Ghinucci to Wolsey, 22 July 1527

At a glanceKey from external plaintext · complete

The letter: Girolamo Ghinucci, Bishop of Worcester and Henry VIII’s envoy at the imperial court, to Cardinal Wolsey: the duplicate of his letter of 22 July 1527, in Latin.
Where: British Library, Cotton MS Vespasian C IV f. 363 (old f. 332). DECODE R8613, catalogued as not decrypted and dated 1529; Letters and Papers IV 3291 lists it with no decipherment.
The cipher: A sign stands for a consonant, and a small digit above it picks the syllable (K8 ra, K9 re, K3 ri); bare signs are letters; some signs are code words; many are nulls.
How it was done: Three other letters of Ghinucci in the same cipher were deciphered when they arrived, and the decipherments survive in print or between the lines. Lining them up with their ciphers gave the key, which was then extended in R8613 itself.
What it says: The Emperor’s men want to part Henry VIII from Francis I; the French offered three millions for the King’s sons; rumour has Wolsey going to France to cut the English and French churches off from Rome “ad perpetuam divisionem”.
Still open: 17 single signs that occur nowhere else.
Credit: The sibling decipherments are those of Wolsey’s clerks, printed in State Papers VI (1849) and Letters and Papers IV. Satoshi Tomokiyo’s partial table (Cryptiana) gave the first syllables.

01 The letters and the keys

Ghinucci was Henry VIII’s envoy at Charles V’s court in Spain from 1527 to 1529, with Edward Lee and, in 1527, Francis Poyntz. Lee wrote his despatches in an English letter cipher (the Poyntz 1527 page has one). Ghinucci, an Italian, wrote his own Latin reports in a different system of his own. Four of them are on DECODE:

R8476, Cotton Vesp. C III f. 304: Poissy, 24 December 1526. Printed with its deciphered passages in State Papers of Henry VIII VI (1849) pp. 552–556, from the decipherment kept in the Record Office (L&P IV 2727).
R8589, Vesp. C IV f. 313: Valladolid, 12 February 1529. L&P IV 5282 prints the Latin decipherment of the whole cipher passage. The decipherer struck each null through with a light stroke.
R8590, Vesp. C IV f. 315: Valladolid, 15 February 1529, deciphered between the lines (L&P IV 5300).
R8613, Vesp. C IV f. 363 (old f. 332): headed “Dupplicata sub die xxii Julii 1527”. The binder’s “1529” at the top is where DECODE’s date comes from. L&P IV 3291 lists it as the duplicate of a letter whose original, Cotton Vitellius B IX f. 127, is damaged (“mutilated”), and describes the duplicate as “partly in cipher” with no decipherment beside it. The editors summarised the original in English.

Top of the page: 'Dupplicata sub die xxii Julii 1527' struck through, 'Hispania', '1529'; below, the first lines mixing clear Latin and signs with small superscript digits — The head of R8613: the clerk’s “Dupplicata sub die xxii Julii 1527”, the binder’s “Hispania 1529”, and the first line of the letter, cipher signs with their superscript digits between clear words (*videntes potissime*, *Curare et aliqua-*). Image: British Library, Cotton MS Vespasian C IV f. 363r, via DECODE R8613.

Another letter bound in the same volume, ff. 214–218, is sometimes grouped with these because its cipher also writes numbers above the signs: Gilino’s report to Francesco II Sforza of 15 September 1527 (DECODE R8572). It is a different, Milanese cipher with its own key and has its own page.

02 Ghinucci’s cipher

Each base sign stands for a consonant row; the small digit above it chooses the syllable, and the order of vowels differs from row to row, with several digits for some syllables. In the K row (r), 2 is ro, 3 ri, 4 ru, 8 ra, and 7 and 9 are both re. In the L row (t), 2 is tu, 3 ta, 4 te, 6 to, 9 ti. A sign with no digit is a single letter, and not the consonant of its row: bare o is p, bare z is t. Two-digit superscripts (12–19) are mostly nulls, and so are some ordinary signs (L7, struck as a null by the decipherer of R8589). A few signs are code words: L8 Regia Majestas, K5 Rex Gallorum, n2 Caesar, y6 Pontifex, d4 Gallia, x1 Hispania, a reversed c with 7 for Dominatio Vestra Reverendissima. There is no word division. The letters drop doubled consonants (comisionis, milionem).

The key was recovered in three steps. R8589’s cipher was transcribed and aligned with the Latin that L&P prints, the decipherer’s strokes marking the nulls. That fixed the system and the commonest syllables. R8590’s interlinear added more. Then R8476 (845 signs) was aligned with the italic passages of State Papers VI, which gave the code words and confirmed the rows; all 42 of its struck signs aligned as nulls. The merged table (key.tsv, about 210 entries) was applied to R8613, and the gaps were filled from R8613’s own context. Each such value was checked wherever it recurs.

The scribe of the duplicate was not consistent with the signs. Two forms collapse in the transcription: h is o in oblatum and milliones but s in fratris and spes, as it is throughout R8476; m serves for r and for x. These are marked in the reading below.

03 Ghinucci to Wolsey, 22 July 1527

Clear text is in roman; the deciphered passages are in italics. […] marks signs not deciphered, [?word] a doubtful word, [word] a supplied word (R8613_reading.md). Line breaks of the manuscript are not kept.

Cesarei videntur potissime […] habere cupere, ho[…] curare et aliqualiter sperare ut aliquibus mediis Regiam Majestatem ad se trahant, ut saltem a Rege Gallorum separent; et donec hoc sperare posse sibi persuaserit, credo eos nil minus cogitare quam de pace. Et si pinguiores eis offerret conditiones, quamvis ad honestatem quandam verbis dicant se nil aliud cupere. Bene credo quod, nisi hec eos spes nutriret, oblatis eis […] pinguioribus conditionibus, satis sperari posset […] ad [?pacem] venirent. Et multo plus iudicio meo sperari posset, nisi pro certo tenerent amicitiam et unionem inter Regiam Majestatem [et] Regem Gallorum non diu duraturam.
Galli videntur multum, si non nimis, cupere […]. Conatusque quantum possunt, dum cum consiliariis Caesaris conveniunt, ut divisum habent [?sermonem], ut aliquam ansam [?dimittatur] qua possint ipsi aut nos semper ad colloquia redire; saepeque apud nos instant ut particulariter super hoc apud consiliarios Caesaris tamquam ex Nobis instemus, ostendentes satis aperte cupere se magnopere ut tractatus omnino non excludatur. Ex hoc nimio desiderio credo causam quod per Avemariam diebus preteritis tres milliones obtulisse Caesar Nobis dixit, si modo id verum sit. Ego quidem parum huic rei fidei adhibui, donec Tarbensis, volens hoc purgare, id iudicio meo magis approbavit: nuncium .N. fratre in domo sua [invento], voluit ipsumque coram Nobis dicere quod circa hoc mandatum fuerat. Ipse autem, non incipiens, ut mihi visum fuit, a principio sed a fine sue commissionis, dixit de Lautrec in discessu ipsius fratris sibi dixisse quod non erat parcendum pro liberatione filiorum, et quod offerret et usque ad millionem.
Cum autem, quas audivi, numquam antea fuisset oblatum minus millione, sed bene […] satis plus, nullo modo videtur verisimile quod de uno tantum millione Lautrec ageret, sed potius de millione ultra id oblata, quod etiam satis videtur approbari, quod eo tempore non tamen forsan sibi de Regia Majestate pollicebantur. Videtur etiam satis verisimilitudinis rei dari quod Nobis innuit Caesar, videlicet fuisse petitam longam dilationem ad illos tres milliones solvendos, solutionemque dividendam in plures […] pagas, quod forsan magis Regi Gallorum expediet. Quicquid sit, non dubito D.V.R. de veritate certum lumen habituram.
Graves viri putant eum qui a Caesare ad Pontificem mittitu[r] in nulla habere commissionem super eius liberatione, et hic […] divulgari ad obturandum [?ora] obloquentium tam hic quam alibi de Pontificis detentione.
A gravi viro intellexi disseminari […] is[?tos] quod D.V.R.ma veniat in Galliam curaturam inter alia ut ecclesia Anglicana et Gallicana a Romana separetur, non quidem durante Pontificis captivitate et ad [?iuvandum] eius liberationem, ut dicitur, […] sed ad perpetuam divisionem.

In English. The Imperialists seem above all to want to draw the King’s Majesty to themselves by some means, at least so as to part him from the King of the French; and as long as they persuade themselves they can hope for that, I believe they are thinking of anything rather than peace, even if they were offered better conditions, though for the sake of appearances they say they want nothing else. I am sure that if this hope did not feed them, they could well be expected to come to terms once better conditions were offered; and much more could be hoped, in my judgement, if they did not hold for certain that the friendship and union between the King’s Majesty and the King of the French will not last long. The French seem to want [peace] greatly, if not too much. When they meet the Emperor’s councillors they try to leave some handle by which they or we can always return to talks, and they often press us to urge this on the councillors as if of our own accord, showing openly that they very much want the treaty not to be shut off. From this excessive desire, I believe, came the offer of three millions through Avemaria that the Emperor told us of. I gave it little credit until the bishop of Tarbes, wanting to clear the matter, rather confirmed it: he found the messenger, a friar, at his house and had him say before us what he had been ordered. The friar began not at the beginning but at the end of his commission, and said that Lautrec, when he left, told him that nothing was to be spared for the release of the King’s sons, and to offer up to a million. Since, as I hear, never less than a million had been offered before, it seems unlikely that Lautrec was talking of one million only, rather of a million over what had been offered. The Emperor’s hint to us lends this some likelihood: that a long respite was asked for paying the three millions, and that the payment be divided into several instalments, which perhaps suits the King of the French better. Serious men think that the envoy the Emperor is sending to the Pope has no commission at all for his release, and that this is put about here to stop the mouths of those who speak ill of the Pope’s detention. I heard from a serious man that it is being spread that Your Most Reverend Lordship is coming into France to see to it, among other things, that the English and French churches are separated from the Roman, not only during the Pope’s captivity and to help free him, as is said, but for a perpetual division.

Three lines of the letter: 'offerret' then cipher signs, clear 'Quis ad honestatem quandam', cipher; 'Bn credo quod nisi' then cipher; a full line of cipher ending 'satis' — Lines 5–7 of the first page: “Bene credo quod nisi” in clear, then *hec eos spes nutriret, oblatis eis … pinguioribus conditionibus* in cipher, then “satis”. The ten signs of *spes nutriret* were the last long gap to be settled. Image: British Library, Cotton MS Vespasian C IV f. 363r, via DECODE R8613.

The content agrees point by point with the English summary that L&P IV 3291 gives of the burnt original: the Imperialists’ wish to separate England from France, the three millions offered through Avemaria, the bishop of Tarbes, the friar, Lautrec and the million for the children, the envoy to the Pope without a commission for his release, and the rumour of Wolsey’s journey to divide the churches from Rome. The summary was known before the work began and was used only as a check; the Latin of the cipher passages had not been recovered before.

04 Method

The DECODE images were fetched at full size with the project’s login (the records carry no transcriptions). L&P IV was consulted on British History Online and State Papers VI and VII on the Internet Archive to identify each letter; L&P cites the old Cotton foliation, DECODE the new. The cipher of R8613 was transcribed sign by sign from line crops at about three times the overview scale (r8613_tokens.txt). decode.py applies key.tsv. R8476 was transcribed by a sub-agent working from crops. The neighbouring DECODE records were opened; all are Lee’s and Poyntz’s despatches in the English cipher. A last pass on R8613 at full resolution re-read two signs (“p10 +” is p+ and a reversed c with 10; “v3” is y3) and settled pinguiores eis and spes nutriret. The reading was checked against a Latin letter model: it scores far above readings from random keys and from keys fitted to shuffled text (validation.tsv).

05 What remains uncertain

R8613, first page: line 1, three signs (c; b, t7), in “[..1] habere cupere, ho[..2]”; line 7, one sign (a dot-like mark) after oblatis eis; line 8, three signs (W14, K, h) before ad … venirent; line 11, one sign (Q8) after cupere. Each occurs once.
R8613, second page: single signs on lines 7, 13 and 16 (bn, d8, b6); three signs after disseminari (line 19) and three before sed ad perpetuam (line 22).
Values that rest on one place (grade C): u8 o and Q1 i (pinguiores eis), h1 s; and the context words dimittatur, sermonem, ora, istos, marked (?) above. h = s in spes and fratris against h = o elsewhere in R8613 (grade M).

