = the c/tau-shaped sign; - = line-end hyphen sign (4-shaped). P1.01 [Durchleuchtiger Fürst, freundlicher mein hertzliebster] P1.02 [herr Schwager, E. L. schreiben vom 10. dits ist] P1.03 [mir gestrigen tags woll eingeliefert. Und ob woll] P1.04 [ich ... hette, es dannoch] 54 40 50 18 48 50 c 32 18 48 40 z P1.05 414 z 122 z 30 z [sich ... gefallen lassen, zu Ihrem] P1.06 30 18 30 10 48 34 50 14 32 18 40 c 419 z [kan oder] 38 42 40 52 - P1.07 20 60 48 52 c [und an ... orten vernemmen würde] P1.08 30 48 10 20 50 14 32 60 20 52 c 32 42 48 40 z [das] 54 76 40 c P1.09 18 48 78 64 52 62 c 14 42 38 44 60 30 40 34 18 40 c 58 54 - P1.10 60 14 14 42 38 38 66 16 34 18 48 40 c [Do hat doch] 50 42 36 - P1.11 14 32 72 50 c 40 34 52 c 58 54 36 10 40 30 18 40 z [wollen] P1.12 78 64 18 c 414 z 18 c 419 z 36 c 60 54 50 z 12 18 34 - P1.13 30 18 20 54 18 30 52 72 48 z 78 66 36 18 48 38 62 36 52 z P1.14 122 c 36 z 412 c 18 48 74 36 72 48 54 40 30 c [nitt] P1.15 416 z 38 18 48 18 48 38 z 58 68 54 62 48 40 72 38 38 18 40 z P1.16 [Und erfreut mich mein ... under das hat] P1.17 248 z 60 30 18 40 52 c 36 34 14 18 40 52 04 60 52 z 38 42 - P1.18 48 48 18 50 c [das] 239 c [... das Herr L.] P1.19 [... wurde] 60 54 20 c 16 18 40 z [woll] 30 18 36 72 - P1.20 30 62 40 18 40 c 30 48 10 34 40 58 18 40 c [zu denen sol-] P1.21 [chen nicht] 20 54 48 32 10 12 18 40 16 72 40 z 52 10 48 - P1.22 14 72 18 40 z 78 72 48 12 54 40 30 72 40 c 40 34 52 z P1.23 50 54 20 20 34 14 04 18 40 52 c [an würde,] [Weil] P1.24 [ich mich das darbey erinnert, das beiderseits ...] P1.25 20 54 48 40 18 32 38 72 z 44 10 48 52 32 18 34 72 40 c P1.26 [zu besagter] 30 48 10 20 50 14 32 60 20 52 z 32 42 48 40 c P1.27 [also welches ich ... zu meinem] 416 z 232 c P1.28 183 c [gebracht, ...] 34 40 52 18 48 72 50 50 64 48 52 c P2.01 32 60 52 52 18 40 c [und] 16 34 18 c 238 z [selbst] P2.02 [wegen contentierung etlicher doch] 410 c 54 40 48 34 - P2.03 14 32 52 34 30 18 48 c 60 14 52 34 42 40 62 40 z [darauf] P2.04 44 48 18 52 62 40 16 34 48 40 c [Und demnach halben, wir] P2.05 [auch sonsten wegen des] 50 34 52 54 50 c [ohne] 58 08 52 32 - P2.06 54 18 40 c [wolbemelten] 122 z 414 c 60 40 30 48 - P2.07 18 34 40 52 58 62 40 16 62 48 c 42 48 52 72 48 c [braucht] P2.08 14 60 38 44 60 30 40 34 72 40 z [mit] 78 66 36 c 54 18 48 - P2.09 50 64 14 32 18 48 52 z [ein mögen.] [So hab ich dis-] P2.10 [falls meine] 54 42 48 34 30 62 z 215 c 414 z [noch-] P2.11 [wendig] 54 18 48 10 40 16 18 48 40 z [mit ihm, damit] P2.12 [gleichwoll E. L. intention nach müglichkeit secundirt] P2.13 [werden möchte. So hab ich heutigs tags] 62 48 - P2.14 38 18 36 52 62 38 c 18 48 78 64 52 18 c 414 z [zu mir ...] P2.15 [angefangen, dass in meinen] 40 18 30 50 52 c 12 18 34 c P2.16 16 18 48 z 50 52 10 52 c 52 z 30 18 36 62 30 72 40 72 40 c P2.17 16 42 48 20 18 48 40 c 248 c 20 48 18 34 32 62 34 52 z P2.18 16 18 54 52 58 c [nur] 50 62 64 40 18 c 216 c 46 54 10 48 - P2.19 52 34 18 48 z 30 18 12 62 40 c [lassen, Und zu solchem end] P2.20 [...] 46 54 60 48 52 64 18 48 38 10 34 50 52 18 48 50 c [dem] P2.21 [selben] 44 10 48 42 34 14 68 36 10 48 c 42 48 16 40 54 40 30 c P2.22 [zu vertheilen,] 419 c 18 48 78 60 48 52 18 40 c [wolle] P2.23 [das hinterstand solches werde, wegen] 60 54 50 30 18 - P2.24 12 54 40 30 z [der] 48 68 50 52 54 40 30 18 40 c [und] P2.25 [anderen gelegenheiten] 16 18 40 c 20 42 48 52 58 54 30 c P2.26 [selbigen] 68 66 36 14 74 50 c [wann es anders des] 62 48 - P2.27 78 34 52 72 c 72 48 52 48 42 50 52 54 40 30 c 40 10 14 32 - P2.28 12 18 48 10 34 52 z 50 18 04 40 c 78 34 48 16 52 z [mit] P3.01 78 18 40 34 30 c 12 18 20 60 48 16 72 48 40 c [Weil aber] P3.02 [ich] 16 18 40 62 40 c 42 48 52 62 48 40 c 16 10 50 18 36 12 50 52 z P3.03 [besagter] 14 42 38 44 60 30 40 34 62 40 z 18 34 40 58 54 46 54 10 48 - P3.04 52 64 18 48 40 c [mein] 52 32 54 38 12 z 102 c 248 z 102 c P3.05 58 54 z 47 z [Ihr] 54 40 10 18 48 32 62 48 50 14 32 10 20 20 72 40 c P3.06 [und] 52 62 48 48 34 52 60 48 66 60 c [habe, dieselbe auch] P3.07 34 42 48 z 248 c 40 10 14 32 c 38 34 48 c 18 34 40 36 42 - P3.08 30 64 48 54 40 30 c 38 62 64 40 72 50 c 54 66 36 14 74 50 c P3.09 [mit auch etlicher massen, das kan] 12 42 40 64 40 14 74 - P3.10 32 60 68 50 18 40 z 216 c 40 34 52 78 18 40 34 30 c 12 18 50 14 32 78 62 48 54 z 78 66 - P3.11 48 16 18 40 c [So hab ich es mit anderen geschrieben, dass] P3.12 [des andertheils zu] 54 18 48 44 20 36 62 30 54 40 30 z 76 12 - P3.13 12 72 50 70 30 52 72 48 z 216 z 20 54 48 [nichts] 34 62 16 52 - P3.14 78 72 16 62 48 40 z 58 78 18 34 z 74 66 44 20 50 52 54 14 74 32 z P3.15 [oder] 58 78 10 64 c 42 48 52 c [wird] 74 76 40 34 30 50 z P3.16 16 10 36 18 48 50 c 52 10 30 36 64 14 32 c 54 18 48 50 44 48 - P3.17 72 14 32 62 40 c [zulassen. Und wolle zu E. L. ich] P3.18 [mich freundlich getrösten, Sie werden, was dariber so] P3.19 [ich dissfalls mit] 414 z 16 18 38 c 16 42 14 52 76 48 c P3.20 36 18 34 14 74 72 48 [abhandlen und Ihr ... werden] P3.21 [zur ... halten. E. L. können gedenken, dass mir] P3.22 [obligen will] 38 62 64 40 c 52 32 54 38 12 z 102 c 248 z P3.23 36 60 40 16 52 50 52 18 40 16 52 z [auch in] 30 68 18 52 62 38 z P3.24 78 34 36 36 18 40 z [und] 16 18 54 66 52 64 42 40 c 58 54 - P3.25 18 48 32 60 36 52 72 40 c [Darneben will ich] 18 12 62 40 z 34 40 - P3.26 60 48 12 72 34 52 z 12 34 40 c 34 40 c 38 18 64 40 62 38 - P3.27 60 36 32 34 18 50 64 30 18 38 z 221 z [ihre] 72 48 52 58 z 232 z P3.28 [meinen] 36 60 40 16 52 60 30 c 70 54 50 58 54 52 14 32 48 18 34 - P3.29 12 18 40 c 248 z [zu erhalten. Und demnach zu befor-] P3.30 [derung des gemeinen wesens und billich daheim] P4.01 [zu trachten, dass] 38 62 34 40 18 z 50 52 62 40 16 52 z P4.02 40 64 52 c 60 36 04 18 40 34 48 52 z [werden. Ich hab] P4.03 [sonsten die verschung gethan, dass] 36 34 40 52 62 36 42 z P4.04 14 42 38 44 60 30 40 64 70 c 70 54 14 32 c 68 40 78 18 34 52 z P4.05 [nach dem] 50 52 10 52 z 57 c 60 40 z 30 18 36 62 30 18 40 - P4.06 72 40 z 66 48 52 18 48 40 c 10 14 14 76 38 38 66 16 34 48 52 z P4.07 34 14 32 z 78 64 36 z [auch des] 68 66 40 z 16 18 48 - P4.08 40 62 48 50 18 40 c 32 18 48 12 72 48 50 52 76 48 20 z 248 z P4.09 60 40 16 18 48 72 48 z 78 18 48 12 68 40 30 62 40 z [so] P4.10 [E. L.] 16 34 18 50 62 48 z 62 40 52 50 c 20 54 48 58 54 - P4.11 40 18 38 38 62 40 z [allerhand] 54 18 48 66 48 16 40 18 52 - P4.12 30 18 48 40 z 60 36 36 18 40 z 38 54 30 36 64 14 32 72 - P4.13 20 54 48 50 14 32 68 12 z 52 32 54 18 40 c [und] 16 10 48 - P4.14 70 40 c 40 34 14 32 52 50 c 62 48 78 64 40 16 18 40 [lassen] P4.15 [Weil aber] 38 62 64 40 18 38 z 221 [ihre] 18 48 52 58 z 232 z P4.16 248 c 136 c 258 c 60 64 14 32 z 232 c 44 10 16 18 48 - P4.17 16 62 48 12 42 48 40 c [wegen des mangels aber] 32 10 - P4.18 12 18 40 z 34 60 32 48 50 z 20 48 64 50 52 z 68 40 16 18 - P4.19 32 70 36 52 18 40 z 248 c 16 10 50 18 36 12 50 52 z 30 18 78 42 - P4.20 48 12 40 62 40 z 74 48 34 18 30 50 68 66 36 14 74 50 c P4.21 [auch allbereit] 30 72 78 34 36 36 64 30 52 z 248 z 18 - P4.22 68 66 48 52 50 72 52 58 54 40 30 c [den] 30 18 30 10 64 40 - P4.23 62 48 z 50 60 14 32 72 40 z [ferners] 18 48 78 60 48 52 - P4.24 72 40 16 72 48 z 14 42 40 52 48 34 12 68 52 34 42 40 18 - P4.25 [weiters] 18 34 40 36 18 30 72 48 54 40 30 c 248 z 38 68 - P4.26 52 62 48 44 36 10 52 58 z 40 34 52 z 60 40 58 54 38 68 - P4.27 52 62 40 z [So kan ich dann E. L. wegen der ...] P4.28 60 36 36 18 40 z 58 42 10 16 18 48 12 48 34 40 30 62 40 50 c P4.29 74 62 34 40 72 z 30 18 78 64 50 18 z 54 18 48 52 - P4.30 48 06 50 52 54 40 30 z 52 32 68 18 40 z 16 18 50 78 18 - P4.31 30 62 40 z [Ich thue auch von diesem wolmeinentlich] P5.01 [... erinnert, bei] 54 40 50 18 48 50 z 50 14 32 78 10 30 18 48 40 - P5.02 213 z 414 c 36 z 60 40 50 54 14 32 68 40 30 z 58 54 52 32 - P5.03 68 18 40 z [dass in derselben] 62 64 40 38 10 12 62 40 16 72 40 - P5.04 142 z [ihre] 46 54 10 48 52 34 48 40 z [andere E. L.] 20 54 48 32 10 - P5.05 12 72 40 16 62 z 78 18 48 12 68 40 30 18 40 z 20 68 48 30 18 - P5.06 40 60 38 38 72 40 c [werden möchten. Ich will gleich-] P5.07 [woll nit underlassen zu befürderung E. L. intention] P5.08 38 18 34 40 c 62 54 50 50 62 48 34 50 52 c 60 40 58 54 78 - P5.09 18 40 16 18 40 z [Und werden E. L. sich nit zu wundern sein] P5.10 [lassen, dass es des] 52 10 30 36 34 14 32 18 40 z 68 40 16 18 - P5.11 48 32 60 36 52 50 z [wegen des] 54 60 40 c 18 48 78 34 52 18 - P5.12 216 z 30 36 18 34 14 32 z [erhalten und zu dem end] P5.13 54 18 48 42 48 16 40 54 40 30 c 32 18 48 60 12 30 72 50 14 32 - P5.14 32 72 40 z 30 c P5.15 [Wessen sich aber des Hertzogs ... auf die zu] 38 72 34 - P5.16 40 18 48 z 72 48 52 58 z 248 c 232 z 54 62 48 50 34 14 32 18 - P5.17 48 68 40 30 c [durch meinen Doctor] 248 c 60 30 18 40 52 18 c P5.18 [abgelegte werbung erklert, was auch beineben] P5.19 58 78 34 50 14 32 62 40 c 239 z 248 z 18 48 38 62 36 52 72 40 - P5.20 38 18 34 40 18 40 c [für discurses gehalten, solches haben] P5.21 [E. L. beinebens mit mehrerm zuvernemmen. Wie] P5.22 [ich mich nun darbey] 30 18 50 34 14 32 62 48 52 z 32 60 52 - P5.23 52 62 40 z 38 54 30 18 z [mag die] 58 18 34 52 z 18 48 30 62 - P5.24 48 72 40 z [Und werde ich mit zuvoriger] 38 18 34 40 z P5.25 68 66 36 14 74 z 38 64 52 z 18 32 34 50 52 18 38 c 20 42 48 - P5.26 58 34 18 32 72 40 [lassen. Wie ich dann meines] 38 60 48 - P5.27 50 14 32 60 36 14 74 50 c [des] 54 66 40 z 16 18 48 z 32 70 - P5.28 54 18 36 34 14 32 c [dann ich zu der] 38 68 52 18 48 54 40 30 - P5.29 34 40 c 258 c [und beförderung] 16 18 50 z 20 42 48 52 - P6.01 58 54 30 50 z [selbigen] 54 42 36 14 74 50 z 16 10 50 18 36 - P6.02 12 50 52 z 68 18 48 36 60 50 50 18 40 c [allhie mit ersten] P6.03 [wiederumb ... und alsdann] 16 60 50 z 414 c P6.04 54 66 36 14 74 52 c [in] 38 18 34 40 18 38 z 54 50 14 32 18 40 c P6.05 221 z 18 48 52 58 z 232 c 416 c 30 