Measured: R8613 has 814 cipher signs, 17 not deciphered; 797 (97.9%) give sense.

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.

R8613, Ghinucci to Wolsey, duplicate of 22 July 1527

Girolamo Ghinucci, Bishop of Worcester, at the Emperor's court, reports that the Imperialists want to draw Henry VIII to themselves and part him from the French king, that the French offered three millions through Avemaria, that the Imperial envoy to the Pope has no commission for his release, and the rumour that Wolsey goes to France to separate the English and French church from Rome 'ad perpetuam divisionem'. L&P iv 3291 records that this duplicate was not deciphered at the time; 17 of 814 tokens remain open.

Transcription

r8613_cipher.txt

d6 e7 13 v16 K9 mm19 Q L7 c o6 e9 Z2 a1 K9 x8 c6 b t7
L8 L7 F P 18 z q3 e2 K8 c9 15 r2 y T c1 p K5 K7
f2 d6 18 a9 a5 K9 W12 dot + y7 & o2 n7 u7 y8 O e8 O K9 v17 o2
Y h 15 r y2 dia d5 V14 y3 p+s f6 W o4 313 Q8 a6 y n9 Z9 u8 K9 h1 lam g8 Q1 p+ ɔ10
p2 e3 y o7 L7 L9 hash y8 r z8 R p7 q1 o7 e6 y T 18 y2
dia18 v F x5 s? P e9 a1 K9 b1 mm13 c3 O v15 mm hash r p+ a1 h xi14 y3 T Z2 K13
K9 z L7 hash [ p7 x3 L9 r Y Q h . a6 y n9 d6 a3 K13 v18 q4 r e3 blot y L17 o7 L9 Cd y2 Q16 q4 s-
W14 K h F P Q8 q3 z5 y2 K9 dot u7 z
D K2 q3 p6 e7 R L6 314 L4 y8 K9 y h+ p+ d5 15 e1 L9 p+ d+ & E y2 d8 O
y8 W Q y d6 c1 L4 m L8 dot K5 y9 y o7 S L7 o8 K8 x8 L2 K8 W 15
Z2 15 d4 p6 17 y9 y L7 K1 y2 d5 r a3 e2 e9 a1 K9 Q8
e9 d+ e3 y y7 17 x5 F K3 d6 Q r n2 u7
F y L7 13 o7 d5 g L7 F u3 L2 R f6 p+ d6 S Z y9 r
P L7 e3 j hash f5 F z9 K9 o7 K9 u5 c1 18 a1 f8 L7 F a2 P y7 y9 r e8
F a2 a a e3 y y5 17 x8 p+ K13 hash n2 15 V13 Q y r p7
L4 d2 r L7 e9 a1 K9 v18 18 E Z T14 z+ K8 O V18 L3
L2 r Q8 d6 y9 dot u7 mm mx O p8 q3 x7 o3 L2 R y2 d5 L7 C o4
17 p8 g8 o4 K13 p4 C a1 m F z5 d7 K3 v18 p3 F d+
z K9 r p8 a3 f7 d5 x5 h y8 r Cd [ L2 x5 p3 r2 n_ Y n2 L7 u7
v4 L3 p7
R 316 q2 y 17 p+ V12 r2 e8
V13 w K8 e2 Z K9 V y o2 r16 d1 16 F Z8 x7 u_ h+
Q D 18 v16 F S L4 d+ x8 Z2
L7 16 Y e3 F- L7 y5 Q n_ V p3 314 Cd y2 r o7
r8 Z T o4 g2 x3 E T K9 O del Q y o7 r o16 e7 n_ S V D 17 p6 q3 a9 E r w K8 z K3 h
u7 a5 R e7 y o8 W T2 D K2 e8 f2 x5 q2 K8 L9 hash y8 b;
hash K4 W & f3 P C1 4 lam L7 K1 7 Y z S r f8 F a d5 x5 C y8 d+
h [ p3 x3 L2 W d5 y3 r v16 d5 x5 p8 C y8
bn 13 L9 r p8 q3 a9 D x7 r o4+ E y9 d5 x5 y7 C L7 y3
x3 S z d6 K9 C del o4 y7 d5 x5 p3 hash y8 V14 h p4 x18 [
x3 d6 L3 17 q6 o4 v17 L8
L7 n2 d6
15 p3 e8 x4 y n3 L1 d+ o7 x3 q9 L9 Cd y8 W p14 Z
u7 K9 r d5 p8 x5 V14 hash y8 r 12 dia d6 Z5 y o2 p+ 12 x7 o16 L9 Cd y8 d+ f8
p3 d8 Z2 a5 n3 r K5 Y mx a1 x2 o7 Y L7 a3 q5 T
Y E d+ y7 f5 F n2 p8 F P y6 d5 g g8 Q L2
16 a1 m v16 Y u1 d6 y7 r x5 q2 K8 a3 e2 L9 Cd y8 & c8 O c1 b6 o7 g8 z2 dia n3 K3 F d o Cd
[ L2 p6 K8 y o8 d+ v16 C K3 hash [ x4 v16 f8 y L9 S d+ g8 o4 y6 o4 z9 L4 y
x8 L9 Cd y8
v14 o7 r 1 Y d6 15 d5 y4 K9 mm19 u r q3 a9 L6 r Z2
lam dia x9 p8 17 F c7 & d4 F K12 d7
y4 V14 18 a5 K9 V13 L2 R o8 K8 y L7 L4 y6 e6 D g8 L9 z1 L3 V13 o19 L4
lam u1 c x x8 q2 K8 q9 L9 C u7 y8 W n7 c1 d4 V18 18 P F a 314 a1 R a1
V18 L2 q+ d+ o7 z1 q3 17 C u7 y8 d+

Transcription

r8613_tokens.txt

# R8613 = BL Cotton Vesp. C IV f.363 (old 332), Ghinucci to Wolsey, duplicate of 22 July 1527 (L&P iv 3291 no.2)
# Transcription from DECODE full-size image, 9 Oct 2026. Clear text in {braces}. Glyph names: see key.md.
# Uncertain readings marked with ?; unknown glyphs as ?name
# P1 line 1
d6 e7 13 v16 K9 mm19 Q L7 {videntes potissime} c o6 e9 Z2 a1 K9 x8 c6 b t7 {Curare et aliqua-}
# P1 line 2
{liter sperare ut aliquibus mediis} L8 L7 F P 18 z q3 e2 K8 c9 15 r2 y T c1 {ut saltem} p K5 K7
# P1 line 3
f2 d6 18 a9 a5 K9 W12 dot + y7 & o2 n7 u7 y8 O e8 {hoc sperare posse sibi persuaserit} O K9 v17 o2
# P1 line 4
Y h 15 r y2 dia d5 V14 y3 p+s {Cogitare} f6 W o4 313 Q8 {Et si} a6 y n9 Z9 u8 K9 h1 lam g8 Q1 p+ ɔ10
# P1 line 5
{offerret} p2 e3 y o7 L7 L9 hash y8 r {Quis ad honestatem quandam} z8 R p7 q1 o7 e6 y T 18 y2
# P1 line 6
dia18 v F x5 s? P e9 a1 K9 b1 {Bn credo quod nisi} mm13 c3 O v15 mm hash r p+ a1 h xi14 y3 T Z2 K13
# P1 line 7
K9 z L7 hash [ p7 x3 L9 r Y Q h . a6 y n9 d6 a3 K13 v18 q4 r e3 blot y L17 o7 L9 Cd y2 Q16 q4 s- {satis}
# P1 line 8
{sperari posset} W14 K h F P Q8 q3 z5 y2 K9 dot u7 z {Et multo plus iudicio meo spe-}
# P1 line 9
{-rari posset nisi} D K2 q3 p6 e7 R L6 314 L4 y8 K9 y h+ p+ d5 15 e1 L9 p+ d+ & E y2 d8 O
# P1 line 10
y8 W Q y d6 c1 L4 m L8 dot K5 y9 y o7 S L7 o8 K8 x8 L2 K8 W 15
# P1 line 11
Z2 15 d4 p6 {videns multi} 17 y9 y L7 K1 y2 d5 r a3 e2 e9 a1 K9 Q8 {Conatusque quantum}
# P1 line 12
{possunt dum} e9 d+ e3 y y7 17 x5 F K3 d6 Q r n2 u7 {Conveniunt ut divisum habent sermo-}
# P1 line 13
{ut aliquam} F y L7 13 o7 d5 g L7 F u3 L2 R f6 {possint ipsi} p+ d6 S Z y9 r {semper?}
# P1 line 14
P L7 e3 j hash f5 F z9 K9 o7 K9 u5 c1 18 a1 f8 L7 F a2 P y7 y9 r e8 {instant ut parti-}
# P1 line 15
{-culariter super hoc} F a2 a a e3 y y5 17 x8 p+ K13 hash n2 15 {tamquam ex Nobis} V13 Q y r p7
# P1 line 16
L4 d2 r L7 {ostendentes satis aperte} e9 a1 K9 v18 18 {magnopere} E Z T14 z+ K8 O V18 L3
# P1 line 17
L2 r Q8 {omnino} d6 y9 dot u7 mm mx O p8 q3 x7 o3 L2 R {Ex hoc} y2 d5 L7 C o4
# P1 line 18
17 p8 g8 o4 K13 p4 C {Credo causam quod} a1 m F z5 d7 K3 v18 p3 F d+ {diebus pre-}
# P1 line 19
{-teritis} z K9 r p8 a3 f7 d5 x5 h y8 r Cd [ L2 x5 p3 r2 n_ Y n2 L7 u7 {Nobis dixit}
# P1 line 20
{si modo id verum sit. Ego quidem parum huic rei fidei adhibui donec} v4 L3 p7
# P1 line 21
R 316 q2 y 17 p+ V12 r2 e8 {volens hoc purgare id iudicio meo magis approbavi}
# P1 line 22
{nuncium .N.} V13 w K8 e2 Z K9 V y o2 r16 d1 16 F Z8 x7 u_ h+ {ipsumque coram Nobis dicere}
# P2 line 1
{quod circa hoc mandatum fuerat} Q D 18 v16 F S L4 d+ x8 Z2 {non incipiens ut mihi}
# P2 line 2
{visum fuit a principio 53, a fine} L7 16 Y e3 F- L7 y5 Q n_ V p3 314 Cd y2 r o7
# P2 line 3
r8 Z T o4 g2 x3 E T K9 O del Q y o7 r o16 e7 n_ S V D 17 p6 q3 a9 E r w K8 z K3 h
# P2 line 4
{sibi dixisse quod non erat} u7 a5 R e7 y o8 W T2 D K2 e8 f2 x5 q2 K8 L9 hash y8 b;
# P2 line 5
hash K4 W & f3 P C1 4 lam L7 K1 7 Y z S r f8 F a d5 x5 C y8 d+ {Cum autem}
# P2 line 6
{quas audivi numquam antea fuisset} h [ p3 x3 L2 W d5 y3 r v16 d5 x5 p8 C y8 {Sed}
# P2 line 7
bn 13 L9 r p8 q3 a9 D x7 r {nullo modo videtur verisimile quod} o4+ E y9 {tantum} d5 x5 y7 C L7 y3
# P2 line 8
x3 S z d6 K9 C del {ageret sed potius} o4 y7 d5 x5 p3 hash y8 {ultra id} V14 h p4 x18 [
# P2 line 9
x3 d6 L3 {quod etiam satis videtur approbari quod eo tempore non tamen forsan} 17 q6 o4 v17 L8
# P2 line 10
{pollicebantur, videtur etiam satis verisimilitudinis rei dari quod Nobis innuit} L7 n2 d6
# P2 line 11
15 p3 e8 {videlicet fuisse petitam} x4 y n3 L1 d+ o7 x3 q9 L9 Cd y8 W {ad illos} p14 Z
# P2 line 12
u7 K9 r d5 p8 x5 V14 hash y8 r 12 dia d6 Z5 y o2 p+ 12 x7 o16 L9 Cd y8 d+ f8 {dividendam}
# P2 line 13
{in plures} p3 d8 Z2 a5 n3 r {quod forsan magis} K5 Y mx a1 x2 o7 Y L7 a3 q5 T {quicquid sit non dubito D.V.R. de veritate certum lumen habituram}
# P2 line 15
{Graves viri putant} Y E d+ y7 f5 F n2 p8 F P y6 d5 g g8 Q L2 {in nulla habere commis-}
# P2 line 16
{-sionem} 16 a1 m v16 Y u1 d6 y7 r x5 q2 K8 a3 e2 L9 Cd y8 & c8 O c1 b6 o7 g8 z2 dia n3 K3 F d o Cd
# P2 line 17
[ L2 p6 K8 y o8 d+ v16 C K3 hash [ x4 v16 f8 y L9 S d+ {tam hic quam alibi} g8 o4 y6 o4 z9 L4 y
# P2 line 18
x8 L9 Cd y8
# P2 line 19
{A gravi viro intellexi} v14 o7 r 1 Y d6 15 d5 y4 K9 mm19 u r q3 a9 L6 r Z2 {quod D.V.}
# P2 line 20
{R.ma veniat in Galliam curaturam inter alia ut} lam dia x9 p8 17 F c7 & d4 F K12 d7
# P2 line 21
y4 V14 18 a5 K9 V13 L2 R {non quidem} o8 K8 y L7 L4 y6 e6 D g8 L9 z1 L3 V13 o19 L4 {Et ad}
# P2 line 22
{iuvandumque?} lam u1 c x x8 q2 K8 q9 L9 C u7 y8 W {ut dicitur} n7 c1 d4 V18 18 P F a 314 a1 R a1
# P2 line 23
V18 L2 q+ d+ o7 z1 q3 17 C u7 y8 d+

Decryption

r8613_reading.txt

# R8613 = BL Cotton Vesp. C IV f.363 (old 332): Ghinucci to Wolsey, "Dupplicata sub die 22 Julii 1527"
# (L&P iv 3291 no. 2, "partly in cipher, undeciphered"). Reading of 9 Oct 2026 with the key in key.tsv
# (built from R8589 + L&P 5282, R8590 interlinear, R8476 + St.P. VI, and this letter's own context).
# Clear text in plain type; deciphered text in <angle brackets>; [..n] = n cipher tokens not read;
# (?) = doubtful word. Spelling as enciphered (e for ae; the cipher often drops a doubled consonant).
# Code words recovered: L8 Regiam Majestatem, K5 Regem Gallorum, n2 Caesar, y6 Pontificem, d4 Galli,
# 313 pace (from context), c7 Anglicana (from context + L&P), b; fili-.
# Line breaks follow the MS. Token count: 814 cipher tokens (r8613_cipher.txt); unread 17 (2.1%; image pass of 9 Oct settled P1 l4 "pinguiores eis" and P1 l6-7 "spes nutriret").

P1
1  <Cesarei> videntur potissime <[..1] habere cupere, ho[..2]> curare et aliqua-
2  liter sperare ut aliquibus mediis <Regiam Majestatem ad se trahant> ut saltem <a Rege Gallorum>
3  <separent; et donec> hoc sperare posse sibi persuaserit, <credo
4  eos nil minus> cogitare quam <de pace>. Et si <pinguiores eis>
5  offerret <conditiones>, quamvis ad honestatem quandam <verbis dicant se ni-
6  l aliud cupere>. Bene credo quod nisi <hec eos spes nutri-
7  ret, oblatis eis [..1] pinguioribus conditionibus>, satis
8  sperari posset <[..3] ad [pacem?] venirent>. Et multo plus iudicio meo spe-
9  rari posset nisi <pro certo tenerent amicitiam et unio-
10 nem inter Regiam Majestatem (et) Regem Gallorum non diu duraturam>.
11 <Galli> videntur multum, <si non nimis, cupere [..1]>. Conatusque quantum
12 possunt dum <cum consiliariis Caesaris> conveniunt, ut divisum habent sermo-
13 nem(?), ut aliquam <ansam dimittatur(?) qua> possint ipsi <aut nos> semper
14 <ad colloquia redire; saepeque apud nos> instant ut parti-
15 culariter super hoc <apud consiliarios Caesaris> tamquam ex Nobis <ins-
16 temus>, ostendentes satis aperte <cupere se> magnopere <ut tracta-
17 tus> omnino <non excludatur>. Ex hoc <nimio de-
18 siderio> credo causam quod <per Avemariam> diebus pre-
19 teritis <tres milliones obtulisse Caesar> Nobis dixit,
20 si modo id verum sit. Ego quidem parum huic rei fidei adhibui donec <Ta-
21 rbensis>, volens hoc purgare, id iudicio meo magis approbavit:
22 nuncium .N. <fratre in domo sua [invento], voluit> ipsumque coram Nobis dicere

P2
1  quod circa hoc mandatum fuerat. <Ipse autem> non incipiens, ut mihi
2  visum fuit, a principio sed a fine <sue commissionis, dixit
3  de Lautrec in discessu ipsius fratris>
4  sibi dixisse quod non erat <parcendum pro liberatione fi-
5  liorum, et quod offerret et usque ad millionem>. Cum autem,
6  quas audivi, numquam antea fuisset <oblatum minus millione>, sed
7  bene <[..1] satis plus> nullo modo videtur verisimile quod <de uno> tantum <millione
8  Lautrec> ageret, sed potius <de millione> ultra id <obla-
9  ta>, quod etiam satis videtur approbari quod eo tempore non tamen forsan <sibi de Regia Majestate>
10 pollicebantur. Videtur etiam satis verisimilitudinis rei dari quod Nobis innuit <Caesar>,
11 videlicet fuisse petitam <longam dilationem> ad illos <t-
12 res milliones solvendos, solutionemque> dividendam
13 in plures <[..1] pagas>, quod forsan magis <Regi Gallorum expediet>. Quicquid sit, non dubito D.V.R.
14 de veritate certum lumen habituram.
15 Graves viri putant <eum qui a Caesare ad Pontificem mittitu(r)> in nulla habere commis-
16 sionem <super eius liberatione, et hic [..1] divulgari ad o-
17 bturandum ora(?) obloquentium> tam hic quam alibi <de Pontificis deten-
18 tione>.
19 A gravi viro intellexi <disseminari [..3] is(tos?)> quod D.V.
20 R.ma veniat in Galliam curaturam inter alia ut <ecclesia Anglicana et Gallicana a Roma-
21 na separetur> non quidem <durante Pontificis captivitate> et ad
22 iuvandum(?) <eius liberationem>, ut dicitur, <[..3] sed ad perpe-
23 tuam divisionem>.

Reading

R8613_reading.md

# R8613 = BL Cotton Vesp. C IV f. 363: Ghinucci to Wolsey, duplicate of 22 July 1527: reading

Running text of the line-by-line reading in `r8613_reading.txt` (9 Oct 2026, key `key.tsv`), written out 23 Oct 2026
(translation wave v7). Only word division across line breaks, capitals and punctuation are changed; the spelling is
the letter's (e for ae; the cipher often drops a doubled consonant). The letter is partly in clear: text in ⟨ ⟩ was
in cipher and is deciphered; the rest is clear text. `[…]` = cipher tokens not read (17 of 814); `[?word]` = a doubtful
word (the file's "(?)" or "[word?]"); `[word]` or `wor[d]` = letters or a word supplied that no figure carries. Latin.

## Reading

⟨Cesarei⟩ videntur potissime ⟨[…] habere cupere, ho[…]⟩ curare et aliqualiter sperare ut aliquibus mediis ⟨Regiam
Majestatem ad se trahant⟩, ut saltem ⟨a Rege Gallorum separent; et donec⟩ hoc sperare posse sibi persuaserit, ⟨credo
eos nil minus⟩ cogitare quam ⟨de pace⟩. Et si ⟨pinguiores eis⟩ offerret ⟨conditiones⟩, quamvis ad honestatem quandam
⟨verbis dicant se nil aliud cupere⟩. Bene credo quod, nisi ⟨hec eos spes nutriret, oblatis eis […] pinguioribus
conditionibus⟩, satis sperari posset ⟨[…] ad [?pacem] venirent⟩. Et multo plus iudicio meo sperari posset, nisi ⟨pro
certo tenerent amicitiam et unionem inter Regiam Majestatem [et] Regem Gallorum non diu duraturam⟩.

⟨Galli⟩ videntur multum, ⟨si non nimis, cupere […]⟩. Conatusque quantum possunt, dum ⟨cum consiliariis Caesaris⟩
conveniunt, ut divisum habent [?sermonem], ut aliquam ⟨ansam [?dimittatur] qua⟩ possint ipsi ⟨aut nos⟩ semper ⟨ad
colloquia redire; saepeque apud nos⟩ instant ut particulariter super hoc ⟨apud consiliarios Caesaris⟩ tamquam ex
Nobis ⟨instemus⟩, ostendentes satis aperte ⟨cupere se⟩ magnopere ⟨ut tractatus⟩ omnino ⟨non excludatur⟩. Ex hoc
⟨nimio desiderio⟩ credo causam quod ⟨per Avemariam⟩ diebus preteritis ⟨tres milliones obtulisse Caesar⟩ Nobis dixit,
si modo id verum sit. Ego quidem parum huic rei fidei adhibui, donec ⟨Tarbensis⟩, volens hoc purgare, id iudicio meo
magis approbavit: nuncium .N. ⟨fratre in domo sua [invento], voluit⟩ ipsumque coram Nobis dicere quod circa hoc
mandatum fuerat. ⟨Ipse autem⟩, non incipiens, ut mihi visum fuit, a principio sed a fine ⟨sue commissionis, dixit de
Lautrec in discessu ipsius fratris⟩ sibi dixisse quod non erat ⟨parcendum pro liberatione filiorum, et quod offerret
et usque ad millionem⟩.

Cum autem, quas audivi, numquam antea fuisset ⟨oblatum minus millione⟩, sed bene ⟨[…] satis plus⟩, nullo modo
videtur verisimile quod ⟨de uno⟩ tantum ⟨millione Lautrec⟩ ageret, sed potius ⟨de millione⟩ ultra id ⟨oblata⟩, quod
etiam satis videtur approbari, quod eo tempore non tamen forsan ⟨sibi de Regia Majestate⟩ pollicebantur. Videtur
etiam satis verisimilitudinis rei dari quod Nobis innuit ⟨Caesar⟩, videlicet fuisse petitam ⟨longam dilationem⟩ ad
illos ⟨tres milliones solvendos, solutionemque⟩ dividendam in plures ⟨[…] pagas⟩, quod forsan magis ⟨Regi Gallorum
expediet⟩. Quicquid sit, non dubito D.V.R. de veritate certum lumen habituram.

Graves viri putant ⟨eum qui a Caesare ad Pontificem mittitu[r]⟩ in nulla habere commissionem ⟨super eius
liberatione, et hic […] divulgari ad obturandum [?ora] obloquentium⟩ tam hic quam alibi ⟨de Pontificis detentione⟩.

A gravi viro intellexi ⟨disseminari […] is[?tos]⟩ quod D.V.R.ma veniat in Galliam curaturam inter alia ut ⟨ecclesia
Anglicana et Gallicana a Romana separetur⟩, non quidem ⟨durante Pontificis captivitate⟩ et ad [?iuvandum] ⟨eius
liberationem⟩, ut dicitur, ⟨[…] sed ad perpetuam divisionem⟩.

Translation

R8613_en.md

# R8613 = BL Cotton Vesp. C IV f. 363: Ghinucci to Wolsey, duplicate of 22 July 1527: English translation

Translation (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026) of `R8613_reading.md`, the reading of the key decode of the cipher passages
(`r8613_reading.txt`) with the clear text around them. Text in ⟨ ⟩ was in cipher. Same holes: `[…]` unread cipher
tokens, `[?word]` a doubtful word, `[word]` a word supplied that no figure carries. "D.V.R." is Dominatio Vestra
Reverendissima, Your Most Reverend Lordship (Wolsey).

## Translation

⟨The Imperialists⟩ seem above all ⟨to wish to have […], ho[…]⟩ to take care and in some way to hope that by some
means ⟨they may draw the King's Majesty to themselves⟩, so that at least ⟨they may separate him from the King of the
French; and as long as⟩ he has persuaded himself that he can hope for this, ⟨I believe they⟩ think of nothing ⟨less⟩
than ⟨of peace⟩. And if he offered ⟨them richer conditions⟩, although for a certain show of honesty ⟨they say in words
that they want nothing else⟩. I well believe that, if ⟨this hope did not feed them, richer conditions having been
offered them […]⟩, it could be hoped well enough ⟨that […] they would come to [?peace]⟩. And much more could be
hoped, in my judgement, if ⟨they did not hold it for certain that the friendship and union between the King's Majesty
[and] the King of the French will not last long⟩.