54 14 32 z 58 54 - P6.06 30 36 18 64 14 32 c 20 42 48 52 58 34 18 32 62 40 c 58 54 - P6.07 36 60 50 50 18 40 c 12 72 16 10 14 32 52 z [wegen auch] P6.08 18 48 78 64 52 18 c [under dessen] 38 34 52 c 50 64 64 40 - P6.09 62 40 c 216 z 20 18 48 52 64 30 c [sein könte,] 38 66 14 - P6.10 32 52 72 c 62 48 z [mit dem] 70 40 16 18 48 40 z 20 42 48 - P6.11 52 58 34 18 32 72 40 c [Wie ich das solches] 47 z P6.12 419 c 415 c 36 z [der] 46 68 10 48 52 64 18 48 40 [halben] 60 40 20 54 18 30 62 40 [lassen.] P6.13 [Sonsten bin ich mit E. L. gänzlich einig, dass] 221 z 248 z P6.14 122 z 414 c 36 z [wegen] 14 42 40 50 18 48 54 10 - P6.15 52 34 66 40 c 34 48 18 50 c 154 z 248 c 14 42 40 - P6.16 50 72 46 68 18 40 52 62 48 c 60 36 36 18 48 c 78 66 36 - P6.17 20 70 48 52 z 16 64 50 c 78 18 48 14 74 z 12 64 36 36 - P6.18 64 14 32 z [mit mehrerm] 72 64 20 62 48 z 248 c 18 48 - P6.19 40 50 52 z [als] 60 40 16 18 48 72 z 14 10 52 42 36 64 - P6.20 50 14 32 62 c [zu] 14 42 38 44 48 18 32 62 40 16 34 48 - P6.21 [welches das] 38 18 64 40 18 38 z 60 30 18 40 52 18 - P6.22 38 60 48 48 18 42 z [in denen ihme ertheilten Memorialibus] P6.23 [hier und mich] 78 66 36 z 34 40 14 54 36 - P6.24 14 64 48 52 z [Ich bin auch der meinung, dass] P6.25 [solches so woll gegen] 414 c 160 z [als] 165 c 34 40 z P6.26 225 z [und] 122 z 414 c 36 z [also] 58 54 12 18 - P6.27 32 60 48 48 64 40 z [seine ...] [Was aber] P6.28 [ferner] 30 48 54 40 16 52 z 48 z 18 14 32 52 z 18 34 40 - P8.01 30 62 50 72 52 62 40 c [meinet, so] 50 14 32 18 34 40 52 z P8.02 62 50 c 58 78 10 48 c [was dass] 416 c 154 z 200 c 48 18 - P8.03 44 48 34 38 64 48 52 z [und] 60 68 50 30 18 54 66 36 30 18 52 z P8.04 44 36 62 64 12 18 40 [und dem] 30 18 30 62 40 52 32 18 34 36 40 z P8.05 38 66 14 32 52 z [mit] 50 66 36 14 32 18 38 z 60 40 50 62 - P8.06 32 18 40 36 64 14 32 72 40 z 58 68 62 50 10 52 58 c 30 18 - P8.07 50 52 72 48 14 74 52 z [der] 14 60 52 32 60 36 64 50 14 32 18 40 z P8.08 38 10 14 32 52 z 10 12 18 48 c [fügungen daher salt] 30 18 - P8.09 48 64 40 30 62 48 52 z [werden sollen, dass] 16 18 40 z P8.10 14 10 52 76 36 34 50 14 32 18 40 c 64 40 50 c 30 18 38 18 34 - P8.11 40 c 248 c [ohne underschied geringer] 58 18 34 52 z 54 - P8.12 12 48 34 30 c 50 18 34 40 c [wirdet,] 50 64 14 32 z [das] 60 40 - P8.13 16 18 48 40 z 52 32 18 34 36 50 c 62 64 40 20 60 36 c P8.14 30 78 10 36 52 z 248 c 12 18 52 48 70 40 30 40 54 50 c [zu] P8.15 62 40 52 78 18 48 18 40 c [Ich vermeine, das die] P8.16 50 18 38 62 34 40 72 z 58 54 50 60 38 18 40 50 18 52 58 68 40 30 c P8.17 [zu] 14 42 40 50 62 48 54 10 52 c 64 66 40 c 54 40 50 18 48 c P8.18 248 z [in kurzer zeit] 54 40 50 18 48 z 14 10 42 66 36 64 50 - P8.19 14 32 18 48 c 48 64 36 34 30 64 76 40 c [und] 50 18 62 36 72 40 - P8.20 c 50 18 36 34 30 74 72 34 52 c [darab bei der] 44 66 50 - P8.21 52 18 48 64 52 62 52 c [bis dahin hier nötig erachtet] P8.22 [werden, Ich vernimme gleichwoll] 66 68 50 c 38 18 64 - P8.23 40 18 50 c 60 30 18 40 52 18 40 c 48 18 36 10 52 34 42 40 c P8.24 [das mag] 419 z 58 68 z 33 z 48 18 50 66 36 54 64 48 54 z P8.25 50 18 34 c 16 10 50 c 72 54 50 18 48 34 50 52 c 60 40 - P8.26 58 54 78 18 40 16 18 40 c [zu dem ...] 52 10 30 36 34 14 32 50 z P8.27 16 34 18 z 215 z [nes] 60 68 50 c 225 z 18 48 78 60 48 52 72 52 z P8.28 [Aber] 78 66 36 z 58 54 12 18 50 66 48 30 62 40 z 38 60 40 z P9.01 [mochte, so seien] 78 18 48 12 54 40 30 18 40 z 20 54 48 z [der] P9.02 20 48 54 18 36 62 40 30 c 40 54 40 c 60 54 20 74 42 38 z P9.03 58 18 40 [Mit ... E. L. ... des] 414 c P9.04 34 48 18 38 z 146 c 60 36 18 56 10 40 16 48 42 z [des] 16 38 c P9.05 30 48 60 20 52 c [commun particulariteten deren vernemmen.] P9.06 [Was E. L. wegen des] 49 z 50 14 32 48 18 34 12 18 40 50 c P9.07 60 32 40 c 51 z [darneben, solches hab ich ebenmessig] P9.08 [in achtung genommen, Und darinnen kein anderes] P9.09 [beschluss machen können, Als dass] 417 c 18 50 c 49 z P9.10 52 32 18 34 36 50 c [erben] 62 48 36 10 40 30 54 40 30 c P9.11 [dem] 60 40 50 18 32 62 40 36 34 14 32 18 48 c 74 42 40 34 30 - P9.12 [Erzig.] 248 z 36 10 40 16 18 40 c 20 42 48 52 c [und] P9.13 60 68 50 52 34 36 30 68 40 30 c 16 18 48 c 14 10 52 42 36 34 - P9.14 50 14 32 18 40 z 48 72 36 64 30 34 42 40 z 58 58 52 32 54 40 -
Decryption
P1.01 [Durchleuchtiger Fürst, freundlicher mein hertzliebster] P1.02 [herr Schwager, E. L. schreiben vom 10. dits ist] P1.03 [mir gestrigen tags woll eingeliefert. Und ob woll] P1.04 [ich ... hette, es dannoch] unsers hern P1.05 <414> <122> <30> [sich ... gefallen lassen, zu Ihrem] P1.06 gegarischen <419> [kan oder] P1.07 MONTFART [und an ... orten vernemmen würde] P1.08 GRAFSCHAFT horn [das] uon P1.09 ERWITE compagnien P1.10 zuaccommodiern [Do hat doch] P1.11 solches nit zulangen [wollen] P1.12 wie <414> <18> <419> <36> aus P1.13 beigefuegter wolermelt P1.14 <122> <36> <412> erklerung [nitt] P1.15 <416> MERERM zuuernemmen P1.16 [Und erfreut mich mein ... under das hat] P1.17 <248> agent licentiat P1.18 MORRES [das] <239> [... das Herr L.] P1.19 [... wurde] AUF den [woll] P1.20 gelegenen GRAINZEN [zu denen sol-] P1.21 [chen nicht] furhabenden P1.22 TARCEEN werbungen nit P1.23 sufficient [an würde,] [Weil] P1.24 [ich mich das darbey erinnert, das beiderseits ...] P1.25 furnehme partheien P1.26 [zu besagter] GRAFSCHAFT horn P1.27 [also welches ich ... zu meinem] <416> <232> P1.28 <183> [gebracht, ...] interessirt P2.01 hatten [und] die <238> [selbst] P2.02 [wegen contentierung etlicher doch] <410> P2.03 unrichtiger actionen [darauf] P2.04 pretendirn [Und demnach halben, wir] P2.05 [auch sonsten wegen des] situs [ohne] P2.06 zuthuen [wolbemelten] <122> <414> P2.07 angreintzender orter [braucht] P2.08 campagnien [mit] wol P2.09 uersichert [ein mögen.] [So hab ich dis-] P2.10 [falls meine] uorige <215> <414> [noch-] P2.11 [wendig] uerandern [mit ihm, damit] P2.12 [gleichwoll E. L. intention nach müglichkeit secundirt] P2.13 [werden möchte. So hab ich heutigs tags] P2.14 ermeltem ERWITE <414> [zu mir ...] P2.15 [angefangen, dass in meinen] negst bei P2.16 der stat <52> gelegenen P2.17 DORFERN <248> freiheit P2.18 deutz [nur] seine <216> P2.19 quartier geben [lassen, Und zu solchem end] P2.20 [...] quartiermaisters [dem] P2.21 [selben] PAROICULAR ordnung P2.22 [zu vertheilen,] <419> erwarten [wolle] P2.23 [das hinterstand solches werde, wegen] P2.24 ausgebung [der] rustungen [und] P2.25 [anderen gelegenheiten] den fortzug P2.26 [selbigen] uolcks [wann es anders des] P2.27 ERWITE ertrostung P2.28 nachberait sein wirdt [mit] P3.01 wenig befardern [Weil aber] P3.02 [ich] denen ortern daselbst P3.03 [besagter] compagnien P3.04 EINZUQUARTIERN [mein] thumb <102> <248> <102> P3.05 zu <47> [Ihr] unaerherschaffen P3.06 [und] TERRITAROA [habe, dieselbe auch] P3.07 ior <248> nach mir P3.08 EINLOGIRUNG meines uolcks P3.09 [mit auch etlicher massen, das kan] P3.10 boninckhausen <216> NITWENIG beschweru P3.11 worden [So hab ich es mit anderen geschrieben, dass] P3.12 [des andertheils zu] uerpflegung P3.13 obbesagter <216> fur [nichts] P3.14 iedtwedern zwei KOPFSTUCKH P3.15 [oder] ZWAI ort [wird] konigs P3.16 dalers taglich P3.17 uersprechen [zulassen. Und wolle zu E. L. ich] P3.18 [mich freundlich getrösten, Sie werden, was dariber so] P3.19 [ich dissfalls mit] <414> dem doctor P3.20 leicker [abhandlen und Ihr ... werden] P3.21 [zur ... halten. E. L. können gedenken, dass mir] P3.22 [obligen will] mein thumb <102> <248> P3.23 landtstendt [auch in] guetem P3.24 willen [und] deuotion P3.25 zuerhalten [Darneben will ich] eben P3.26 inarbeit bin in P3.27 meinemalhiesigem <221> [ihre] ertz <232> P3.28 [meinen] landtag P3.29 auszutchreiben <248> [zu erhalten. Und demnach zu befor-] P3.30 [derung des gemeinen wesens und billich daheim] P4.01 [zu trachten, dass] meine stendt P4.02 nit alienirt [werden. Ich hab] P4.03 [sonsten die verschung gethan, dass] LINTELO P4.04 compagnia auch unweit P4.05 [nach dem] stat <57> an P4.06 gelegenen ortern accommodirt P4.07 ich wil [auch des] uon P4.08 DERNERSEN HERBERSTORF <248> P4.09 anderer werbungen [so] P4.10 [E. L.] dieser ents P4.11 furzunemmen [allerhand] P4.12 uerordnetgern allen P4.13 MUGLICHEFURSCHUB thuen [und] P4.14 daran nichts erwinden [lassen] P4.15 [Weil aber] meinem <221> [ihre] ertz <232> P4.16 <248> <136> <258> aich <232> P4.17 paderderborn [wegen des mangels aber] P4.18 haben iahrs frist P4.19 undehalten <248> daselbst P4.20 geworbnen kriegsuolcks P4.21 [auch allbereit] gewilligt <248> P4.22 euortsetzung [den] P4.23 GEGAINER sachen [ferners] P4.24 erwartender P4.25 contributione [weiters] einlegerung <248> P4.26 muterplatz nit P4.27 anzumuten [So kan ich dann E. L. wegen der ...] P4.28 allen zoaderbringens P4.29 keine gewise P4.30 uertrostung thuen P4.31 deswegen [Ich thue auch von diesem wolmeinentlich] P5.01 [... erinnert, bei] unsers P5.02 <50.14.32.78.10.30.18.48.40.213> <414> <36> ansuchung P5.03 zuthuen [dass in derselben] P5.04 <62.64.40.38.10.12.62.40.16.72.40.142> [ihre] quartirn [andere E. L.] P5.05 furhabende werbungen P5.06 furgenammen [werden möchten. Ich will gleich-] P5.07 [woll nit underlassen zu befürderung E. L. intention] P5.08 mein eusserist P5.09 anzuwenden [Und werden E. L. sich nit zu wundern sein] P5.10 [lassen, dass es des] taglichen P5.11 underhalts [wegen des] uan P5.12 <18.48.78.34.52.18.216> gleich [erhalten und zu dem end] P5.13 uerordnung P5.14 herabgeschhen <30> P5.15 [Wessen sich aber des Hertzogs ... auf die zu] P5.16 meiner ertz <248> <232> P5.17 uersicherung [durch meinen Doctor] <248> agente P5.18 [abgelegte werbung erklert, was auch beineben] P5.19 zwischen <239> <248> P5.20 ermeltenmeinen [für discurses gehalten, solches haben] P5.21 [E. L. beinebens mit mehrerm zuvernemmen. Wie] P5.22 [ich mich nun darbey] gesichert P5.23 hatten muge [mag die] zeit P5.24 