⟨The French⟩ seem much, ⟨if not too much, to desire […]⟩. And they strive as much as they can, when they meet ⟨with
the Emperor's councillors⟩, since they hold the [?discussion] divided, that some ⟨handle [?be left] by which⟩ they
themselves ⟨or we⟩ can always ⟨return to the talks; and they often press us⟩ to insist particularly on this ⟨with the
Emperor's councillors⟩ as if on Our own account, showing quite openly ⟨that they⟩ greatly ⟨desire that the treaty⟩
be ⟨not⟩ altogether ⟨excluded⟩. From this ⟨excessive desire⟩ I believe comes the reason why, ⟨through Avemaria⟩, in
the past days ⟨the Emperor⟩ told Us ⟨that three millions had been offered⟩, if only that be true. I for my part gave
little credence to this matter, until ⟨Tarbes⟩, wishing to clear it up, rather confirmed it in my judgement: ⟨having
[found] the messenger N., a friar, in his house, he wanted⟩ him to say before Us what he had been instructed on this.
⟨He, however⟩, beginning, as it seemed to me, not from the beginning but from the end ⟨of his commission, said that
de Lautrec, at the said friar's departure⟩, had told him that ⟨nothing was to be spared for the liberation of the
sons, and that he should offer even up to a million⟩.

But since, from what I have heard, ⟨less than a million⟩ had never before been ⟨offered⟩, but rather ⟨[…] a good deal
more⟩, it seems in no way likely that ⟨Lautrec⟩ was dealing about one ⟨million⟩ only, but rather about ⟨a million⟩
beyond what had been ⟨offered⟩; which also seems borne out well enough, since at that time they perhaps did not yet
⟨count on the King's Majesty for themselves⟩. Some likelihood also seems to be given to what ⟨the Emperor⟩ hinted to
Us, namely that ⟨a long delay⟩ had been asked for paying those ⟨three millions, and that the payment⟩ be divided into
several ⟨[…] instalments⟩, which perhaps ⟨will suit the King of the French⟩ better. Whatever it be, I do not doubt
that Your Most Reverend Lordship will have certain light on the truth.

Serious men think that ⟨the man who is being sent by the Emperor to the Pope⟩ has no commission at all ⟨concerning
his liberation, and that this […] is put about to stop the [?mouths] of those who speak ill⟩, here as elsewhere,
⟨of the Pope's detention⟩.

I have understood from a serious man that ⟨it is spread […] by th[?ese men]⟩ that Your Most Reverend Lordship is
coming into France to see to it, among other things, that ⟨the English and the Gallican Church be separated from the
Roman⟩, not indeed ⟨during the Pope's captivity⟩ and to [?help] ⟨his liberation⟩, as is said, ⟨[…] but for a
perpetual division⟩.

R8589, Ghinucci to Wolsey, Valladolid, 12 Feb 1529 (key source) not prose

Sibling letter whose cipher passage is printed deciphered in L&P iv 5282 ('Cum animadvertissemus ...'); the file gives each token with its value aligned to that plaintext, and was the first key source.

Transcription

r8589_tokens.txt

# R8589 = BL Cotton Vesp. C IV f.313 (old 291), Ghinucci to Wolsey, Valladolid 12 Feb 1529 (L&P iv 5282).
# Plaintext of the cipher passages printed in L&P iv 5282 (from the contemporary decipher). Tokens read from the
# DECODE image 9 Oct 2026; "!" = struck through by the decipherer (null). Alignment token=value; '-' = null.
# Readings of some glyphs are uncertain (marked ?). Line numbers are MS lines.
# l2 {Cum animadvertissemus}
mm9=oratorem_Pontificis Z!=- F=a x5=li f5=qui P=d z=t p6!=- K8=ra T=c? Y14!=- L3=ta L2=tu K4=ru W=m z5=ve o=l? 4.16!=- #=o
# l3
a1=pe K8=ra mm16!=- L2=tu K4=ru W=m x8!=- Q1=in? y=n? y8=ne dot4=go d6!=- c1=ci D?=o d7=ma y5!=- T=t K3=ri d1=mo y2=ni V=i u=i p8!=- D=p 1=se? f8=que [=a? 2=b? q9!=- n=o? b=c L6=to 43!=- o7=di Y=e
# l4
q8=bu r=s L7!=- e1=ci z=t K8=ra x16!=- d1=mo R=r L2=tu E=u h=s 48!=- 17=si z=t {cognoscentes} L1!=- n2=Caesarem x=a x5=li F=a p8!=- r=s o4=de y2!?=- f8=que K9=re x8!=- y=n o3=da p2!=- o2?=di x3=la
# l5
q?!=- L9=ti #=o y8=ne u=i dot=n K1=ha? E=? O=c mm16!=- d7=ma L4=te K3=ri 48!=- F?=a 2?=s 1=u? r=s a6=pe o18!=- L2=tu? ...
# l6 (end of passage 2)  ... 13=sa W=m F=a dia=c y?=- ... 416!=- L2=tu K4=ru W=m 17?=- x!=- W=-  {visum est nobis ...}
# l7 {possit}
V14!=- D=p? Q=i r=m? a1=pe y5!=- o7=di d3=me y=n L2=tu mm16!=- W!=- W=m f3=quo P=d p2!=- c8=hi y=n Z2!=- O=c
# l8
L4?=pa? y=- r=s e1=ci L8!=- a8=po P=s? y=s? lam9=e? z=t o=p K1=re p6!=- z5=ve p2!=- y2=ni K9=re &=et y8=ne y3?=- a4?=- n1=go e=ci #=o p7!=- D=p K2=ro E=u T=t 17=si q6=bi x8!=- z1=vi o4=de q6=bi q3!=- L2=tu W=r? D=p K2=ro
# l9
z1=vi o4=de K9=re {Hoc non tacebo quod} x5=li e7=ce T=t V14!=- d1=mo R=r r=s E3=he q9!=- O=c x12!=- F=a x5=li f=qua y6=n L2=tu x7=lu &81!=- W=m o7=di x3=la L9=ti p2!=- r5=o? #=o? x2=ni? h=s
# l10 {prima facie videatur}
a5=pa L7!=- K3=ri L2=tu 15!=- K8=ra x9!=- {si tamen compensetur} L7!=- f3=quo a=d d1=mo R=r x16!=- L2=tu E=u r=s
# l11
D=p L7!=- O8=lu? x!=- r=s 4=a n2=Caesare f6=qua W=m 15!=- F=a 18=se 1=? Q=i D=p 1=so? v2=? a1=pe 16!=- 1=n? 2=? y4?=de o4=de q5=ba T=t &=et f3=quo V16!=- P=d g8!=- {potuit Serenissimus Rex et D.V.R. operari}
# l12
F=a P=d p2!=- c6=ho O=c p6!=- x2!=- y3=nu y=n O=c o4=de x2!=- a2=pu L3=ta q9!=- y=n
# l13
T8?=du? o=? r=s L3=ta Y14!=- x5=li r=s 17=si T=t F=a f3=quo Y5!=- f3=quo Y5!=- P=d {equum et honestum sit} K9=re a8=po Y5!=- R=r L3=ta Y5!=- K9=re a8=po 1=s P?=s Y=e
# l14
r=s a1=pe L7!=- K8=ra K9=re Y5!=- z3=va 11!=- 46!=- x9=le F=a z=t o=p x7=lu q6!=- r=s c=b K9=re Y5!=- D=vi? L3=ta L9=ti r=s f6=qua W=m Y5!=- d1=mo K9=re c3=he O=c p6!=- d1=mo R=r r=s F=a 4=f Y5!=- lam=fe K9=re z=t

Decryption

r8589_tokens.txt

# R8589 = BL Cotton Vesp. C IV f.313 (old 291), Ghinucci to Wolsey, Valladolid 12 Feb 1529 (L&P iv 5282).
# Plaintext of the cipher passages printed in L&P iv 5282 (from the contemporary decipher). Tokens read from the
# DECODE image 9 Oct 2026; "!" = struck through by the decipherer (null). Alignment token=value; '-' = null.
# Readings of some glyphs are uncertain (marked ?). Line numbers are MS lines.
# l2 {Cum animadvertissemus}
mm9=oratorem_Pontificis Z!=- F=a x5=li f5=qui P=d z=t p6!=- K8=ra T=c? Y14!=- L3=ta L2=tu K4=ru W=m z5=ve o=l? 4.16!=- #=o
# l3
a1=pe K8=ra mm16!=- L2=tu K4=ru W=m x8!=- Q1=in? y=n? y8=ne dot4=go d6!=- c1=ci D?=o d7=ma y5!=- T=t K3=ri d1=mo y2=ni V=i u=i p8!=- D=p 1=se? f8=que [=a? 2=b? q9!=- n=o? b=c L6=to 43!=- o7=di Y=e
# l4
q8=bu r=s L7!=- e1=ci z=t K8=ra x16!=- d1=mo R=r L2=tu E=u h=s 48!=- 17=si z=t {cognoscentes} L1!=- n2=Caesarem x=a x5=li F=a p8!=- r=s o4=de y2!?=- f8=que K9=re x8!=- y=n o3=da p2!=- o2?=di x3=la
# l5
q?!=- L9=ti #=o y8=ne u=i dot=n K1=ha? E=? O=c mm16!=- d7=ma L4=te K3=ri 48!=- F?=a 2?=s 1=u? r=s a6=pe o18!=- L2=tu? ...
# l6 (end of passage 2)  ... 13=sa W=m F=a dia=c y?=- ... 416!=- L2=tu K4=ru W=m 17?=- x!=- W=-  {visum est nobis ...}
# l7 {possit}
V14!=- D=p? Q=i r=m? a1=pe y5!=- o7=di d3=me y=n L2=tu mm16!=- W!=- W=m f3=quo P=d p2!=- c8=hi y=n Z2!=- O=c
# l8
L4?=pa? y=- r=s e1=ci L8!=- a8=po P=s? y=s? lam9=e? z=t o=p K1=re p6!=- z5=ve p2!=- y2=ni K9=re &=et y8=ne y3?=- a4?=- n1=go e=ci #=o p7!=- D=p K2=ro E=u T=t 17=si q6=bi x8!=- z1=vi o4=de q6=bi q3!=- L2=tu W=r? D=p K2=ro
# l9
z1=vi o4=de K9=re {Hoc non tacebo quod} x5=li e7=ce T=t V14!=- d1=mo R=r r=s E3=he q9!=- O=c x12!=- F=a x5=li f=qua y6=n L2=tu x7=lu &81!=- W=m o7=di x3=la L9=ti p2!=- r5=o? #=o? x2=ni? h=s
# l10 {prima facie videatur}
a5=pa L7!=- K3=ri L2=tu 15!=- K8=ra x9!=- {si tamen compensetur} L7!=- f3=quo a=d d1=mo R=r x16!=- L2=tu E=u r=s
# l11
D=p L7!=- O8=lu? x!=- r=s 4=a n2=Caesare f6=qua W=m 15!=- F=a 18=se 1=? Q=i D=p 1=so? v2=? a1=pe 16!=- 1=n? 2=? y4?=de o4=de q5=ba T=t &=et f3=quo V16!=- P=d g8!=- {potuit Serenissimus Rex et D.V.R. operari}
# l12
F=a P=d p2!=- c6=ho O=c p6!=- x2!=- y3=nu y=n O=c o4=de x2!=- a2=pu L3=ta q9!=- y=n
# l13
T8?=du? o=? r=s L3=ta Y14!=- x5=li r=s 17=si T=t F=a f3=quo Y5!=- f3=quo Y5!=- P=d {equum et honestum sit} K9=re a8=po Y5!=- R=r L3=ta Y5!=- K9=re a8=po 1=s P?=s Y=e
# l14
r=s a1=pe L7!=- K8=ra K9=re Y5!=- z3=va 11!=- 46!=- x9=le F=a z=t o=p x7=lu q6!=- r=s c=b K9=re Y5!=- D=vi? L3=ta L9=ti r=s f6=qua W=m Y5!=- d1=mo K9=re c3=he O=c p6!=- d1=mo R=r r=s F=a 4=f Y5!=- lam=fe K9=re z=t

R8476, Ghinucci to Wolsey, Poissy, 24 Dec 1526 (key source) not prose

Sibling letter printed with its deciphered passages in State Papers Henry VIII vol. VI pp. 552-556 (from the contemporary Record Office decipher); the file aligns the 845 cipher tokens with that text and gave the code words (Regia Majestas, Rex Gallorum, Cesar, Pontifex ...).

Transcription

r8476_tokens.txt

# R8476 = BL Cotton Vesp. C III f.304r-v (old 303), Ghinucci to Wolsey, Poissy 24 Dec 1526 (L&P iv 2727; St.P. VI 552-556)
# Transcription from DECODE full-size images P1 (f.304r), P2 (f.304v), 9 Oct 2026. P3 (f.305r) is all clear text; P4 endorsement.
# f.304r begins with the cipher "Dominatio vestra reverendissima vidit modum..." (St.P. VI 553, last paragraph).
# Clear text in {braces}. Glyph names: key.md, plus the new names below. "!" = struck through by the
# decipherer's light diagonal stroke (this MS HAS such strokes). "?" = uncertain reading.
#
# LEGEND (new glyph names, this file):
#   C   = reversed c "ɔ" (open to the left)            C7 = code D.V.R.
#   &   = the "8"/delta-like sigma-t glyph (key's &)
#   _c  = dash + c "‒c" (horizontal stroke joined to a c)
#   A   = small arch on a vertical stem "ʎ / ⋂ on a stem" (looks like an upside-down "u" on a stick)
#   C_  = "ɔ‒" / "ɤ": round hook with a horizontal tail (bare = a)
#   W   = key's "tw" glyph, here written like "ϖ"/"tw" (bare = m)
#   Yp  = psi "ψ" (key's Y); Yp4 = code "expeditionem"
#   g   = "g"-like glyph (single-storey g with open loop)
#   p   = "p"-like glyph with a looped bowl ("ꝑ"); not key's P (pi)
#   #   = double-barred "ǂ/‡" (key #); bare = o in key.md, but here mostly = s (9 of 12)
#   L, K, x, y, n, d, o, f, a, c, e, q, z, Z, h, m, r, t, u as they look
#   lam = lambda "λ"
#   Q8  = blob "q"-like glyph with a filled head (ink-blot loop on a stem)
#   ~V~ = key's V (horizontal ‒v‒)
#   mm  = long squiggle (key's mm), here without superscript
#   +   = plain cross "+"
#   F   = phi (key F)
#
# Alignment lines: token=value; value "0" = null; "?" = not resolved.

#   zh  = "ʒ" (3-shaped glyph with descender); zh1 = code "quod"?
#   ll  = "ꝶ"-like double stem with crossbar
#   U   = round "ʊ"
#   w   = underlined omega "ꞷ" (ω on a bar); w4, w5 look like code signs
#   hb  = h with crossbar "ħ" (bare = t)
#   Dr  = "Ɒ"/"ꝺ" lying d (p-like; key D?)
#   fy  = struck f/long-s-like glyph
#   |   = vertical "ʒʒʒ" filler at line end (ignored)

## P1 = f.304r
#   (revised after reading further: W = "ϖ" (w with bar over) = m; tw = key's "tw" glyph = m (homophone);
#    a_ = "a" with an underline; Bx = stem carrying a small box "⫯/ф"; oo = "ꝏ"; ql = q-like "ϥ" (= l);
#    Del = delta "Δ"; sig = sigma-like "σ"/"ꝺ" with bar; Ob = "ʘ" circle with dot (key O); C. = reversed c with a dot;
#    7g = "⁊"-like glyph (Tironian-et shape); n4 here may be Tomokiyo's "b" glyph (fa); uh = "ʉ"; It = "ʃꞁꞁ"/"ſH" glyph;
#    hk = "Ꞁ"-like hook; sq = small square "◻"; ob+ = "o"/"ꝺ" with a cross below "♀" (♀3 = rebus); dia = diamond "◇")
#
# P1 line 1 (all cipher)
T C7 &3 _c4 f3 K7! n3 p4! brc ~V~ Dr Z! K2 hb4 1!5 K8 c4 n7! y T d3 C_ W Yp4 f!2 Yp8 y9 x8! Q8 P6 |
A C7=DVR &3=vidit _c4=modum? f3=quo K7!=0 n3=ga p4!=0 brc=l ~V~=li Dr=p Z!=0 K2=ro hb4=t 1!5=0 K8=ra c4=hu n7!=0 y=n T=t d3=me C_=a W=m Yp4=expeditionem f!2=0 Yp8=ego? y9=no x8!=0 Q8=n P6=du(bito)
# P1 line 2
T A1 tw y2 Z!2 7g N4 s7 d5 # L4 K3 #! C. {Nec propterea muto sententiam quod dicant} _c7 18
A A1=o tw=m y2=ni Z!2=0 7g=a N4=fa s7=ci d5=mi #=s L4=te K3=ri #!=0 C.=o || _c7=nunc 18=se   ("bito quod" and "unt cum" have no tokens; A1 = o here but i in P1 line 10)
# P1 line 3 (starts in left margin)
T F _c4 g K2 e7 n3 m2 ~V~ y n7! r T K4 o12 # y2 p!3 F u g!4 u L2 K2 k!9 h a_2 zh1 y9 p!1 z1 L14 tw ~V~ Q8 L!7 K6 16 Del f2
A F=? _c4=? g=? K2=? e7=? n3=? (6 tokens where the print has "forsan": unresolved; cf. N3=fo(rsan) P2 line 3) m2=aliquid ~V~=i y=n n7!=0 r=s T=t K4=ru o12=c? #=(ti)o y2=ni p!3=0 F=a u=d? g!4=0 u=i L2=tu K2=ro k!9=0 h=s a_2=ob(id)? zh1=quod y9=no p!1=0 z1=vi L14=te(r)? tw=r?? ~V~=i Q8=n L!7=0 K6=Italia 16=su Del=c f2=?
# P1 line 4 (starts in left margin)
T dh4 y o7 Yp C Yp # 17 Z {Idem enim nunc quod diebus preteritis mihi polliceri videtur videlicet} fx! x7!? y8 K8
A dh4=de? y=n o7=di Yp=e C=c Yp=e #=s 17=si Z=t  ("...successit"; "de n di e" unexplained)  || fx!=0 x7!?=0 y8=ne K8=ra   ("modus procedendi eorum" not in cipher; "ge" of generalia has no token)
# P1 line 5
T p! x5 C_ {Quorsum autem tendant ...}
A p!=0 x5=li C_=a
# P1 lines 6-7: clear ({scire debile meum ingenium ... per alias literas D.V.R. significata fuerunt})
# P1 line 7 end
T mm L!5 A # F x5 f6 d. o6 a5 r p6 L2
A mm=e L!5=0 A=o #=s F=a x5=li f6=qua d.=m o6=habere a5=pa r=s p6=0 L2=tu   (o6 probably = U6)
# P1 line 8
T K8 W lam m f6 c8 W d3 p d4 Yp g K2 z K8 c4 p2 y t m2 d K4 c L2 r K! K9 a8 m L3 K! K h a1 a! K9 y hb
A K8=ra W=m lam=e m=x f6=qua c8=hi W=c?? d3=me p=a d4=m? Yp=expeditionem g=p K2=ro z=t K8=ra c4=hu p2=0? y=n t=t m2=aliquem(et?) d=f? K4=ru c=c L2=tu r=m? K!=0 K9=re a8=po m=r L3=ta K!=0 K=re? h=s a1=pe a!=0 K9=re y=n hb=t
# P1 line 9
T {Alioquin nimis essent imprudentes qui videntur in huius} q! o7 x3 L9 # y8 o7 + u q8
A q!=0 o7=di(modi?) x3=la L9=ti #=o y8=ne o7=di +=f? u=? q8=fi?
# P1 line 10
T o4 Q8 L9 K! F W lam m n3 L8 sig# C7 w5 d3 C_ r Yp4 n8 W n y z1 n8 Q8 L9 o7 Yp h o7 Z!7 # L2 x5 h8 1 y e q c4 A1
A o4=de Q8=n L9=ti K!=0 F=a W=m lam=e m=r n3=ga L8=Regiam_Majestatem sig#=et? C7=DVR w5=ostendere? d3=me C_=a r=m? Yp4=expeditionem n8=gi(a) W=m n=i y=n z1=vi n8=gi Q8=n L9=ti o7=di Yp=e h=s o7=di Z!7=0 #=s L2=tu x5=li h8=s? 1=se? y=n e=t q=et? c4=hu A1=i?
# P1 line 11
T Ob a1 Z! K3 e9 x4 1 q K8 L8 h Yp m a8 16 ~V~ h 18 y hb {Nisi forte quod vix credere possum intendant}
A Ob=c a1=pe Z!=0 K3=ri e9=cu x4=lo 1=s(e) q=g K8=ra L8=ti h=s Yp=e m=x a8=po 16=su ~V~=i h=s 18=se y=n hb=t
# P1 line 12
T ll3 d5 c8 Yp4 o4 y8 n3 K9 zh1 a5 r L2 K8 W U6 mm1 m2 w4 {ultra alia diebus preteritis}
A ll3=tandem? d5=mi c8=hi Yp4=expeditionem o4=de y8=ne n3=ga K9=re zh1=quod a5=pa r=s L2=tu K8=ra W=m U6=habere mm1=videntur? m2=aliquam w4=faciunt?
# P1 line 13
T {scripta} F Del a!9 Yp # 16 oo u6 _c7 F P n2 {licet videantur dicere} n3 ql Bx Yp F W p n2 g!4 K9 z8
A F=a Del=c a!9=0 Yp=ce? #=s 16=su(s) oo=Domine? u6=Elionore? _c7=nunc F=a P=d n2=Cesarem || n3=ga ql=l Bx=li Yp=e F=a W=m p=a n2=Cesare g!4=0 K9=re z8=vo
# P1 line 14
T e6 L3 W [insertion mark: the passage "hujus enim revocationis ... in preteritum" is written at the end, P2 lines 9-12] {Ponderandum etiam ad hoc videtur quomodo illi qui} c- q s u6 p Del x h i r mm ~V~
A e6=ca L3=ta W=m || c-=hunc? q=? s=Domine? u6=Elionore p=a Del=c x=ce? h=s i=su? r=m? mm=e ~V~=i
# P1 line 15
T # P4 a5 L12 b!3 Yp K3 hb4 ~V~ y d4 F o7 #! L2 k {presertim cum paucis antea diebus} C_ dia L4 m
A #=s P4=significavit? a5=pa L12=tu b!3=0 Yp=e K3=ri hb4=t ~V~=i y=n d4=Galliam? F=a o7=di #!=0 L2=tu k=s || C_=a dia=l L4=te m=r
#   NOTE glyph split found while reading P2: brc = curly "{"-shaped glyph (P1 line 1 "zh" after n3 is brc = l(li));
#   zh = the "3"-shaped glyph proper (zh1 = quod). E = epsilon "ε" (key E, bare = u). c- = c with a bar.
# P1 line 16
T Yp m x1 &5 {quem non satis compertum esse videtur} C_ a zh5 &5 {Cum alienum non parum videatur a verisimilitudine quod solum}
A Yp=e m=x x1=Hispania &5=venisset || C_=a a=d zh5=quid &5=venerit
# P1 line 17
T sig6 F g x!9 E x9 K3 T zh1 q3 a2 c x5 e6 K4 y t {videlicet} P6 n2 o4 ob+3 K6 w9
A sig6=illud? F=a g=t E=u x!9=0 x9=le K3=ri T=t zh1=quod q3=ipsi? a2=pu c=b? x5=li e6=ca K4=ru y=n t=t || P6=du(bitare) n2=Cesarem o4=de ob+3=rebus K6=Italie w9=quia?
# P1 line 18
T {a multis diebus} y3 ql F ~V~ Q8 o4 uh1 U6 It Yp26 1 Del Yp oo6 1 W T1 n y K6 d5 h 18 It hk n2 _c3 sig y3 dh
A y3=nu ql=l F=a ~V~=i Q8=n o4=de uh1=rem_novam? U6=haberet It=Item Yp26=ex(pectare)? 1=s Del=c Yp=e oo6=su? 1=s W=m T1=classis? n=i y=n K6=Italiam d5=mi h=s 18=se It=Item hk=? n2=Cesarem _c3=mittere sig=u y3=nu dh=m
# P1 line 19
T F P y6 f5 Yp m e9 13 K9 hb ~V~ y 1 o L2 W d1 Q8 e6 & {Hec non videntur talia quibus consumi}
A F=a P=d y6=Pontificem f5=qui Yp=e m=x e9=cu 13=sa K9=re hb=t ~V~=i y=n 1=s(u) o=l L2=tu W=m d1=mo Q8=n e6=ca &=de
# P1 line 20
T {debeat oportunitas} _c3 e6 d5 y8 tw o8 W Yp F L3 r C3 c9 q2 L2 m {De matrimonio D.V.R. audiet per literas D. Bathoniensis et Figuillelmi.}
A _c3=mitt(endi) e6=ho?(c6?) d5=mi y8=ne tw=m o8=du W=m Yp=e F=a L3=ta r=m? C3=difficilis? c9=ha q2=be L2=tu m=r
# P1 line 21: clear ({Ego idem sentio quod diebus preteritis scripsi})
# P1 line 22
T {ritis scripsi} y2 17 o3 K5 z1 K4? o4 y r n2 ~V~5 T4 K6 {ut credi potest ex his que ultimo loco}
A y2=ni 17=si o3=forsan? K5=Rex_Gallie z1=vi K4?=0? o4=de y=n r=s n2=Cesarem ~V~5=quasi? T4=Dominum? K6=Italie
# P1 line 23
T {inde scripta sunt; videns etiam quod si ea que de} ob+3 L2 m e9 k!9 c h c9 q2 y d1 L2 m {(struck clear word)}
A ob+3=rebus L2=tu m=r e9=ci? k!9=0 c=ci? h=s c9=ha q2=be y=n d1=0? L2=tu m=r
# P1 line 24
T C_ sq2 ob+ C7 y9 L3 Yp3 y9 Q8 P6 z5 K8 K7 1 y T n2 #!2 y9 y {cogitur amplius} 18 a2 ~V~ Q8 Dr K e7 g h P9
A C_=ex?? sq2=urbe? ob+=que C7=DVR y9=no L3=ta Yp3=esse y9=no Q8=n P6=du(bito) z5=ve K8=ra K7=? 1=si? y=n T=t n2=Cesar #!2=0 y9=no y=n || 18=se a2=ideo? ~V~=i Q8=n Dr=p K=re e7=ce g=p h=s P9=da
# P1 line 25
T sq L3 {modicum} # a1 u ~V~ y5 s7 L7 n2 U6 zh C_ a L8 18 z5 m L4 K9 e3 p s L2 W Yp3 a2 L4 z {Quod si sit}
A sq=re? L3=ta(ita?) || #=s a1=pe u=i ~V~=i y5=n(con)? s7=cor? L7=dia? n2=Cesare U6=habetur zh=quod C_=a a=d L8=Regiam_Majestatem 18=se z5=ve m=r L4=te K9=re e3=co p=a s=c L2=tu W=m Yp3=esse a2=pu L4=te z=t