ergeren [Und werde ich mit zuvoriger] mein P5.25 uolck mit ehistem P5.26 forziehen [lassen. Wie ich dann meines] P5.27 marschalcks [des] uon der P5.28 hauelich [dann ich zu der] P5.29 muterungin <258> [und beförderung] des P6.01 fortzugs [selbigen] uolcks P6.02 daselbst uerlassen [allhie mit ersten] P6.03 [wiederumb ... und alsdann] das <414> P6.04 uolckt [in] meinem uschen P6.05 <221> ertz <232> <416> guch P6.06 zugleich fortziehen P6.07 zulassen bedacht [wegen auch] P6.08 ERWITE [under dessen] mit P6.09 SIINEN <216> fertig [sein könte,] P6.10 mochte er [mit dem] andern P6.11 fortziehen [Wie ich das solches] <47> P6.12 <419> <415> <36> [der] quartiern [halben] anfuegen [lassen.] P6.13 [Sonsten bin ich mit E. L. gänzlich einig, dass] <221> <248> P6.14 <122> <414> <36> [wegen] P6.15 conseruation ires <154> <248> P6.16 consequenter aller P6.17 wolfart dis werck P6.18 billich [mit mehrerm] eifer <248> P6.19 ernst [als] andere P6.20 catolische [zu] P6.21 comprehendir [welches das] meinem P6.22 AGENTEMARREO [in denen ihme ertheilten Memorialibus] P6.23 [hier und mich] wol P6.24 inculcirt [Ich bin auch der meinung, dass] P6.25 [solches so woll gegen] <414> <160> [als] <165> in P6.26 <225> [und] <122> <414> <36> [also] P6.27 zubeharrin [seine ...] [Was aber] P6.28 [ferner] grundt <48> echt P8.01 eingeseten [meinet, so] scheint P8.02 es zwar [was dass] <416> <154> <200> P8.03 reprimirt [und] ausgeuolget P8.04 pleiben [und dem] gegentheiln P8.05 mocht [mit] solchem P8.06 ansehenlichen ZUESATZ P8.07 gesterckt [der] cathalischen P8.08 macht aber [fügungen daher salt] P8.09 geringert [werden sollen, dass] den P8.10 catolischen ins P8.11 gemein <248> [ohne underschied geringer] zeit P8.12 ubrig sein [wirdet,] sich [das] P8.13 andern theils einfal P8.14 gwalt <248> betrangnus [zu] P8.15 entweren [Ich vermeine, das die] P8.16 semeine zusamensetzung P8.17 [zu] conseruat ION unser P8.18 <248> [in kurzer zeit] unser P8.19 caoolischer riligion [und] P8.20 seelen seligkeit [darab bei der] P8.21 posteritet [bis dahin hier nötig erachtet] P8.22 [werden, Ich vernimme gleichwoll] ous P8.23 meines agenten relation P8.24 [das mag] <419> zu <33> resoluiru P8.25 SEI das euserist P8.26 anzuwenden [zu dem ...] taglichs P8.27 die <215> [nes] aus <225> erwartet P8.28 [Aber] wol zubesorgen man P9.01 [mochte, so seien] werbungen fur [der] P9.02 frueleng nun AUFKOM P9.03 zen [Mit ... E. L. ... des] <414> P9.04 irem <146> alexandro [des] dm P9.05 GRAFT [commun particulariteten deren vernemmen.] P9.06 [Was E. L. wegen des] <49> schreibens P9.07 ahn <51> [darneben, solches hab ich ebenmessig] P9.08 [in achtung genommen, Und darinnen kein anderes] P9.09 [beschluss machen können, Als dass] <417> es <49> P9.10 theils [erben] erlangung P9.11 [dem] ansehenlicher P9.12 konig [Erzig.] <248> landen fort [und] P9.13 austilgung der P9.14 catolischen religion --- 32 of 352 cipher words flagged --- P1.07 38.42.40.52.20.60.48.52 montfart -3.25 P1.08 30.48.10.20.50.14.32.60.20.52 grafschaft -3.49 P1.09 18.48.78.64.52.62 erwite -5.02 P1.15 38.18.48.18.48.38 mererm -3.57 P1.18 38.42.48.48.18.50 morres -3.69 P1.19 60.54.20 auf -4.97 P1.20 30.48.10.34.40.58.18.40 grainzen -4.58 P1.22 52.10.48.14.72.18.40 tarceen -6.19 P1.26 30.48.10.20.50.14.32.60.20.52 grafschaft -3.49 P2.14 18.48.78.64.52.18 erwite -5.02 P2.17 16.42.48.20.18.48.40 dorfern -3.5 P2.21 44.10.48.42.34.14.68.36.10.48 paroicular -3.56 P2.27 62.48.78.34.52.72 erwite -5.02 P3.04 18.34.40.58.54.46.54.10.48.52.64.18.48.40 einzuquartiern -4.04 P3.06 52.62.48.48.34.52.60.48.66.60 territaroa -4.92 P3.08 18.34.40.36.42.30.64.48.54.40.30 einlogirung -3.86 P3.10 40.34.52.78.18.40.34.30 nitwenig -4.51 P3.14 74.66.44.20.50.52.54.14.74.32 kopfstuckh -4.7 P3.15 58.78.10.64 zwai -6.23 P4.03 36.34.40.52.62.36.42 lintelo -4.12 P4.08 16.18.48.40.62.48.50.18.40 dernersen -3.99 P4.08 32.18.48.12.72.48.50.52.76.48.20 herberstorf -3.36 P4.13 38.54.30.36.64.14.32.72.20.54.48.50.14.32.68.12 muglichefurschub -3.41 P4.23 30.18.30.10.64.40.62.48 gegainer -4.09 P6.08 18.48.78.64.52.18 erwite -5.02 P6.09 50.64.64.40.62.40 siinen -3.33 P6.22 60.30.18.40.52.18.38.60.48.48.18.42 agentemarreo -4.82 P8.06 58.68.62.50.10.52.58 zuesatz -3.84 P8.17 64.66.40 ion -3.53 P8.25 50.18.34 sei -5.5 P9.02 60.54.20.74.42.38 aufkom -10.13 P9.05 30.48.60.20.52 graft -4.15
Reading
# R9426 - Ferdinand of Bavaria to Maximilian I, Bonn, 22 Dec 1619: reading in running text Rests on: `reading.txt` (the key-rebuilt decode, one manuscript line per row, 22 Sept 2026). Joined here into running text for the v3 verification (23 Oct 2026): the clear text of the letter, in brackets there, is written in «...» so that it is not taken for supplied words; the cipher words the language model flagged (upper case there) are in lower case, names (Montfart, Erwite, Morres, Lintelo, Herberstorf) as they are, and eight that do not resolve as [?word]; <nnn> are open nomenclator groups (five are nulls per R9425) and "..." the gaps in the clear hand. Spelling as the figures give it. ## Reading «Durchleuchtiger Fürst, freundlicher mein hertzliebster herr Schwager, E. L. schreiben vom 10. dits ist mir gestrigen tags woll eingeliefert. Und ob woll ich ... hette, es dannoch» unsers hern <414> <122> <30> «sich ... gefallen lassen, zu Ihrem» gegarischen <419> «kan oder» montfart «und an ... orten vernemmen würde» grafschaft horn «das» uon erwite compagnien zuaccommodiern «Do hat doch» solches nit zulangen «wollen» wie <414> <18> <419> <36> aus beigefuegter wolermelt <122> <36> <412> erklerung «nitt» <416> [?mererm] zuuernemmen «Und erfreut mich mein ... under das hat» <248> agent licentiat morres «das» <239> «... das Herr L. ... wurde» auf den «woll» gelegenen grainzen «zu denen solchen nicht» furhabenden [?tarceen] werbungen nit sufficient «an würde, Weil ich mich das darbey erinnert, das beiderseits ...» furnehme partheien «zu besagter» grafschaft horn «also welches ich ... zu meinem» <416> <232> <183> «gebracht, ...» interessirt hatten «und» die <238> «selbst wegen contentierung etlicher doch» <410> unrichtiger actionen «darauf» pretendirn «Und demnach halben, wir auch sonsten wegen des» situs «ohne» zuthuen «wolbemelten» <122> <414> angreintzender orter «braucht» campagnien «mit» wol uersichert «ein mögen. So hab ich disfalls meine» uorige <215> <414> «nochwendig» uerandern «mit ihm, damit gleichwoll E. L. intention nach müglichkeit secundirt werden möchte. So hab ich heutigs tags» ermeltem erwite <414> «zu mir ... angefangen, dass in meinen» negst bei der stat <52> gelegenen dorfern <248> freiheit deutz «nur» seine <216> quartier geben «lassen, Und zu solchem end ...» quartiermaisters «dem selben» [?paroicular] ordnung «zu vertheilen,» <419> erwarten «wolle das hinterstand solches werde, wegen» ausgebung «der» rustungen «und anderen gelegenheiten» den fortzug «selbigen» uolcks «wann es anders des» erwite ertrostung nachberait sein wirdt «mit» wenig befardern «Weil aber ich» denen ortern daselbst «besagter» compagnien einzuquartiern «mein» thumb <102> <248> <102> zu <47> «Ihr» unaerherschaffen «und» [?territaroa] «habe, dieselbe auch» ior <248> nach mir einlogirung meines uolcks «mit auch etlicher massen, das kan» boninckhausen <216> nitwenig beschweru worden «So hab ich es mit anderen geschrieben, dass des andertheils zu» uerpflegung obbesagter <216> fur «nichts» iedtwedern zwei kopfstuckh «oder» zwai ort «wird» konigs dalers taglich uersprechen «zulassen. Und wolle zu E. L. ich mich freundlich getrösten, Sie werden, was dariber so ich dissfalls mit» <414> dem doctor leicker «abhandlen und Ihr ... werden zur ... halten. E. L. können gedenken, dass mir obligen will» mein thumb <102> <248> landtstendt «auch in» guetem willen «und» deuotion zuerhalten «Darneben will ich» eben inarbeit bin in meinemalhiesigem <221> «ihre» ertz <232> «meinen» landtag auszutchreiben <248> «zu erhalten. Und demnach zu beforderung des gemeinen wesens und billich daheim zu trachten, dass» meine stendt nit alienirt «werden. Ich hab sonsten die verschung gethan, dass» lintelo compagnia auch unweit «nach dem» stat <57> an gelegenen ortern accommodirt ich wil «auch des» uon [?dernersen] herberstorf <248> anderer werbungen «so E. L.» dieser ents furzunemmen «allerhand» uerordnetgern allen muglichefurschub thuen «und» daran nichts erwinden «lassen Weil aber» meinem <221> «ihre» ertz <232> <248> <136> <258> aich <232> paderderborn «wegen des mangels aber» haben iahrs frist undehalten <248> daselbst geworbnen kriegsuolcks «auch allbereit» gewilligt <248> euortsetzung «den» [?gegainer] sachen «ferners» erwartender contributione «weiters» einlegerung <248> muterplatz nit anzumuten «So kan ich dann E. L. wegen der ...» allen zoaderbringens keine gewise uertrostung thuen deswegen «Ich thue auch von diesem wolmeinentlich ... erinnert, bei» unsers <50.14.32.78.10.30.18.48.40.213> <414> <36> ansuchung zuthuen «dass in derselben» <62.64.40.38.10.12.62.40.16.72.40.142> «ihre» quartirn «andere E. L.» furhabende werbungen furgenammen «werden möchten. Ich will gleichwoll nit underlassen zu befürderung E. L. intention» mein eusserist anzuwenden «Und werden E. L. sich nit zu wundern sein lassen, dass es des» taglichen underhalts «wegen des» uan <18.48.78.34.52.18.216> gleich «erhalten und zu dem end» uerordnung herabgeschhen <30> «Wessen sich aber des Hertzogs ... auf die zu» meiner ertz <248> <232> uersicherung «durch meinen Doctor» <248> agente «abgelegte werbung erklert, was auch beineben» zwischen <239> <248> ermeltenmeinen «für discurses gehalten, solches haben E. L. beinebens mit mehrerm zuvernemmen. Wie ich mich nun darbey» gesichert hatten muge «mag die» zeit ergeren «Und werde ich mit zuvoriger» mein uolck mit ehistem forziehen «lassen. Wie ich dann meines» marschalcks «des» uon der hauelich «dann ich zu der» muterungin <258> «und beförderung» des fortzugs «selbigen» uolcks daselbst uerlassen «allhie mit ersten wiederumb ... und alsdann» das <414> uolckt «in» meinem uschen <221> ertz <232> <416> guch zugleich fortziehen zulassen bedacht «wegen auch» erwite «under dessen» mit [?siinen] <216> fertig «sein könte,» mochte er «mit dem» andern fortziehen «Wie ich das solches» <47> <419> <415> <36> «der» quartiern «halben» anfuegen «lassen. Sonsten bin ich mit E. L. gänzlich einig, dass» <221> <248> <122> <414> <36> «wegen» conseruation ires <154> <248> consequenter aller wolfart dis werck billich «mit mehrerm» eifer <248> ernst «als» andere catolische «zu» comprehendir «welches das» meinem agentemarreo «in denen ihme ertheilten Memorialibus hier und mich» wol inculcirt «Ich bin auch der meinung, dass solches so woll gegen» <414> <160> «als» <165> in <225> «und» <122> <414> <36> «also» zubeharrin «seine ... Was aber ferner» grundt <48> echt eingeseten «meinet, so» scheint es zwar «was dass» <416> <154> <200> reprimirt «und» ausgeuolget pleiben «und dem» gegentheiln mocht «mit» solchem ansehenlichen zuesatz gesterckt «der» cathalischen macht aber «fügungen daher salt» geringert «werden sollen, dass» den catolischen ins gemein <248> «ohne underschied geringer» zeit ubrig sein «wirdet,» sich «das» andern theils einfal gwalt <248> betrangnus «zu» entweren «Ich vermeine, das die» semeine zusamensetzung «zu» conseruat [?ion] unser <248> «in kurzer zeit» unser caoolischer riligion «und» seelen seligkeit «darab bei der» posteritet «bis dahin hier nötig erachtet werden, Ich vernimme gleichwoll» ous meines agenten relation «das mag» <419> zu <33> resoluiru sei das euserist anzuwenden «zu dem ...» taglichs die <215> «nes» aus <225> erwartet «Aber» wol zubesorgen man «mochte, so seien» werbungen fur «der» frueleng nun aufkom zen «Mit ... E. L. ... des» <414> irem <146> alexandro «des» dm graft «commun particulariteten deren vernemmen. Was E. L. wegen des» <49> schreibens ahn <51> «darneben, solches hab ich ebenmessig in achtung genommen, Und darinnen kein anderes beschluss machen können, Als dass» <417> es <49> theils «erben» erlangung «dem» ansehenlicher konig «Erzig.» <248> landen fort «und» austilgung der catolischen religion
Translation
<!-- English translation of R9426_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), kept close to the words because the reading is fragmentary: the clear text («» in the reading) is translated in ⟨ ⟩; open nomenclator groups <nnn> and group strings are kept; "…" gaps in the clear hand kept; [?word] the eight unresolved cipher words, kept in their German form. Where the joins between clear and cipher do not make a sentence, the translation does not supply one. --> # R9426: Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector of Cologne, to Maximilian I of Bavaria, Bonn, 22 December 1619: English translation ⟨Most Serene Prince, friendly, my most beloved lord brother-in-law, Your Dilection's letter of the 10th of this month was duly delivered to me yesterday. And although I … had, still⟩ our lord <414> <122> <30> ⟨would be pleased to …, to their⟩ [?gegarischen] <419> ⟨can or⟩ Montfart ⟨and at … places would learn⟩ the county of Horn ⟨that⟩ to accommodate von Erwite's companies; ⟨yet⟩ that ⟨would⟩ not suffice, as <414> <18> <419> <36> from the enclosed declaration of the said <122> <36> <412> ⟨not⟩ <416> [?mererm] to be understood. ⟨And it pleases me my … meanwhile⟩ <248> agent Licentiate Morres ⟨that⟩ <239> ⟨… that Lord L. … would⟩ on the ⟨well⟩-situated borders ⟨for such not⟩ intended [?tarceen] levies not sufficient ⟨would …, because I remembered that both sides …⟩ eminent parties ⟨to the said⟩ county of Horn ⟨so which I … to my⟩ <416> <232> <183> ⟨brought …⟩ had been interested, ⟨and⟩ the <238> ⟨themselves, because of the satisfaction of several, yet⟩ <410> claim ⟨on it⟩ improper actions. ⟨And accordingly, since we also otherwise, because of the⟩ situation, ⟨without⟩ the help ⟨of the said⟩ <122> <414> of neighbouring places ⟨needed⟩ companies ⟨with⟩ well assured ⟨may be. So I have in this case had to⟩ change my former <215> <414> ⟨with him, so that Your Dilection's intention might nevertheless be seconded as far as possible. So today I have⟩ the said Erwite <414> ⟨to me … begun, that in my⟩ villages lying nearest the town <52>, <248> the liberty of Deutz, ⟨only⟩ give his <216> quarters, ⟨and to that end …⟩ quartermasters ⟨to distribute to the same⟩ [?paroicular] order, <419> await; ⟨[he] wants that such will be the remainder, because of the⟩ issuing ⟨of the⟩ armaments ⟨and other occasions⟩ the departure ⟨of those⟩ troops, ⟨when it is otherwise ready according to⟩ Erwite's assurance, ⟨with⟩ little to further. ⟨But since I⟩ to quarter ⟨the said⟩ companies in those places ⟨my⟩ cathedral <102> <248> <102> to <47> ⟨their⟩ [?unaerherschaffen] ⟨and⟩ [?territaroa] ⟨have, the same also⟩ ior <248> after me the lodging of my troops ⟨with also in some measure, that can⟩ Boninckhausen <216> be not a little burdened, ⟨so I have written with others that, for the other part, for⟩ the maintenance of the said <216> ⟨nothing⟩ to promise each two Kopfstücke ⟨or⟩ two quarters ⟨will⟩ of a King's thaler daily ⟨to allow. And I will comfort myself in a friendly way with Your Dilection, that you will, what about it I in this case with⟩ <414> Doctor Leicker ⟨will deal, and your … will hold to the …. Your Dilection can imagine that it will be my duty⟩ to keep my cathedral <102> <248> estates ⟨also in⟩ good will ⟨and⟩ devotion. ⟨Besides, I will⟩ am just at work in my local <221> ⟨their⟩ arch- <232> ⟨my⟩ to summon the diet <248> ⟨to keep. And accordingly, for the furtherance of the common good and rightly to strive at home that⟩ my estates are not alienated. ⟨I have otherwise made the arrangement that⟩ Lintelo's company is accommodated also not far ⟨from the⟩ town <57> in places lying [there]; I will ⟨also of the⟩ von [?dernersen] Herberstorf <248> other levies ⟨which Your Dilection⟩ means to undertake in these parts, ⟨all kinds of⟩ ordered [?] give all possible help ⟨and⟩ let nothing be lacking. ⟨But since⟩ my <221> ⟨their⟩ arch- <232> <248> <136> <258> aich <232> Paderborn, ⟨because of the lack, however⟩ have a year's term undehalten <248> the troops raised there ⟨also already⟩ granted <248> continuation ⟨of the⟩ [?gegainer] matters ⟨further⟩ expected contributions, ⟨further⟩ quartering <248> muster place not to be expected, ⟨so I can then give Your Dilection because of the …⟩ no certain assurance regarding all the bringing-in. ⟨I also, from this, well-meaningly … remind [you], at⟩ our <50.14.32.78.10.30.18.48.40.213> <414> <36> to make application ⟨that in the same⟩ <62.64.40.38.10.12.62.40.16.72.40.142> ⟨their⟩ quarters ⟨other Your Dilection's⟩ intended levies be undertaken ⟨might be. I will nevertheless not fail, to further Your Dilection's intention,⟩ to apply my utmost. ⟨And Your Dilection should not wonder that, because of the⟩ daily maintenance ⟨of the⟩ van <18.48.78.34.52.18.216> equally ⟨kept, and to that end⟩ an order has come down <30>. ⟨But what the Duke's … has declared on the levy made for⟩ my arch- <248> <232> assurance ⟨through my Doctor⟩ <248> agent, ⟨and what also besides⟩ between <239> <248> my said ⟨discourses were held, Your Dilection will learn at greater length besides. How I now in this⟩ may have been assured, ⟨let the⟩ time show. ⟨And I shall, with previous⟩ have my troops march off as soon as possible. ⟨As I then, of my⟩ marshal ⟨the⟩ von der Hauelich, ⟨for I at the⟩ muster <258> ⟨and furtherance⟩ of the departure ⟨of the same⟩ troops there left ⟨here first again … and then⟩ intend to have the <414> troops ⟨in⟩ my [?] <221> arch- <232> <416> guch march off at the same time; ⟨since also⟩ Erwite ⟨meanwhile⟩ could be ready with [?his] <216>, he might march off ⟨with the⟩ others. ⟨As I have had such⟩ <47> <419> <415> <36> ⟨the⟩ quarters ⟨because of⟩ added. ⟨Otherwise I am entirely at one with Your Dilection that⟩ <221> <248> <122> <414> <36> ⟨because of the⟩ preservation of their <154> <248>, consequently of all welfare, this work rightly ⟨with more⟩ zeal <248> earnestness ⟨than⟩ other Catholics ⟨to⟩ comprehend, ⟨which the⟩ my agent Marreo ⟨in the memorials given him here and to me⟩ well inculcated. ⟨I am also of the opinion that this, as well towards⟩ <414> <160> ⟨as⟩ <165> in <225> ⟨and⟩ <122> <414> <36> ⟨so⟩ to persist in, ⟨his …. But what further⟩ ground <48> echt established ⟨means, so⟩ it seems indeed ⟨that the⟩ <416> <154> <200> repressed ⟨and⟩ remain surrendered, ⟨and the⟩ other side might ⟨with⟩ such considerable addition be strengthened, ⟨but the⟩ Catholic power ⟨dispositions, hence shall⟩ be lessened, ⟨so that⟩ to the Catholics in general <248> ⟨without distinction less⟩ time will be left ⟨to⟩ ward off ⟨the⟩ other side's invasion, force <248> oppression. ⟨I think that the⟩ common union ⟨for⟩ the preserva[tion] of our <248> ⟨in a short time⟩ of our Catholic religion ⟨and⟩ salvation of souls ⟨from it for⟩ posterity ⟨until then here be judged necessary. I nevertheless understand⟩ from my agent's report ⟨that may⟩ <419> to <33> be resolved to apply the utmost, ⟨to the …⟩ daily the <215> ⟨…⟩ from <225> expected. ⟨But⟩ one might well fear, ⟨so are⟩ levies before ⟨the⟩ spring now to arise. ⟨With … Your Dilection … of the⟩ <414> their <146> Alexandro ⟨of the⟩ dm Graft ⟨to learn common particulars. What Your Dilection, because of the⟩ <49> letter to <51> ⟨besides, that I have likewise taken note of, and have been able to make no other conclusion in it than that⟩ <417> it <49> part ⟨heirs⟩ obtaining ⟨the⟩ considerable king ⟨Erzig.⟩ <248> lands forth ⟨and⟩ extirpation of the Catholic religion.