## P2 = f.304v
# P2 line 1
T {et prout non dubito} g K2 a5 r o L4 x!8 L8 y8 n4 c1 K dx s7 F sig s L6 K3 L3 L4 T K8 c L4 L2
A g=p K2=ro a5=pa r=r? o=0? L4=te x!8=0 L8=Regie_Majestatis y8=ne n4=go c1=ci K=um? dx=? s7=cum? F=a sig=u s=c L6=to K3=ri L3=ta L4=te T=t K8=ra c=c L4=te L2=tu(r)
# P2 line 2
T {puto quod quelibet} d5 y2 y!7 d7 u y L4 m a1 uh F L8 A C_ a d7 hb K3 d1 y2 E W g K y3 e1 a6 r 18
A d5=mi y2=ni y!7=0 d7=ma u=i y=n L4=te m=r a1=pe uh=l F=la? L8=ti A=o C_=a a=d d7=ma hb=t K3=ri d1=mo y2=ni E=u W=m g=p K=r y3=(i)n? e1=ci a6=pi r=s 18=se
# P2 line 3
T q n e1 C_ T sig+ n4_3 n3 brc u ~V~ y r L3 q4 y hb {Sed malam ad hoc conjecturam accepi ...}
A q=su? n=fi? e1=ci C_=a T=t sig+=et n4_3=forsan? n3=ga brc=l u=i ~V~=i y=n r=s L3=ta q4=bu y=n hb=t
# P2 line 4: clear ({nonnullis verbis per Matrem Regis Christianissimi heri dictis quibus innuere videbatur})
# P2 line 5
T _c3 d5 g Yp y o8 W Yp3 n2 d1 o2 16 C- ~V~ Q8 K6 _c6 o4 q5 Ob9 c K3 &2 uh? zh2 u g 17 r {contigit nil nisi}
A _c3=(per)mitt- d5=mi g=t Yp=e y=n o8=du W=m Yp3=esse n2=Cesari d1=mo o2=do 16=su C-=o ~V~=i Q8=n K6=Italiam _c6=? o4=de q5=ba Ob9=c? c=ha? K3=ri &2=unde uh?=tandem? zh2=prout? u=i g=p 17=si r=s
# P2 line 6
T 16 d K4 W 18 a2 o L2 K8 tw K8 a8 sig L3 q6 T {Non enim video quid sibi} e- K5 o8 W a5 L9 mm2
A 16=su d=o? K4=ru W=m 18=se a2=pu o=l L2=tu K8=ra tw=m K8=re?? a8=po sig=r? L3=ta q6=bi T=t || e-=cogitet? K5=Rex_Gallorum o8=du W=m a5=pa L9=ti mm2=velle?
# P2 line 7
T mm1 {(si tamen in hoc se resolvent quod cito videbitur)} zh1 n2 y!7 f5 # L4 y8 lt sig+ e9 ~V~ y3 ql F z1 r
A mm1=videtur zh1=quod n2=Cesar y!7=0 f5=qui #=filios_Christianissimi? L4=te y8=ne lt=t sig+=et e9=cu ~V~=i y3=nu ql=l F=a z1=vi r=s
# P2 line 8
T C_ E T _c8 {imponi} brc7 mm1 17 d1 o2 T2 oo6 K6 f6 c6 q L3 sig+ T2 c9 q2 T a8 L9 lt L2 tw {Nisi quod de}
A C_=a E=u T=t _c8=necessitas || brc7=posse mm1=videtur 17=ut? d1=? o2=? T2=? oo6=? K6=Italia f6=qua c6=ha q=bi L3=ta sig+=et? T2=pecunias? c9=ha q2=be T=(bi)t a8=po L9=ti lt=a? L2=tu tw=r
#   NOTE: "mm" bare (long squiggle without superscript) aligns as the LETTER e (eos = mm A #, mm C. r; eis = mm ~V~ #).
#   N = arch glyph "∩" (rounder than n; N4 = fa, N3 = fo(rsan)) -- probably Tomokiyo's "b"-row glyph for fa.
# P2 line 9
T {Nisi quod de} ob+2 #5 F x5 C_ z1 F f6 tw b3 h a1 K9 y t {vel forsitan cogitent omissis} ob+3 K6 18 L6 L6 #
A ob+2=recuperatione #5=filiorum F=a x5=li C_=a z1=vi F=a f6=qua tw=m b3=bello h=s a1=pe K9=re y=n t=t || ob+3=rebus K6=Italicis 18=se L6=to L6=to #=s
# P2 line 10
T b3 e1 hb K8 d1 y L4 # P9 C. {Quod si intenderint primus} b1 n9 ~V~ brc Yp o d5 15 K5 e3 y zh K9 r
A b3=bello e1=ci hb=t K8=ra d1=mo y=n L4=te #=s P9=da C.=re? || b1=fi n9=gu ~V~=i brc=l(l) Yp=e o=l d5=mi 15=cum? K5=Rege_Gallorum e3=co y=n zh=g? K9=re r=s
# P2 line 11
T 16 h #9 {demonstrabit. Non enim aliquo modo eo casu} o q lam K9 L2 m ob+4 d7 hb K3 d1 y2 f!? _
A 16=su h=s #9=0? || o=di? q=f? lam=fe? K9=re L2=tu m=r ob+4=resolutio d7=ma hb=t K3=ri d1=mo y2=ni f!=0 _=?
# P2 line 12 (start of the passage "hujus enim revocationis ..." moved here from P1 line 14; margin "vide supra")
T c4 u r Yp y3 a K9 z8 e6 L9 C y2 r {nulla causa nunc apparere videtur que jam pluribus}
A c4=hu u=i r=s Yp=e y3=ni? a=m? K9=re z8=vo e6=ca L9=ti C=o y2=ni r=s
# P2 line 13
T {mensibus visa non fuerit presertim cum eo tempore non potuerit} g!? n2 m2 Del1 o4 b
A g!?=0 n2=Cesar m2=aliquid Del1=scire? o4=de b=fe
# P2 line 14
T x5 e1 y9 z5 Dr K3 y e1 a6 A K9 K4 W 16 F K4 tw ~V~ Q8 K6 n6 f7 k! {ex his que superioribus}
A x5=li e1=ci y9=no z5=vo? Dr=p K3=ri y=n e1=ci a6=pi A=o K9=re K4=ru W=m 16=su F=a K4=ru tw=m ~V~=i Q8=n K6=Italia n6=se? f7=d? k!=0
# P2 line 15
T {diebus ad D.V.R. scripta sunt bene videntur apparere alique cause} zh2 u6 a8 L9 r _
A zh2=quare? u6=(Domina)Elionora a8=po L9=ti r=(u)s _=nunc?
# P2 line 16
T F P n2 z3 o3 T f6 u2 K3 T {in preteritum} mm9 sig+ g9 f5 f7? fx!
A F=a P=d n2=Cesarem z3=va o3=da T=t f6=qua u2=(m)ie? K3=ri T=t || mm9=Orator_Pontificis sig+=et g9=Venetus f5=qui f7?=0? fx!=0
# P2 line 17
T {tantum sibi in preteritum polliceri videbantur} fx! o3 K5 ~V~ T Yp E W C_ 18 ~V~ y o7 z1 17 q6 x9 tw {putarent} z1 13 _c7 16?
A fx!=0 o3=de? K5=Rege_Gallorum ~V~=u? T=t Yp=e E=u W=m C_=a 18=se ~V~=i y=n o7=di z1=vi 17=si q6=bi x9=le tw=m || z1=vi 13=sa _c7=nunc 16?=suorum
# P2 line 18
T {ministrorum} L4 a6 o7 L3 L4 {quam etiam putant} fx!7 sq q K5 o5 L9 L2 q5 K9 {videntur vellentque libenter}
A L4=te a6=pi o7=di L3=ta L4=te || fx!7=0 sq=in? q=ipso? K5=Rege_Gallorum o5=invenire? L9=ti L2=tu q5=ba K9=re
# P2 line 19
T {de hoc} Yp 18 c8 K3 zh1 d7 y o3 L3 _c3 mm C. r ~V~ y x1 d5 h 13 ~V~ L3 d7 Q8 o3 L6 K5 Yp F3 Yp6
A Yp=e(s) 18=se c8=cu? K3=ri zh1=quod d7=ma y=n o3=da L3=ta _c3=per mm=e C.=o r=s ~V~=i y=n x1=Hispaniam d5=mi h=s 13=sa ~V~=i L3=ta d7=ma Q8=n o3=da L6=to K5=Regis_Gallorum Yp=e(ssent)? F3=annexa? Yp6=ut?
# P2 line 20
T {illud absque suis} F x5 f8 W Yp5 N4 y9 y brc7 {Post scripta ea que superius continentur ... (rest of P2 and all of P3 clear)}
A F=a x5=li f8=que W=m Yp5=effectum N4=fa(cere) y9=no y=n brc7=posset


# SUMMARY (9 Oct 2026): codes found = C7 DVR; L8 Regia Majestas (also ti x2: collision?); K5 Rex Gallorum/Gallie;
# K6 Italia; n2 Cesar; x1 Hispania; Yp4 expeditionem; Yp3 esse; mm9 Orator Pontificis; mm1 videtur/videntur;
# m2 aliquis/aliquid; zh1 quod; zh5 quid; U6 habere; u6 Elionora; ob+N = re-words (ob+2 recuperatione, ob+3 rebus,
# ob+4 resolutio); &N = verbs (&3 vidit, &5 venisset/venerit, &2 unde?); _cN (_c7 nunc, _c8 necessitas, _c3 per/mitt-);
# b3 bello; #5 filiorum; It Item; brc7 posse(t). Bare mm = e. Section "hujus enim ... in preteritum" is written at
# the end of the cipher (P2 lines 12-16) with "vide supra" in the margin; the print moved it into place.