R9425, Archduke Albert's resolution for Licentiate Morreus, 15 Dec 1619
Archduke Albert's written resolution for the League agent Licentiate Morreus: he agrees on the recovery of the kingdom of Bohemia, has done good offices with the Emperor and the King of Spain, will send troops on foot if needed but cannot grant the muster place, the regiment of foot and the 500 horse, and refers the 1000 cuirassiers to Ambrogio Spinola. Read with the R9426 key unchanged.
Transcription
# R9425 BayHStA KAA 4591 ff. 278-280, 1619 (Archduke Albert's answer/resolution, sent on to Munich). Transcribed 2 Oct 2026
# from targets/kaa4591/img/IMG_R9425_I44571_P1-P6.jpg (page order of the letter: P1 f.278r, P2 f.278v, P6 f.279r, P3 f.279v, P4 f.280r clear close, P5 endorsement).
# Format as ../transcription.txt: one manuscript line per row, P<image>.<line>; clear text in [ ]; z / c = the two word-end signs;
# - = line-end continuation sign. Clear text is a working reading only ("..." = not read); the cipher is transcribed as written.
P1.01 60 36 12 48 18 14 32 52 z 54 42 40 c 30 66 52 52 18 50 c
P1.02 30 40 10 16 18 40 z [Wir haben gelobt das Schreiben so]
P1.03 [... mit mehrem und was ... titul:] 45 z 248 c 149 z
P1.04 32 42 14 32 18 48 38 18 36 52 72 50 z 32 62 48 40 z 45 z 36 c
P1.05 218 z 414 c 248 z 60 30 18 40 52 c z 36 34 14 18 40 52 64 -
P1.06 70 52 z 38 42 48 48 18 54 50 z [... und anders] 32 42 14 32 -
P1.07 78 34 14 32 52 64 30 18 40 c 60 40 30 36 18 30 72 40 62 40 z 50 10 -
P1.08 14 32 18 40 z [... nach verantwortung ungeachtet Ihrem E. L.]
P1.09 [schreiben, so woll mündlich als schriftlich underthenigst für-]
P1.10 [und andacht, mit mehrerm angehört und vernommen,]
P1.11 [und lassen Ihme daraus zu unserer gutten erklerung nicht]
P1.12 [folgendes ... anzuzaigen, darauß Ihme E. L. ... sonder ...]
P1.13 [... zu vernemmen wissen,]
P1.14 [Wir hetten auch aus des begehren und] c 414 z 38 42 48 48 72 34
P1.15 415 z [anbringen gern vernommen,] [Daß] 414 z 34 48 18
P1.16 30 36 z 415 c 64 40 18 40 c [die] 14 42 40 50 18 48 54 10 52 34 66 40
P1.17 248 c 18 48 32 60 36 52 54 40 30 c 160 z [unsers] 30 40 18 16 34 -
P1.18 30 50 52 18 40 z 20 48 18 54 40 16 52 XX z 30 36 34 72 12 52 62 40
P1.19 32 18 48 40 z 248 c 31 z 74 10 34 50 18 48 36 34 14 32 72 40 c
P1.20 32 42 14 32 18 34 52 c 248 z 54 40 50 72 48 50 c 414 z 32 66 14 -
P1.21 32 36 76 12 36 34 14 32 72 40 z 154 c 10 40 30 18 36 62 30 72 40 -
P1.22 32 18 34 52 [als] 52 48 18 78 36 64 14 32 z 36 60 50 50 18 40 z 12 18 -
P1.23 68 66 36 62 40 z 50 18 34 40 c [Und müssen] 414 z 34 48 18 40 z
P1.24 36 z 415 c 36 c 16 62 50 32 10 36 12 72 40 c 248 z [Daß die ...]
P1.25 [... wegen] 38 34 52 z 54 40 50 c [als] 62 z 54 18 48 52 72 78 36 64 -
# P1.33: last token 58 (z) on zoom, not 48.
# P2.06: 4th token overwritten, 50 -> 52 (erstens). P2.23: re-read on zoom 30 18 52 48 72 78 18 (getrewe); the last token of the next word is blurred 62/64.
# P1.16: the first token is written 30, where the formula elsewhere is 'ire L.' (36); P1.18: one token after 16 52 is illegible (XX).
# P2.05: 78 42 36 36 78 40 is written so (scribe's slip for 72 in 'wollen'). P2.31: an interlinear gloss of 3 letters (unread) stands over 155.
# P1.25-26: a superscript 48 stands over the struck 48 after 54 18 (correction mark); the word is written 54 18 48 52 72 78 36 64 | 14 32
P1.26 14 32 z 14 76 38 38 54 40 34 14 64 18 48 40 z [lassen] 30 10 40 52 58
P1.27 20 48 18 34 40 16 52 36 64 14 32 z 16 10 40 14 74 c [Und] 44 10 52 -
P1.28 52 18 40 c 34 48 18 c 36 z 415 z 36 c [Wir wollen also auch]
P1.29 20 42 48 52 32 34 40 c 38 34 52 c 54 40 50 c [unbeschwert]
P1.30 14 42 40 52 34 40 54 34 48 40 c 248 c 54 18 48 50 34 14 -
P1.31 32 62 48 52 c 50 18 34 40 z [Das wir Ihme E. L.]
P1.32 [mit] 30 36 10 34 14 32 62 48 z 14 66 48 48 72 50 44 42 40 16 -
P1.33 18 40 52 58 z [hinwiderumb] 12 18 30 62 30 40 72 40 c 248 z
P1.34 [solche] 419 z 58 54 z 54 40 50 c 248 z 68 40 50 18 48 z 32 42 14 32
P2.01 36 42 12 36 34 14 32 z 154 c 12 18 58 18 68 30 72 40 16 62 z
P2.02 52 48 72 54 54 18 52 52 62 48 36 64 14 32 18 z 16 18 54 40 52 34 -
P2.03 66 40 c [allermüglichst] 78 18 72 30 c 18 48 74 72 40 40 18 40
P2.04 248 z 16 10 40 14 74 12 60 48 36 34 14 32 z 12 18 50 14 32 54 -
P2.05 36 16 62 40 z 78 42 36 36 78 40 c
P2.06 [Belangend] 18 48 50 52 72 40 50 z 16 34 18 c 414 z 48 18 -
P2.07 14 54 44 18 48 10 52 64 42 40 z 248 c 78 34 18 16 62 48 -
P2.08 72 48 66 12 18 48 54 40 30 c [deß] z 74 42 40 34 30 z 219 c
P2.09 153 z 414 c 248 z 15 c [anderer, ... wir mit Ihrer L.]
P2.10 [allerdings ainig, Das was] 416 z 70 40 c 50 18 34 52 18 40
P2.11 54 40 50 18 48 40 c 154 z [zu solchem] 18 40 16 52 c 44 34 -
P2.12 36 36 34 14 32 c 60 36 36 18 c 72 54 50 50 18 48 34 50 52 72
P2.13 38 10 14 32 52 c 60 40 78 18 40 16 18 c
P2.14 [Also auch] 60 40 16 18 48 40 50 c 34 48 18 c 74 10 34 50 z 47 z
P2.15 248 c 74 42 40 c 414 z 38 c 54 40 16 c 36 z 419 c
P2.16 58 68 c 225 z 248 c [Wir allerdings ainig] 41 z 20 54 48 -
P2.17 50 52 18 40 c 68 40 16 z 50 52 18 40 16 52 z [so] 54 40 50 z
P2.18 [zu gedachtem] 419 c 18 40 16 z [ainige] 157 z 248 c 60 50 -
P2.19 50 64 50 52 18 40 58 c 36 10 34 50 42 18 40 z 78 18 48 -
P2.20 16 18 40 c [sollen; Wir hetten deßhalben auch] 414 z
P2.21 12 18 34 z 32 42 14 32 50 52 18 48 38 18 36 52 62 c [ihr]
P2.22 248 c 36 z [nur gute zeit ...] 60 36 36 18 z 38 54 30 -
P2.23 36 34 14 32 50 52 18 z 30 18 52 48 72 78 18 c 30 54 52 62
P2.24 42 20 20 34 14 64 10 z 44 48 62 50 52 34 48 52 z [und]
P2.25 [zum] 52 32 62 34 36 z 60 36 12 72 48 10 34 52 c 165 z 248 z
P2.26 36 c 215 z [werden aber noch weiteren bescheids ...]
P2.27 [lich gewertig;]
P2.28 [Under dessen gleichwoll, so weit] 18 40 52 50 14 32 36 -
P2.29 42 50 50 18 40 c [Daß wir auf] 60 36 36 18 40 c 68 40 -
P2.30 54 18 48 32 66 70 20 18 40 16 18 40 c 20 60 36 c [da] z 10 34
# P2.30-32: the right edge runs into the gutter; tokens after "10 34" on P2.30 and after "34 48 18" on P2.31 may be lost (?)
P2.31 155 z 248 c 18 34 40 64 30 c 68 66 36 14 74 c 34 48 18 XX
P2.32 60 40 34 52 58 76 c [auf den] 12 18 34 40 72 40 c 32 10 12 18 40
# P6 = f. 279r (the letter continues here from f. 278v)
P6.01 16 18 40 c 62 50 72 48 14 34 52 42 c [daran] 414 c 16 34 18 z
P6.02 14 10 52 32 42 36 64 50 14 32 18 c 41 z 20 54 48 50 52 18 40 c 248 z
# P6.03: an interlinear gloss of 3-4 letters (read "ipsl"?) stands over 221
P6.03 52 18 40 16 [und] 221 z 16 34 50 52 48 34 14 52 50 c 32 34 40 -
P6.04 60 68 20 50 14 52 34 14 74 18 40 c [wenden, hingegen so vil]
P6.05 16 18 48 z 68 40 30 18 48 34 30 18 40 c 70 54 14 32 c 10 36 50 -
P6.06 12 10 36 52 c [zu] 48 18 52 52 54 40 30 z 248 c 16 18 20 72 -
P6.07 40 50 64 66 40 c [der] 12 18 52 48 10 40 30 52 62 40 z 14 10 -
P6.08 52 42 36 34 50 14 32 18 40 c 50 52 18 40 16 z 32 64 40 -
P6.09 10 54 20 z 54 18 48 42 48 16 40 18 40 [wolten,] [Mit dem]
P6.10 60 68 50 16 48 54 14 74 36 34 14 32 18 38 z 12 18 20 72 36 -
P6.11 14 32 c 50 64 14 32 z [zu den] 14 10 52 36 34 50 14 32 18 40 z
P6.12 54 42 36 14 74 c [zu] 50 14 32 36 10 30 18 40 c 248 z [denn]
P6.13 [jenigen so denselben] 14 42 38 10 40 16 34 48 40 c
P6.14 [und] 54 42 48 30 18 50 18 52 58 52 [sein wirdt, zu]
P6.15 54 40 16 18 48 30 18 12 72 40 c [und zu] 30 18 32 42 48 -
P6.16 50 10 38 18 40 c
P6.17 [Belangend] 36 10 68 20 c [und] 38 54 50 52 18 48 44 36 -
P6.18 10 52 58 c [auch ein] 48 18 30 34 38 62 40 52 z 20 54 50 -
P6.19 54 42 36 14 74 z [und] 20 54 40 20 32 54 40 16 18 48 52 z
P6.20 216 z [werden wir] 58 78 10 48 z [zu besuchung des]
P6.21 32 42 14 32 50 52 62 40 c 40 66 52 32 z [und] 60 36 30 18 -
P6.22 38 18 64 40 18 48 z 30 18 20 10 32 48 z 34 48 62 40 z 36
P6.23 414 z 36 c [so] 30 18 48 40 c [Wir auch] 78 66 36 52 72 40
P6.24 20 48 18 34 40 16 52 54 18 52 52 72 48 36 34 14 32 z 58 54 -
P6.25 78 34 36 20 10 32 48 18 40 c 30 40 10 34 30 52 c 74 42 40 -
P6.26 52 18 40 c 10 12 18 48 z 34 48 18 40 z 36 c 414 z 36 z
P6.27 50 42 z 30 18 48 40 c 78 34 48 c 10 68 14 32 c 78 66 36 -
P6.28 52 18 40 c [hierinnen auß] 16 34 50 38 10 32 36 c 40 34 52
P6.29 30 48 10 52 54 34 20 34 14 34 48 40 c [zu Erwegung wir]
P6.30 [täglich unsrer] 78 18 48 12 54 40 30 c [auch anhörendern]
P6.31 [bedencken, und dan zu unser] 136 c 36 54 52 58 18 40 -
P6.32 12 54 48 30 z [insonderheit wegen] 16 18 50 50 72 40 z
P6.33 50 34 52 54 10 52 64 66 40 z 16 18 50 52 34 40 64 48 52
# P3 = f. 279v
P3.01 [Weil] 149 z 36 c 414 c [die] 54 18 50 52 54 40 30 c
P3.02 12 48 34 50 10 14 32 c 38 34 52 [sambt dem] 32 18 48 40 c 41 z
P3.03 54 66 36 14 74 z 12 18 50 72 52 58 72 40 z [zulassen be-]
P3.04 [dencken tragen, Auch schreiben wir bey Jetziger]
# P3.05: the 5th token of the first group is unclear (a 52 with a stroke; context wants 30)
P3.05 [ordinari dem] 74 42 40 64 XX c 16 18 38 z 140 c
P3.06 249 c 42 40 40 10 52 72 z [zu, Von dem würdet]
P3.07 [E. L. vernemmen,]
P3.08 [Betreffend die] 10 34 40 52 10 54 50 18 40 16 52 z
P3.09 14 54 48 34 50 50 34 18 48 z [so in nahmen der] 74 66 40
P3.10 165 z 248 c 36 c 58 54 z 225 c 16 18 48 z 14 66 52 66 -
P3.11 36 34 50 14 32 72 40 c 36 34 30 10 z [zu] 30 54 18 52 18
P3.12 [zu] 78 18 48 12 72 40 z [begert würdt, Deßhalben]
P3.13 [schreiben wir bey Jetziger ordinari gedachtem]
# P3.14: the single digit 2 stands alone between word signs; the red margin beside it reads "Ambr." (Ambrogio Spinola)
P3.14 c 2 z [zu gleicher gestalt zu, Und wolten also]
P3.15 50 18 34 40 c 16 18 50 z 32 72 48 52 58 76 30 18 40 z
P3.16 36 z 60 32 40 z 34 40 18 40 c [hiemit, deß puncts]
P3.17 [halben, nunmehriger gestalt,] 30 18 78 34 18 50 18 40
P3.18 32 10 12 18 40 z 38 34 52 c 34 32 38 72 z [damitten]
P3.19 14 42 40 20 18 48 34 48 40 c 248 c [die] 40 76 52 52 -
P3.20 54 48 20 52 z 32 10 40 16 36 18 40 c [zulassen,]
P3.21 [Was E. L. auß ainiger] 34 48 18 48 z 74 42 40 -
P3.22 c 38 c 417 z 242 c 415 z 36 c 12 18 50 52 72 36 52 -
P3.23 [ihm] 169 z 218 c 248 z [andere bevelchs] 46 54 10 36 34 -
P3.24 20 34 14 64 48 52 72 c 52 60 68 30 36 34 14 32 62
P3.25 44 18 48 50 66 40 18 40 c [so nicht in] 78 54 48 14 74 -
P3.26 36 34 14 32 18 48 z 169 c 12 18 20 72 30 14 32 z 12 62 -
P3.27 30 48 64 20 20 18 40 z 78 54 48 16 18 40 z 40 10 38 -
P3.28 32 60 20 52 [machen lassen,] [Wolten wir E. L.]
P3.29 [darauf aller gunstiger gutter Satisfaction geben ...]
# P3.30: a small interlinear mark ("60"?) stands over 414
P3.30 [so bey ... des] 414 z 32 18 48 40 c 41 z 218 c
P3.31 248 c 60 30 18 40 52 c [Ihrem E. L. ... freundlich ...]
P3.32 [... freundlichen ... wie ... ...]
# P4 = f. 280r, clear closing line
P4.01 [Zur fernern nachricht und nachschreiben, den 15. 10bris Ao 1619]
# P5 = f. 280v, endorsement (clear): "Resolutio | deß hertzogs albrechts dem L. Morreo (?) ... ertailt" and "15 Xbr 619"Decryption
P1.01 albrecht uon gottes
P1.02 gnaden [Wir haben gelobt das Schreiben so]
P1.03 [... mit mehrem und was ... titul:] <45> {und} <149>
P1.04 hochermeltes hern <45> L.
P1.05 {Rath?} {-} {und} agent
P1.06 licentiat morreus [... und anders]
P1.07 hochwichtigen anglegenen
P1.08 sachen [... nach verantwortung ungeachtet Ihrem E. L.]
P1.09 [schreiben, so woll mündlich als schriftlich underthenigst für-]
P1.10 [und andacht, mit mehrerm angehört und vernommen,]
P1.11 [und lassen Ihme daraus zu unserer gutten erklerung nicht]
P1.12 [folgendes ... anzuzaigen, darauß Ihme E. L. ... sonder ...]
P1.13 [... zu vernemmen wissen,]
P1.14 [Wir hetten auch aus des begehren und] {-} morrei
P1.15 {-} [anbringen gern vernommen,] [Daß] {-} ire
P1.16 gl {-} inen [die] conseruation
P1.17 {und} erhaltung <160> [unsers]
P1.18 gnedigsten freundt? gliebten
P1.19 hern {und} {Vettern?} kaiserlichen
P1.20 hocheit {und} unsers {-}
P1.21 hochloblichen {Haus?}
P1.22 angelegenheit [als] trewlich lassen
P1.23 beuolen sein [Und müssen] {-} iren
P1.24 L. {-} L. deshalben {und} [Daß die ...]
P1.25 [... wegen] mit uns [als] E.
P1.26 uertewlich communiciern [lassen] gantz
P1.27 freindtlich danck [Und]
P1.28 patten ire L. {-} L. [Wir wollen also auch]
P1.29 forthin mit uns [unbeschwert]
P1.30 continuirn {und}
P1.31 uersichert sein [Das wir Ihme E. L.]
P1.32 [mit] glaicher
P1.33 correspondentz [hinwiderumb] begegnen {und}
P1.34 [solche] {-} zu uns {und} unser hoch
P2.01 loblich {Haus?} bezeugende
P2.02 treuuetterliche
P2.03 deuntion [allermüglichst] weeg erkennen
P2.04 {und} danckbarlich
P2.05 beschulden wollwn
P2.06 [Belangend] erstens die {-}
P2.07 recuperation {und}
P2.08 wiedereroberung [deß] konig <219>
P2.09 <153> {-} {und} <15> [anderer, ... wir mit Ihrer L.]
P2.10 [allerdings ainig, Das was] {-} an seiten
P2.11 unsern {Haus?} [zu solchem] endt
P2.12 pillich alle eusseriste
P2.13 macht anwende
P2.14 [Also auch] anderns ire kais {Mt.?}
P2.15 {und} kon {-} M. und L. {-}
P2.16 zu <225> {und} [Wir allerdings ainig] {Chur-?}
P2.17 fursten und stendt [so] uns
P2.18 [zu gedachtem] {-} end [ainige] {Hilf?} {und}
P2.19 assistenz laisoen
P2.20 werden [sollen; Wir hetten deßhalben auch] {-}
P2.21 bei hochstermelte [ihr]
P2.22 {und} L. [nur gute zeit ...] alle
P2.23 muglichste getrewe gute
P2.24 officia prestirt [und]
P2.25 [zum] theil alberait {Mt.} {und}
P2.26 L. <215> [werden aber noch weiteren bescheids ...]
P2.27 [lich gewertig;]
P2.28 [Under dessen gleichwoll, so weit]
P2.29 entschlossen [Daß wir auf] allen
P2.30 unuerhoafenden fal [da] ai
P2.31 <155> {und} einig uolck ire?
P2.32 anitzo [auf den] beinen haben
P6.01 den esercito [daran] {-} die
P6.02 catholische {Chur-?} fursten {und}
P6.03 tend [und] <221> districts
P6.04 hinaufscticken [wenden, hingegen so vil]
P6.05 der ungerigen auch
P6.06 alsbalt [zu] rettung {und}
P6.07 defension [der] betrangten
P6.08 catolischen stend
P6.09 hinauf uerordnen [wolten,] [Mit dem]
P6.10 ausdrucklichem
P6.11 befelch sich [zu den] catlischen
P6.12 uolck [zu] schlagen {und} [denn]
P6.13 [jenigen so denselben] comandirn
P6.14 [und] uorgesetzt [sein wirdt, zu]
P6.15 undergeben [und zu]
P6.16 gehorsamen
P6.17 [Belangend] lauf [und]
P6.18 musterplatz [auch ein] regiment
P6.19 fusuolck [und] funfhundert
P6.20 {Pferd?} [werden wir] zwar [zu besuchung des]
P6.21 hochsten noth [und]
P6.22 algemeiner gefahr iren L.
P6.23 {-} L. [so] gern [Wir auch] wolten
P6.24 freindtuetterlich
P6.25 zuwilfahren gnaigt
P6.26 konten aber iren L. {-} L.
P6.27 so gern wir auch
P6.28 wolten [hierinnen auß] dismahl nit
P6.29 gratuificirn [zu Erwegung wir]
P6.30 [täglich unsrer] werbung [auch anhörendern]
P6.31 [bedencken, und dan zu unser] <136>
P6.32 lutzenburg [insonderheit wegen] dessen
P6.33 situation destinirt
P3.01 [Weil] <149> L. {-} [die] uestung
P3.02 brisach mit [sambt dem] hern {Chur-?}
P3.03 uolck besetzen [zulassen be-]
P3.04 [dencken tragen, Auch schreiben wir bey Jetziger]
P3.05 [ordinari dem] koni? dem <140>
P3.06 <249> onnate [zu, Von dem würdet]
P3.07 [E. L. vernemmen,]
P3.08 [Betreffend die] aintausendt
P3.09 curissier [so in nahmen der] kon
P3.10 {Mt.} {und} L. zu <225> der
P3.11 cotolischen liga [zu] guete
P3.12 [zu] werben [begert würdt, Deßhalben]
P3.13 [schreiben wir bey Jetziger ordinari gedachtem]
P3.14 {Ambrosio [Spinola]} [zu gleicher gestalt zu, Und wolten also]
P3.15 sein des hertzogen
P3.16 L. ahn inen [hiemit, deß puncts]
P3.17 [halben, nunmehriger gestalt,] gewiesen
P3.18 haben mit ihme [damitten]
P3.19 conferirn {und} [die]
P3.20 notturft handlen [zulassen,]
P3.21 [Was E. L. auß ainiger] irer
P3.22 kon M. {-} {und} {-} L.
P3.23 bestelt [ihm] {Kriegs-?} {Rath?} {und} [andere bevelchs]
P3.24 qualificirte taugliche
P3.25 personen [so nicht in]
P3.26 wurcklicher {Kriegs-?} befegch
P3.27 begriffen wurden
P3.28 namhaft [machen lassen,] [Wolten wir E. L.]
P3.29 [darauf aller gunstiger gutter Satisfaction geben ...]
P3.30 [so bey ... des] {-} hern {Chur-?} {Rath?}
P3.31 {und} agent [Ihrem E. L. ... freundlich ...]
P3.32 [... freundlichen ... wie ... ...]
P4.01 [Zur fernern nachricht und nachschreiben, den 15. 10bris Ao 1619]Decryption
# R9425: Archduke Albert's resolution for Licentiate Morreus, [Brussels], 15 December 1619
BayHStA, Kurbayern Äußeres Archiv 4591, ff. 278–280 (DECODE R9425). Four cipher pages (images P1 f. 278r, P2 f. 278v,
P6 f. 279r, P3 f. 279v), a clear closing line on f. 280r (P4: "Zur fernern nachricht … den 15. 10bris Ao 1619") and
the endorsement on f. 280v (P5: "Resolutio deß hertzogs Albrechts dem L. Morreo … ertailt", "15 Xbr 619").
Transcribed 2 October 2026 from the DECODE images (`../../kaa4591/img/IMG_R9425_I44571_P1-P6.jpg`) into
`transcription.txt`. Deciphered with the key rebuilt on R9426 (`../key.txt`), letters unchanged, and the nomenclator
values in `codes.txt`. `decode_r9425.py` prints the decrypt (`decoded.txt`); `count_r9425.py` measures it.
**Measured: 97.3% of the 1567 enciphered tokens read** (letters 1471 of 1482; nomenclator 53 of 85 tokens, of which 24
are nulls). Without the null tokens: 1500 of 1543 = 97.2%. Language check on the decrypt: `lm.best_language` gives
de-modern first (−2.50 per character, Latin next at −3.14); `de-1500s` −1.89 per character.
The clear passages in the transcription are a working reading, not an edition; "…" marks words not read. The cipher
is given as read: cipher in roman, clear text in *italics*, nomenclator values in {braces}, open groups as ⟨n⟩.
Nulls are left out.