Decryption

r8476_tokens.txt

# R8476 = BL Cotton Vesp. C III f.304r-v (old 303), Ghinucci to Wolsey, Poissy 24 Dec 1526 (L&P iv 2727; St.P. VI 552-556)
# Transcription from DECODE full-size images P1 (f.304r), P2 (f.304v), 9 Oct 2026. P3 (f.305r) is all clear text; P4 endorsement.
# f.304r begins with the cipher "Dominatio vestra reverendissima vidit modum..." (St.P. VI 553, last paragraph).
# Clear text in {braces}. Glyph names: key.md, plus the new names below. "!" = struck through by the
# decipherer's light diagonal stroke (this MS HAS such strokes). "?" = uncertain reading.
#
# LEGEND (new glyph names, this file):
#   C   = reversed c "ɔ" (open to the left)            C7 = code D.V.R.
#   &   = the "8"/delta-like sigma-t glyph (key's &)
#   _c  = dash + c "‒c" (horizontal stroke joined to a c)
#   A   = small arch on a vertical stem "ʎ / ⋂ on a stem" (looks like an upside-down "u" on a stick)
#   C_  = "ɔ‒" / "ɤ": round hook with a horizontal tail (bare = a)
#   W   = key's "tw" glyph, here written like "ϖ"/"tw" (bare = m)
#   Yp  = psi "ψ" (key's Y); Yp4 = code "expeditionem"
#   g   = "g"-like glyph (single-storey g with open loop)
#   p   = "p"-like glyph with a looped bowl ("ꝑ"); not key's P (pi)
#   #   = double-barred "ǂ/‡" (key #); bare = o in key.md, but here mostly = s (9 of 12)
#   L, K, x, y, n, d, o, f, a, c, e, q, z, Z, h, m, r, t, u as they look
#   lam = lambda "λ"
#   Q8  = blob "q"-like glyph with a filled head (ink-blot loop on a stem)
#   ~V~ = key's V (horizontal ‒v‒)
#   mm  = long squiggle (key's mm), here without superscript
#   +   = plain cross "+"
#   F   = phi (key F)
#
# Alignment lines: token=value; value "0" = null; "?" = not resolved.

#   zh  = "ʒ" (3-shaped glyph with descender); zh1 = code "quod"?
#   ll  = "ꝶ"-like double stem with crossbar
#   U   = round "ʊ"
#   w   = underlined omega "ꞷ" (ω on a bar); w4, w5 look like code signs
#   hb  = h with crossbar "ħ" (bare = t)
#   Dr  = "Ɒ"/"ꝺ" lying d (p-like; key D?)
#   fy  = struck f/long-s-like glyph
#   |   = vertical "ʒʒʒ" filler at line end (ignored)

## P1 = f.304r
#   (revised after reading further: W = "ϖ" (w with bar over) = m; tw = key's "tw" glyph = m (homophone);
#    a_ = "a" with an underline; Bx = stem carrying a small box "⫯/ф"; oo = "ꝏ"; ql = q-like "ϥ" (= l);
#    Del = delta "Δ"; sig = sigma-like "σ"/"ꝺ" with bar; Ob = "ʘ" circle with dot (key O); C. = reversed c with a dot;
#    7g = "⁊"-like glyph (Tironian-et shape); n4 here may be Tomokiyo's "b" glyph (fa); uh = "ʉ"; It = "ʃꞁꞁ"/"ſH" glyph;
#    hk = "Ꞁ"-like hook; sq = small square "◻"; ob+ = "o"/"ꝺ" with a cross below "♀" (♀3 = rebus); dia = diamond "◇")
#
# P1 line 1 (all cipher)
T C7 &3 _c4 f3 K7! n3 p4! brc ~V~ Dr Z! K2 hb4 1!5 K8 c4 n7! y T d3 C_ W Yp4 f!2 Yp8 y9 x8! Q8 P6 |
A C7=DVR &3=vidit _c4=modum? f3=quo K7!=0 n3=ga p4!=0 brc=l ~V~=li Dr=p Z!=0 K2=ro hb4=t 1!5=0 K8=ra c4=hu n7!=0 y=n T=t d3=me C_=a W=m Yp4=expeditionem f!2=0 Yp8=ego? y9=no x8!=0 Q8=n P6=du(bito)
# P1 line 2
T A1 tw y2 Z!2 7g N4 s7 d5 # L4 K3 #! C. {Nec propterea muto sententiam quod dicant} _c7 18
A A1=o tw=m y2=ni Z!2=0 7g=a N4=fa s7=ci d5=mi #=s L4=te K3=ri #!=0 C.=o || _c7=nunc 18=se   ("bito quod" and "unt cum" have no tokens; A1 = o here but i in P1 line 10)
# P1 line 3 (starts in left margin)
T F _c4 g K2 e7 n3 m2 ~V~ y n7! r T K4 o12 # y2 p!3 F u g!4 u L2 K2 k!9 h a_2 zh1 y9 p!1 z1 L14 tw ~V~ Q8 L!7 K6 16 Del f2
A F=? _c4=? g=? K2=? e7=? n3=? (6 tokens where the print has "forsan": unresolved; cf. N3=fo(rsan) P2 line 3) m2=aliquid ~V~=i y=n n7!=0 r=s T=t K4=ru o12=c? #=(ti)o y2=ni p!3=0 F=a u=d? g!4=0 u=i L2=tu K2=ro k!9=0 h=s a_2=ob(id)? zh1=quod y9=no p!1=0 z1=vi L14=te(r)? tw=r?? ~V~=i Q8=n L!7=0 K6=Italia 16=su Del=c f2=?
# P1 line 4 (starts in left margin)
T dh4 y o7 Yp C Yp # 17 Z {Idem enim nunc quod diebus preteritis mihi polliceri videtur videlicet} fx! x7!? y8 K8
A dh4=de? y=n o7=di Yp=e C=c Yp=e #=s 17=si Z=t  ("...successit"; "de n di e" unexplained)  || fx!=0 x7!?=0 y8=ne K8=ra   ("modus procedendi eorum" not in cipher; "ge" of generalia has no token)
# P1 line 5
T p! x5 C_ {Quorsum autem tendant ...}
A p!=0 x5=li C_=a
# P1 lines 6-7: clear ({scire debile meum ingenium ... per alias literas D.V.R. significata fuerunt})
# P1 line 7 end
T mm L!5 A # F x5 f6 d. o6 a5 r p6 L2
A mm=e L!5=0 A=o #=s F=a x5=li f6=qua d.=m o6=habere a5=pa r=s p6=0 L2=tu   (o6 probably = U6)
# P1 line 8
T K8 W lam m f6 c8 W d3 p d4 Yp g K2 z K8 c4 p2 y t m2 d K4 c L2 r K! K9 a8 m L3 K! K h a1 a! K9 y hb
A K8=ra W=m lam=e m=x f6=qua c8=hi W=c?? d3=me p=a d4=m? Yp=expeditionem g=p K2=ro z=t K8=ra c4=hu p2=0? y=n t=t m2=aliquem(et?) d=f? K4=ru c=c L2=tu r=m? K!=0 K9=re a8=po m=r L3=ta K!=0 K=re? h=s a1=pe a!=0 K9=re y=n hb=t
# P1 line 9
T {Alioquin nimis essent imprudentes qui videntur in huius} q! o7 x3 L9 # y8 o7 + u q8
A q!=0 o7=di(modi?) x3=la L9=ti #=o y8=ne o7=di +=f? u=? q8=fi?
# P1 line 10
T o4 Q8 L9 K! F W lam m n3 L8 sig# C7 w5 d3 C_ r Yp4 n8 W n y z1 n8 Q8 L9 o7 Yp h o7 Z!7 # L2 x5 h8 1 y e q c4 A1
A o4=de Q8=n L9=ti K!=0 F=a W=m lam=e m=r n3=ga L8=Regiam_Majestatem sig#=et? C7=DVR w5=ostendere? d3=me C_=a r=m? Yp4=expeditionem n8=gi(a) W=m n=i y=n z1=vi n8=gi Q8=n L9=ti o7=di Yp=e h=s o7=di Z!7=0 #=s L2=tu x5=li h8=s? 1=se? y=n e=t q=et? c4=hu A1=i?
# P1 line 11
T Ob a1 Z! K3 e9 x4 1 q K8 L8 h Yp m a8 16 ~V~ h 18 y hb {Nisi forte quod vix credere possum intendant}
A Ob=c a1=pe Z!=0 K3=ri e9=cu x4=lo 1=s(e) q=g K8=ra L8=ti h=s Yp=e m=x a8=po 16=su ~V~=i h=s 18=se y=n hb=t
# P1 line 12
T ll3 d5 c8 Yp4 o4 y8 n3 K9 zh1 a5 r L2 K8 W U6 mm1 m2 w4 {ultra alia diebus preteritis}
A ll3=tandem? d5=mi c8=hi Yp4=expeditionem o4=de y8=ne n3=ga K9=re zh1=quod a5=pa r=s L2=tu K8=ra W=m U6=habere mm1=videntur? m2=aliquam w4=faciunt?
# P1 line 13
T {scripta} F Del a!9 Yp # 16 oo u6 _c7 F P n2 {licet videantur dicere} n3 ql Bx Yp F W p n2 g!4 K9 z8
A F=a Del=c a!9=0 Yp=ce? #=s 16=su(s) oo=Domine? u6=Elionore? _c7=nunc F=a P=d n2=Cesarem || n3=ga ql=l Bx=li Yp=e F=a W=m p=a n2=Cesare g!4=0 K9=re z8=vo
# P1 line 14
T e6 L3 W [insertion mark: the passage "hujus enim revocationis ... in preteritum" is written at the end, P2 lines 9-12] {Ponderandum etiam ad hoc videtur quomodo illi qui} c- q s u6 p Del x h i r mm ~V~
A e6=ca L3=ta W=m || c-=hunc? q=? s=Domine? u6=Elionore p=a Del=c x=ce? h=s i=su? r=m? mm=e ~V~=i
# P1 line 15
T # P4 a5 L12 b!3 Yp K3 hb4 ~V~ y d4 F o7 #! L2 k {presertim cum paucis antea diebus} C_ dia L4 m
A #=s P4=significavit? a5=pa L12=tu b!3=0 Yp=e K3=ri hb4=t ~V~=i y=n d4=Galliam? F=a o7=di #!=0 L2=tu k=s || C_=a dia=l L4=te m=r
#   NOTE glyph split found while reading P2: brc = curly "{"-shaped glyph (P1 line 1 "zh" after n3 is brc = l(li));
#   zh = the "3"-shaped glyph proper (zh1 = quod). E = epsilon "ε" (key E, bare = u). c- = c with a bar.
# P1 line 16
T Yp m x1 &5 {quem non satis compertum esse videtur} C_ a zh5 &5 {Cum alienum non parum videatur a verisimilitudine quod solum}
A Yp=e m=x x1=Hispania &5=venisset || C_=a a=d zh5=quid &5=venerit
# P1 line 17
T sig6 F g x!9 E x9 K3 T zh1 q3 a2 c x5 e6 K4 y t {videlicet} P6 n2 o4 ob+3 K6 w9
A sig6=illud? F=a g=t E=u x!9=0 x9=le K3=ri T=t zh1=quod q3=ipsi? a2=pu c=b? x5=li e6=ca K4=ru y=n t=t || P6=du(bitare) n2=Cesarem o4=de ob+3=rebus K6=Italie w9=quia?
# P1 line 18
T {a multis diebus} y3 ql F ~V~ Q8 o4 uh1 U6 It Yp26 1 Del Yp oo6 1 W T1 n y K6 d5 h 18 It hk n2 _c3 sig y3 dh
A y3=nu ql=l F=a ~V~=i Q8=n o4=de uh1=rem_novam? U6=haberet It=Item Yp26=ex(pectare)? 1=s Del=c Yp=e oo6=su? 1=s W=m T1=classis? n=i y=n K6=Italiam d5=mi h=s 18=se It=Item hk=? n2=Cesarem _c3=mittere sig=u y3=nu dh=m
# P1 line 19
T F P y6 f5 Yp m e9 13 K9 hb ~V~ y 1 o L2 W d1 Q8 e6 & {Hec non videntur talia quibus consumi}
A F=a P=d y6=Pontificem f5=qui Yp=e m=x e9=cu 13=sa K9=re hb=t ~V~=i y=n 1=s(u) o=l L2=tu W=m d1=mo Q8=n e6=ca &=de
# P1 line 20
T {debeat oportunitas} _c3 e6 d5 y8 tw o8 W Yp F L3 r C3 c9 q2 L2 m {De matrimonio D.V.R. audiet per literas D. Bathoniensis et Figuillelmi.}
A _c3=mitt(endi) e6=ho?(c6?) d5=mi y8=ne tw=m o8=du W=m Yp=e F=a L3=ta r=m? C3=difficilis? c9=ha q2=be L2=tu m=r
# P1 line 21: clear ({Ego idem sentio quod diebus preteritis scripsi})
# P1 line 22
T {ritis scripsi} y2 17 o3 K5 z1 K4? o4 y r n2 ~V~5 T4 K6 {ut credi potest ex his que ultimo loco}
A y2=ni 17=si o3=forsan? K5=Rex_Gallie z1=vi K4?=0? o4=de y=n r=s n2=Cesarem ~V~5=quasi? T4=Dominum? K6=Italie
# P1 line 23
T {inde scripta sunt; videns etiam quod si ea que de} ob+3 L2 m e9 k!9 c h c9 q2 y d1 L2 m {(struck clear word)}
A ob+3=rebus L2=tu m=r e9=ci? k!9=0 c=ci? h=s c9=ha q2=be y=n d1=0? L2=tu m=r
# P1 line 24
T C_ sq2 ob+ C7 y9 L3 Yp3 y9 Q8 P6 z5 K8 K7 1 y T n2 #!2 y9 y {cogitur amplius} 18 a2 ~V~ Q8 Dr K e7 g h P9
A C_=ex?? sq2=urbe? ob+=que C7=DVR y9=no L3=ta Yp3=esse y9=no Q8=n P6=du(bito) z5=ve K8=ra K7=? 1=si? y=n T=t n2=Cesar #!2=0 y9=no y=n || 18=se a2=ideo? ~V~=i Q8=n Dr=p K=re e7=ce g=p h=s P9=da
# P1 line 25
T sq L3 {modicum} # a1 u ~V~ y5 s7 L7 n2 U6 zh C_ a L8 18 z5 m L4 K9 e3 p s L2 W Yp3 a2 L4 z {Quod si sit}
A sq=re? L3=ta(ita?) || #=s a1=pe u=i ~V~=i y5=n(con)? s7=cor? L7=dia? n2=Cesare U6=habetur zh=quod C_=a a=d L8=Regiam_Majestatem 18=se z5=ve m=r L4=te K9=re e3=co p=a s=c L2=tu W=m Yp3=esse a2=pu L4=te z=t