## The reading
**f. 278r.** Albrecht von Gottes Gnaden *[Erzherzog …]. Wir haben gelobt, das Schreiben … und was … titul:* ⟨45⟩ und
⟨149⟩ hochermeltes Herrn ⟨45⟩ L. ⟨218⟩ und Agent Licentiat Morreus *[… und anders]* hochwichtigen angelegenen
Sachen *[… ungeachtet Ihrem E. L. Schreiben, so woll mündlich als schriftlich underthenigst für- und andacht, mit
mehrerm angehört und vernommen, und lassen Ihme daraus zu unserer gutten Erklerung … folgendes anzuzaigen …]*.
*Wir hetten auch aus des begehren und* Morrei *anbringen gern vernommen, Daß* ire L. *(written "gl")* inen *die*
Conservation und Erhaltung ⟨160⟩ *unsers* gnedigsten freundt[l.] geliebten Herrn und ⟨31⟩ kaiserlichen Hocheit, und
unsers hochlöblichen ⟨154⟩ Angelegenheit *als* treulich lassen befohlen sein. *Und müssen* iren L. L. deshalben
und *daß die … wegen* mit uns *als* E. vert[r]eulich communiciern *lassen* ganz freundlich Dank. *Und* patten ire
L. L. *wir wollen also auch* forthin mit uns *unbeschwert* continuirn und versichert sein, *das wir Ihme E. L. mit*
gleicher Correspondenz *hinwiderumb* begegnen und *solche* zu uns und unser hochlöblich ⟨154⟩ bezeugende
treuvetterliche Devotion *allermüglichst* weeg erkennen und dankbarlich beschulden wollen.
**f. 278v.** *Belangend* erstens die Recuperation und Wiedereroberung *deß* König ⟨219⟩ ⟨153⟩ und ⟨15⟩ *anderer …,
[sind] wir mit Ihrer L. allerdings ainig, Das was* an seiten unsern ⟨154⟩ *zu solchem* End billich alle eusserist
Macht anwende; *also auch* andern ire Kais. ⟨47⟩ und Kön. M. und L. zu ⟨225⟩ und. *Wir [sind] allerdings ainig*
⟨41⟩ Fürsten und Stendt, *so* uns *zu gedachtem* End *ainige* ⟨157⟩ und Assistenz laisten werden *sollen. Wir
hetten deßhalben auch* bei höchstermelter *ihr[er]* und L. *nur gute zeit …* alle müglichste getrewe gute Officia
prestirt *und zum* Theil albereit {Mt.} und L. ⟨215⟩ *werden aber noch weiteren bescheids … gewertig. Under dessen
gleichwoll, so weit* entschlossen, *daß wir auf* allen unverhof[f]enden Fall, *da* ai[…] ⟨155⟩ und einig Volck
ire[…] anitzo *auf den* Beinen haben,
**f. 279r.** den Esercito *daran* die catholische ⟨41⟩ Fürsten und [S]tend *und* ⟨221⟩ Districts hinaufschicken
*wenden, hingegen so vil* der Ungerigen auch alsbald *zu* Rettung und Defension *der* betrangten catholischen Stend
hinauf verordnen *wolten, mit dem* ausdrücklichem Befelch, sich *zu den* catholischen Volck *zu* schlagen und *denn
jenigen, so denselben* comandirn *und* vorgesetzt *sein wirdt, zu* undergeben *und zu* gehorsamen.
*Belangend* Lauf- *und* Musterplatz *auch ein* Regiment Fußvolck *und* fünfhundert ⟨216⟩, *werden wir* zwar *zu
besuchung des* höchsten Noth *und* allgemeiner Gefahr iren L. L. *so gern wir auch* wolten freundvetterlich zu
willfahren genaigt; könten aber iren L. L., so gern wir auch wolten, *hierinnen auß* dißmahl nit gratificirn, *zu
Erwegung wir täglich unsrer* Werbung *auch anhörender … bedencken, und dan zu unser* ⟨136⟩ Lützenburg, *insonderheit
wegen* dessen Situation, destinirt.
**f. 279v.** *Weil* ⟨149⟩ L. *die* Vestung Brisach mit *sambt dem* Herrn ⟨41⟩ Volck besetzen *zulassen bedencken
tragen, auch schreiben wir bey jetziger ordinari dem* Kön[ig] dem ⟨140⟩ ⟨249⟩ Oñate *zu, von dem würdet E. L.
vernemmen. Betreffend die* aintausend Curissier, *so in nahmen der* Kön. {Mt.} und L. zu ⟨225⟩ der catholischen Liga
*zu* gute *zu* werben *begert würdt, deßhalben schreiben wir bey jetziger ordinari gedachtem* {Ambrosio [Spinola]}
*zu gleicher gestalt zu, und wolten also* sein des Herzogen L. ahn inen *hiemit deß puncts halben, nunmehriger
gestalt,* gewiesen haben, mit ihme *damit* zu conferirn und *die* Notdurft handlen *zulassen. Was E. L. auß ainiger*
irer Kön. M. und L. bestelt- *ihm* ⟨169⟩ ⟨218⟩ und *andere bevelchs* qualificirte taugliche Personen, *so nicht in*
würcklicher ⟨169⟩ Befelch begriffen wurden, namhaft *machen lassen, wolten wir E. L. darauf aller günstiger gutter
Satisfaction geben … des* Herrn ⟨41⟩ ⟨218⟩ und Agent *Ihrem E. L. …*
**f. 280r (clear).** *Zur fernern nachricht und nachschreiben, den 15. 10bris Ao 1619.*
## Summary (modern English)
Archduke Albert, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, answers in writing what Licentiate **Morreus**, the agent of a
prince he calls "E. L." and "des Herzogen L." (the Duke of Bavaria, as head of the Catholic League), has put to him
orally and in writing. He thanks the prince for commending to him the preservation of the Emperor ("our most gracious,
beloved lord and cousin, his Imperial Highness") and of the interests of "our most praiseworthy House", and promises
the same correspondence in return.
On the substance: he agrees that the **recovery and reconquest of the kingdom [of Bohemia]** and the other lands calls
for every possible effort; the Catholic princes and Estates should give help and assistance to that end, and he has
already done good offices with the Emperor and the King [of Spain] and awaits further answer. Meanwhile he has resolved
that, should the worst happen, the troops he has now on foot will be sent up with orders to join the Catholic army and
obey its commander, and that Hungarian troops [being sent by the other side?] be countered by help for the oppressed
Catholic Estates. A **muster place, a regiment of foot and five hundred [horse]** he cannot grant at present, though
he would like to: his own levies are destined for **Luxembourg**, because of its situation. Since [Archduke Leopold?]
hesitates to garrison the fortress of **Breisach** with the [Elector's?] troops, Albert writes by this ordinary post to
the King and to **Oñate** (the Spanish ambassador in Vienna). For the **thousand cuirassiers** that the League asks to
raise in the name of the King [of Spain], he writes to **Ambrogio [Spinola]** and refers the Duke to him to confer.
If the Duke names qualified officers not in active command, Albert will give satisfaction. Dated 15 December 1619;
endorsed as Albert's *Resolutio* given to Licentiate Morreo.
The letter is the answer to the mission that R9426 (Ferdinand of Cologne, 22 December 1619) reports on: there the
agent "Morres" is named and the League's quarters and levies in the Rhine–Westphalian circle are the subject.
## Nomenclator: values fixed here, and the open groups
Fixed (counted as read):
| group | value | evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 414, 415, 416, 417, 419 | nulls | "Kön. 414 M. und L." beside "Kön. 165 und L." and "Kön. M. 417 242 415 L."; "unsers 414 hochlöblichen"; "zu gedachtem 419 End"; "iren L. 414 L." and "ire L. 415 L." in the same formula; "Das was 416 an seiten" |
| 242 | und | "Kön. M. 417 242 415 L." = the formula "Kön. M. und L." written out twice |
| 165 | Mt. (Majestät) | "Kön. 165 und L." (f. 279v) beside "Kön. M. und L."; "albereit 165 und L." |
| 2 | Ambrosio [Spinola] | the decipherer's red margin beside it reads "Ambr." |
Probable (not counted): 47 = Mt. ("ire Kais. 47 und Kön. M."), 41 = Chur- ("die catholische 41 Fürsten und
Stend"; "des Herrn 41 Rath und Agent"; "dem Herrn 41 Volck"), 218 = Rath ("218 und Agent Licentiat Morreus"; "des
Herrn 41 218 und Agent"), 169 = Kriegs- ("bestelt- 169 218 und andere bevelchs"; "in würcklicher 169 Befelch"),
216 = Pferd/Reiter ("ein Regiment Fußvolck und fünfhundert 216"), 154 = Haus ("unsers hochlöblichen 154
Angelegenheit"), 31 = Vettern, 157 = Hilf.
Open: 45 (2×, a title: "titul: 45 und 149", "hochermeltes Herrn 45 L."), 149 (2×, "Weil 149 L. die Vestung
Brisach … bedencken tragen": probably Archduke Leopold), 225 (2×, "Kön. Mt. und L. zu 225"), 160, 219 + 153 + 15
("Wiedereroberung deß König 219 153 und 15 anderer": probably -reichs Böheim and …), 215, 155 (an unread
interlinear gloss over it), 221 ("und 221 Districts"), 136 ("zu unser 136 Lützenburg": Provinz?), 140 + 249 ("dem
140 249 Oñate": Spanish ambassador?). 32 tokens in all, 2.0% of the text.
Letter tokens not read (11): P1.16 "gl" for "L." (one token), P1.18 one illegible sign, P3.05 one unclear sign in
"Kön[ig]", P2.30–31 two to three signs lost in the gutter ("ai…", "ire…"), and five single-token slips whose word is
clear (devotion, laisten, hinaufschicken, Befelch, unverhoffenden), counted unread.Reading
# R9425: Archduke Albert's resolution for Licentiate Morreus, [Brussels], 15 December 1619
BayHStA, Kurbayern Äußeres Archiv 4591, ff. 278–280 (DECODE R9425). Four cipher pages (images P1 f. 278r, P2 f. 278v,
P6 f. 279r, P3 f. 279v), a clear closing line on f. 280r (P4: "Zur fernern nachricht … den 15. 10bris Ao 1619") and
the endorsement on f. 280v (P5: "Resolutio deß hertzogs Albrechts dem L. Morreo … ertailt", "15 Xbr 619").
Transcribed 2 October 2026 from the DECODE images (`../../kaa4591/img/IMG_R9425_I44571_P1-P6.jpg`) into
`transcription.txt`. Deciphered with the key rebuilt on R9426 (`../key.txt`), letters unchanged, and the nomenclator
values in `codes.txt`. `decode_r9425.py` prints the decrypt (`decoded.txt`); `count_r9425.py` measures it.
**Measured: 97.3% of the 1567 enciphered tokens read** (letters 1471 of 1482; nomenclator 53 of 85 tokens, of which 24
are nulls). Without the null tokens: 1500 of 1543 = 97.2%. Language check on the decrypt: `lm.best_language` gives
de-modern first (−2.50 per character, Latin next at −3.14); `de-1500s` −1.89 per character.
The clear passages in the transcription are a working reading, not an edition; "…" marks words not read. The cipher
is given as read: cipher in roman, clear text in *italics*, nomenclator values in {braces}, open groups as ⟨n⟩.
Nulls are left out.
## The reading
**f. 278r.** Albrecht von Gottes Gnaden *[Erzherzog …]. Wir haben gelobt, das Schreiben … und was … titul:* ⟨45⟩ und
⟨149⟩ hochermeltes Herrn ⟨45⟩ L. ⟨218⟩ und Agent Licentiat Morreus *[… und anders]* hochwichtigen angelegenen
Sachen *[… ungeachtet Ihrem E. L. Schreiben, so woll mündlich als schriftlich underthenigst für- und andacht, mit
mehrerm angehört und vernommen, und lassen Ihme daraus zu unserer gutten Erklerung … folgendes anzuzaigen …]*.
*Wir hetten auch aus des begehren und* Morrei *anbringen gern vernommen, Daß* ire L. *(written "gl")* inen *die*
Conservation und Erhaltung ⟨160⟩ *unsers* gnedigsten freundt[l.] geliebten Herrn und ⟨31⟩ kaiserlichen Hocheit, und
unsers hochlöblichen ⟨154⟩ Angelegenheit *als* treulich lassen befohlen sein. *Und müssen* iren L. L. deshalben
und *daß die … wegen* mit uns *als* E. vert[r]eulich communiciern *lassen* ganz freundlich Dank. *Und* patten ire
L. L. *wir wollen also auch* forthin mit uns *unbeschwert* continuirn und versichert sein, *das wir Ihme E. L. mit*
gleicher Correspondenz *hinwiderumb* begegnen und *solche* zu uns und unser hochlöblich ⟨154⟩ bezeugende
treuvetterliche Devotion *allermüglichst* weeg erkennen und dankbarlich beschulden wollen.
**f. 278v.** *Belangend* erstens die Recuperation und Wiedereroberung *deß* König ⟨219⟩ ⟨153⟩ und ⟨15⟩ *anderer …,
[sind] wir mit Ihrer L. allerdings ainig, Das was* an seiten unsern ⟨154⟩ *zu solchem* End billich alle eusserist
Macht anwende; *also auch* andern ire Kais. ⟨47⟩ und Kön. M. und L. zu ⟨225⟩ und. *Wir [sind] allerdings ainig*
⟨41⟩ Fürsten und Stendt, *so* uns *zu gedachtem* End *ainige* ⟨157⟩ und Assistenz laisten werden *sollen. Wir
hetten deßhalben auch* bei höchstermelter *ihr[er]* und L. *nur gute zeit …* alle müglichste getrewe gute Officia
prestirt *und zum* Theil albereit {Mt.} und L. ⟨215⟩ *werden aber noch weiteren bescheids … gewertig. Under dessen
gleichwoll, so weit* entschlossen, *daß wir auf* allen unverhof[f]enden Fall, *da* ai[…] ⟨155⟩ und einig Volck
ire[…] anitzo *auf den* Beinen haben,
**f. 279r.** den Esercito *daran* die catholische ⟨41⟩ Fürsten und [S]tend *und* ⟨221⟩ Districts hinaufschicken
*wenden, hingegen so vil* der Ungerigen auch alsbald *zu* Rettung und Defension *der* betrangten catholischen Stend
hinauf verordnen *wolten, mit dem* ausdrücklichem Befelch, sich *zu den* catholischen Volck *zu* schlagen und *denn
jenigen, so denselben* comandirn *und* vorgesetzt *sein wirdt, zu* undergeben *und zu* gehorsamen.
*Belangend* Lauf- *und* Musterplatz *auch ein* Regiment Fußvolck *und* fünfhundert ⟨216⟩, *werden wir* zwar *zu
besuchung des* höchsten Noth *und* allgemeiner Gefahr iren L. L. *so gern wir auch* wolten freundvetterlich zu
willfahren genaigt; könten aber iren L. L., so gern wir auch wolten, *hierinnen auß* dißmahl nit gratificirn, *zu
Erwegung wir täglich unsrer* Werbung *auch anhörender … bedencken, und dan zu unser* ⟨136⟩ Lützenburg, *insonderheit
wegen* dessen Situation, destinirt.
**f. 279v.** *Weil* ⟨149⟩ L. *die* Vestung Brisach mit *sambt dem* Herrn ⟨41⟩ Volck besetzen *zulassen bedencken
tragen, auch schreiben wir bey jetziger ordinari dem* Kön[ig] dem ⟨140⟩ ⟨249⟩ Oñate *zu, von dem würdet E. L.
vernemmen. Betreffend die* aintausend Curissier, *so in nahmen der* Kön. {Mt.} und L. zu ⟨225⟩ der catholischen Liga
*zu* gute *zu* werben *begert würdt, deßhalben schreiben wir bey jetziger ordinari gedachtem* {Ambrosio [Spinola]}
*zu gleicher gestalt zu, und wolten also* sein des Herzogen L. ahn inen *hiemit deß puncts halben, nunmehriger
gestalt,* gewiesen haben, mit ihme *damit* zu conferirn und *die* Notdurft handlen *zulassen. Was E. L. auß ainiger*
irer Kön. M. und L. bestelt- *ihm* ⟨169⟩ ⟨218⟩ und *andere bevelchs* qualificirte taugliche Personen, *so nicht in*
würcklicher ⟨169⟩ Befelch begriffen wurden, namhaft *machen lassen, wolten wir E. L. darauf aller günstiger gutter
Satisfaction geben … des* Herrn ⟨41⟩ ⟨218⟩ und Agent *Ihrem E. L. …*
**f. 280r (clear).** *Zur fernern nachricht und nachschreiben, den 15. 10bris Ao 1619.*
## Summary (modern English)
Archduke Albert, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, answers in writing what Licentiate **Morreus**, the agent of a
prince he calls "E. L." and "des Herzogen L." (the Duke of Bavaria, as head of the Catholic League), has put to him
orally and in writing. He thanks the prince for commending to him the preservation of the Emperor ("our most gracious,
beloved lord and cousin, his Imperial Highness") and of the interests of "our most praiseworthy House", and promises
the same correspondence in return.
On the substance: he agrees that the **recovery and reconquest of the kingdom [of Bohemia]** and the other lands calls
for every possible effort; the Catholic princes and Estates should give help and assistance to that end, and he has
already done good offices with the Emperor and the King [of Spain] and awaits further answer. Meanwhile he has resolved
that, should the worst happen, the troops he has now on foot will be sent up with orders to join the Catholic army and
obey its commander, and that Hungarian troops [being sent by the other side?] be countered by help for the oppressed
Catholic Estates. A **muster place, a regiment of foot and five hundred [horse]** he cannot grant at present, though
he would like to: his own levies are destined for **Luxembourg**, because of its situation. Since [Archduke Leopold?]
hesitates to garrison the fortress of **Breisach** with the [Elector's?] troops, Albert writes by this ordinary post to
the King and to **Oñate** (the Spanish ambassador in Vienna). For the **thousand cuirassiers** that the League asks to
raise in the name of the King [of Spain], he writes to **Ambrogio [Spinola]** and refers the Duke to him to confer.
If the Duke names qualified officers not in active command, Albert will give satisfaction. Dated 15 December 1619;
endorsed as Albert's *Resolutio* given to Licentiate Morreo.
The letter is the answer to the mission that R9426 (Ferdinand of Cologne, 22 December 1619) reports on: there the
agent "Morres" is named and the League's quarters and levies in the Rhine–Westphalian circle are the subject.
## Nomenclator: values fixed here, and the open groups
Fixed (counted as read):
| group | value | evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 414, 415, 416, 417, 419 | nulls | "Kön. 414 M. und L." beside "Kön. 165 und L." and "Kön. M. 417 242 415 L."; "unsers 414 hochlöblichen"; "zu gedachtem 419 End"; "iren L. 414 L." and "ire L. 415 L." in the same formula; "Das was 416 an seiten" |
| 242 | und | "Kön. M. 417 242 415 L." = the formula "Kön. M. und L." written out twice |
| 165 | Mt. (Majestät) | "Kön. 165 und L." (f. 279v) beside "Kön. M. und L."; "albereit 165 und L." |
| 2 | Ambrosio [Spinola] | the decipherer's red margin beside it reads "Ambr." |
Probable (not counted): 47 = Mt. ("ire Kais. 47 und Kön. M."), 41 = Chur- ("die catholische 41 Fürsten und
Stend"; "des Herrn 41 Rath und Agent"; "dem Herrn 41 Volck"), 218 = Rath ("218 und Agent Licentiat Morreus"; "des
Herrn 41 218 und Agent"), 169 = Kriegs- ("bestelt- 169 218 und andere bevelchs"; "in würcklicher 169 Befelch"),
216 = Pferd/Reiter ("ein Regiment Fußvolck und fünfhundert 216"), 154 = Haus ("unsers hochlöblichen 154
Angelegenheit"), 31 = Vettern, 157 = Hilf.
Open: 45 (2×, a title: "titul: 45 und 149", "hochermeltes Herrn 45 L."), 149 (2×, "Weil 149 L. die Vestung
Brisach … bedencken tragen": probably Archduke Leopold), 225 (2×, "Kön. Mt. und L. zu 225"), 160, 219 + 153 + 15
("Wiedereroberung deß König 219 153 und 15 anderer": probably -reichs Böheim and …), 215, 155 (an unread
interlinear gloss over it), 221 ("und 221 Districts"), 136 ("zu unser 136 Lützenburg": Provinz?), 140 + 249 ("dem
140 249 Oñate": Spanish ambassador?). 32 tokens in all, 2.0% of the text.
Letter tokens not read (11): P1.16 "gl" for "L." (one token), P1.18 one illegible sign, P3.05 one unclear sign in
"Kön[ig]", P2.30–31 two to three signs lost in the gutter ("ai…", "ire…"), and five single-token slips whose word is
clear (devotion, laisten, hinaufschicken, Befelch, unverhoffenden), counted unread.Translation
<!-- English translation of the reading section of r9425/reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), folio by folio, with the same holes: ⟨n⟩ open code groups kept; {Mt.} = Majesty; "…" words not read in the clear hand; the bracketed clear passages are working readings and are translated as such. Cipher and clear text are not distinguished here (italics in the source). -->
# R9425: Archduke Albert's resolution for Licentiate Morreus, [Brussels], 15 December 1619: English translation
**f. 278r.** Albert, by the grace of God [Archduke …]. We have praised the letter … and what … title: ⟨45⟩ and ⟨149⟩ of
the said lord ⟨45⟩ L. ⟨218⟩ and agent Licentiate Morreus [… and other] highly important and pressing matters [… notwith-
standing Your Dilection's letter, both orally and in writing most humbly presented and devoutly, heard and understood at
greater length, and have it shown to him for our good declaration … as follows …].
We would also gladly have understood from the request and from Morreus's representation that Their Dilections have
commended to themselves the preservation and maintenance ⟨160⟩ of our most gracious, friendly, beloved lord and ⟨31⟩
Imperial Highness, and of our most praiseworthy ⟨154⟩ interest, as faithfully. And we must therefore thank Their
Dilections most cordially for having it communicated to us so trustingly. And we beg Their Dilections that they will
continue so with us henceforth without hesitation, and be assured that we will meet Their Dilection with the same
correspondence in return, and will recognise in every possible way and gratefully requite the faithful, cousinly
devotion they show to us and to our most praiseworthy ⟨154⟩.
**f. 278v.** As regards, first, the recovery and reconquest of the kingdom ⟨219⟩ ⟨153⟩ and ⟨15⟩ of other …, [we are]
entirely agreed with Their Dilection that on the side of our ⟨154⟩ every utmost power should rightly be applied to that
end; and also that others, Their Imperial ⟨47⟩ and Royal Majesty and Dilection, to ⟨225⟩ and. We [are] entirely agreed
that ⟨41⟩ princes and estates, who are to give us some ⟨157⟩ and assistance to that end. We have therefore also, with
the said most exalted [Majesty] and Dilection, [in] good time … rendered all possible faithful good offices, and in part
already {Majesty} and Dilection ⟨215⟩, but are still awaiting further answer. Meanwhile, nevertheless, [we have] so far
resolved that, in any unexpected case, since ai[…] ⟨155⟩ and some troops ire[…] now on foot,
**f. 279r.** to turn the army thereto [and] send up the Catholic ⟨41⟩ princes and estates and ⟨221⟩ districts; on the
other hand, would also at once order up as many of the Hungarians for the rescue and defence of the oppressed Catholic
estates, with the express command to join the Catholic troops and to submit to and obey whoever shall command them and be
set over them. As regards a muster place, and also a regiment of foot and five hundred ⟨216⟩, we would indeed, in view
of the highest need and general danger, be inclined to oblige Their Dilections in a friendly, cousinly way, as gladly as
we would wish; but we cannot gratify Their Dilections in this at present, however gladly we would, considering our own
daily levies and also … the reflections concerned, and they are destined for our ⟨136⟩ Luxembourg, in particular because
of its situation.
**f. 279v.** Since ⟨149⟩ L. hesitates to have the fortress of Breisach garrisoned with the lord ⟨41⟩'s troops, we are
also writing by this ordinary post to the King, to the ⟨140⟩ ⟨249⟩ Oñate, from whom Your Dilection will hear. Concerning
the one thousand cuirassiers that are requested to be raised in the name of the Royal {Majesty} and Dilection, to ⟨225⟩,
for the benefit of the Catholic League, we are writing about it by this ordinary post to the said {Ambrosio [Spinola]} in
the same manner, and would thus have referred the Duke's Dilection to him on this point, as it now stands, to confer with
him and have what is needed dealt with. What Your Dilection may have named of His Royal Majesty and Dilection's appointed
⟨169⟩ ⟨218⟩ and other qualified, suitable persons of command who are not in actual ⟨169⟩ command, we would give Your
Dilection all gracious, good satisfaction on it … of the lord ⟨41⟩ ⟨218⟩ and agent to Your Dilection …
**f. 280r (clear).** For further information and record, the 15th of December, Anno 1619.07 Sources
- Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Äußeres Archiv 4591, ff. 281–286: DECODE R9426 (login; images not in the public domain).
- The same, ff. 278–280: DECODE R9425,
the sibling letter used as the control, Archduke Albert’s resolution of 15 December 1619, deciphered here in full on
2 October 2026 (transcription, decrypt and measurement in
targets/ferdinand1619/r9425/). - The volume’s key records R9419–R9423, checked against this cipher and ruled out; the earlier ciphertexts in the same volume are written up at KAA 4591 and KAA 4591 (three letters).
- Briefe und Akten zur Geschichte des Dreißigjährigen Krieges, Neue Folge, Teil 1 Bd. 1: Januar 1618 – Dezember 1620, ed. Georg Franz from Karl Mayr-Deisinger’s papers (Munich 1966); searched, no match.
- Language model: this repository’s
lang/de-1500s(German 1470–1610, five-gram characters).
Transcription, key, solver, reading and the measurement are in
targets/ferdinand1619/.
The manuscript images are not reproduced: the archive reserves them.