## P2 = f.304v
# P2 line 1
T {et prout non dubito} g K2 a5 r o L4 x!8 L8 y8 n4 c1 K dx s7 F sig s L6 K3 L3 L4 T K8 c L4 L2
A g=p K2=ro a5=pa r=r? o=0? L4=te x!8=0 L8=Regie_Majestatis y8=ne n4=go c1=ci K=um? dx=? s7=cum? F=a sig=u s=c L6=to K3=ri L3=ta L4=te T=t K8=ra c=c L4=te L2=tu(r)
# P2 line 2
T {puto quod quelibet} d5 y2 y!7 d7 u y L4 m a1 uh F L8 A C_ a d7 hb K3 d1 y2 E W g K y3 e1 a6 r 18
A d5=mi y2=ni y!7=0 d7=ma u=i y=n L4=te m=r a1=pe uh=l F=la? L8=ti A=o C_=a a=d d7=ma hb=t K3=ri d1=mo y2=ni E=u W=m g=p K=r y3=(i)n? e1=ci a6=pi r=s 18=se
# P2 line 3
T q n e1 C_ T sig+ n4_3 n3 brc u ~V~ y r L3 q4 y hb {Sed malam ad hoc conjecturam accepi ...}
A q=su? n=fi? e1=ci C_=a T=t sig+=et n4_3=forsan? n3=ga brc=l u=i ~V~=i y=n r=s L3=ta q4=bu y=n hb=t
# P2 line 4: clear ({nonnullis verbis per Matrem Regis Christianissimi heri dictis quibus innuere videbatur})
# P2 line 5
T _c3 d5 g Yp y o8 W Yp3 n2 d1 o2 16 C- ~V~ Q8 K6 _c6 o4 q5 Ob9 c K3 &2 uh? zh2 u g 17 r {contigit nil nisi}
A _c3=(per)mitt- d5=mi g=t Yp=e y=n o8=du W=m Yp3=esse n2=Cesari d1=mo o2=do 16=su C-=o ~V~=i Q8=n K6=Italiam _c6=? o4=de q5=ba Ob9=c? c=ha? K3=ri &2=unde uh?=tandem? zh2=prout? u=i g=p 17=si r=s
# P2 line 6
T 16 d K4 W 18 a2 o L2 K8 tw K8 a8 sig L3 q6 T {Non enim video quid sibi} e- K5 o8 W a5 L9 mm2
A 16=su d=o? K4=ru W=m 18=se a2=pu o=l L2=tu K8=ra tw=m K8=re?? a8=po sig=r? L3=ta q6=bi T=t || e-=cogitet? K5=Rex_Gallorum o8=du W=m a5=pa L9=ti mm2=velle?
# P2 line 7
T mm1 {(si tamen in hoc se resolvent quod cito videbitur)} zh1 n2 y!7 f5 # L4 y8 lt sig+ e9 ~V~ y3 ql F z1 r
A mm1=videtur zh1=quod n2=Cesar y!7=0 f5=qui #=filios_Christianissimi? L4=te y8=ne lt=t sig+=et e9=cu ~V~=i y3=nu ql=l F=a z1=vi r=s
# P2 line 8
T C_ E T _c8 {imponi} brc7 mm1 17 d1 o2 T2 oo6 K6 f6 c6 q L3 sig+ T2 c9 q2 T a8 L9 lt L2 tw {Nisi quod de}
A C_=a E=u T=t _c8=necessitas || brc7=posse mm1=videtur 17=ut? d1=? o2=? T2=? oo6=? K6=Italia f6=qua c6=ha q=bi L3=ta sig+=et? T2=pecunias? c9=ha q2=be T=(bi)t a8=po L9=ti lt=a? L2=tu tw=r
#   NOTE: "mm" bare (long squiggle without superscript) aligns as the LETTER e (eos = mm A #, mm C. r; eis = mm ~V~ #).
#   N = arch glyph "∩" (rounder than n; N4 = fa, N3 = fo(rsan)) -- probably Tomokiyo's "b"-row glyph for fa.
# P2 line 9
T {Nisi quod de} ob+2 #5 F x5 C_ z1 F f6 tw b3 h a1 K9 y t {vel forsitan cogitent omissis} ob+3 K6 18 L6 L6 #
A ob+2=recuperatione #5=filiorum F=a x5=li C_=a z1=vi F=a f6=qua tw=m b3=bello h=s a1=pe K9=re y=n t=t || ob+3=rebus K6=Italicis 18=se L6=to L6=to #=s
# P2 line 10
T b3 e1 hb K8 d1 y L4 # P9 C. {Quod si intenderint primus} b1 n9 ~V~ brc Yp o d5 15 K5 e3 y zh K9 r
A b3=bello e1=ci hb=t K8=ra d1=mo y=n L4=te #=s P9=da C.=re? || b1=fi n9=gu ~V~=i brc=l(l) Yp=e o=l d5=mi 15=cum? K5=Rege_Gallorum e3=co y=n zh=g? K9=re r=s
# P2 line 11
T 16 h #9 {demonstrabit. Non enim aliquo modo eo casu} o q lam K9 L2 m ob+4 d7 hb K3 d1 y2 f!? _
A 16=su h=s #9=0? || o=di? q=f? lam=fe? K9=re L2=tu m=r ob+4=resolutio d7=ma hb=t K3=ri d1=mo y2=ni f!=0 _=?
# P2 line 12 (start of the passage "hujus enim revocationis ..." moved here from P1 line 14; margin "vide supra")
T c4 u r Yp y3 a K9 z8 e6 L9 C y2 r {nulla causa nunc apparere videtur que jam pluribus}
A c4=hu u=i r=s Yp=e y3=ni? a=m? K9=re z8=vo e6=ca L9=ti C=o y2=ni r=s
# P2 line 13
T {mensibus visa non fuerit presertim cum eo tempore non potuerit} g!? n2 m2 Del1 o4 b
A g!?=0 n2=Cesar m2=aliquid Del1=scire? o4=de b=fe
# P2 line 14
T x5 e1 y9 z5 Dr K3 y e1 a6 A K9 K4 W 16 F K4 tw ~V~ Q8 K6 n6 f7 k! {ex his que superioribus}
A x5=li e1=ci y9=no z5=vo? Dr=p K3=ri y=n e1=ci a6=pi A=o K9=re K4=ru W=m 16=su F=a K4=ru tw=m ~V~=i Q8=n K6=Italia n6=se? f7=d? k!=0
# P2 line 15
T {diebus ad D.V.R. scripta sunt bene videntur apparere alique cause} zh2 u6 a8 L9 r _
A zh2=quare? u6=(Domina)Elionora a8=po L9=ti r=(u)s _=nunc?
# P2 line 16
T F P n2 z3 o3 T f6 u2 K3 T {in preteritum} mm9 sig+ g9 f5 f7? fx!
A F=a P=d n2=Cesarem z3=va o3=da T=t f6=qua u2=(m)ie? K3=ri T=t || mm9=Orator_Pontificis sig+=et g9=Venetus f5=qui f7?=0? fx!=0
# P2 line 17
T {tantum sibi in preteritum polliceri videbantur} fx! o3 K5 ~V~ T Yp E W C_ 18 ~V~ y o7 z1 17 q6 x9 tw {putarent} z1 13 _c7 16?
A fx!=0 o3=de? K5=Rege_Gallorum ~V~=u? T=t Yp=e E=u W=m C_=a 18=se ~V~=i y=n o7=di z1=vi 17=si q6=bi x9=le tw=m || z1=vi 13=sa _c7=nunc 16?=suorum
# P2 line 18
T {ministrorum} L4 a6 o7 L3 L4 {quam etiam putant} fx!7 sq q K5 o5 L9 L2 q5 K9 {videntur vellentque libenter}
A L4=te a6=pi o7=di L3=ta L4=te || fx!7=0 sq=in? q=ipso? K5=Rege_Gallorum o5=invenire? L9=ti L2=tu q5=ba K9=re
# P2 line 19
T {de hoc} Yp 18 c8 K3 zh1 d7 y o3 L3 _c3 mm C. r ~V~ y x1 d5 h 13 ~V~ L3 d7 Q8 o3 L6 K5 Yp F3 Yp6
A Yp=e(s) 18=se c8=cu? K3=ri zh1=quod d7=ma y=n o3=da L3=ta _c3=per mm=e C.=o r=s ~V~=i y=n x1=Hispaniam d5=mi h=s 13=sa ~V~=i L3=ta d7=ma Q8=n o3=da L6=to K5=Regis_Gallorum Yp=e(ssent)? F3=annexa? Yp6=ut?
# P2 line 20
T {illud absque suis} F x5 f8 W Yp5 N4 y9 y brc7 {Post scripta ea que superius continentur ... (rest of P2 and all of P3 clear)}
A F=a x5=li f8=que W=m Yp5=effectum N4=fa(cere) y9=no y=n brc7=posset


# SUMMARY (9 Oct 2026): codes found = C7 DVR; L8 Regia Majestas (also ti x2: collision?); K5 Rex Gallorum/Gallie;
# K6 Italia; n2 Cesar; x1 Hispania; Yp4 expeditionem; Yp3 esse; mm9 Orator Pontificis; mm1 videtur/videntur;
# m2 aliquis/aliquid; zh1 quod; zh5 quid; U6 habere; u6 Elionora; ob+N = re-words (ob+2 recuperatione, ob+3 rebus,
# ob+4 resolutio); &N = verbs (&3 vidit, &5 venisset/venerit, &2 unde?); _cN (_c7 nunc, _c8 necessitas, _c3 per/mitt-);
# b3 bello; #5 filiorum; It Item; brc7 posse(t). Bare mm = e. Section "hujus enim ... in preteritum" is written at
# the end of the cipher (P2 lines 12-16) with "vide supra" in the margin; the print moved it into place.

Key: key.tsv, key.md, r8476_key.tsv

06 Sources

British Library, Cotton MS Vespasian C IV f. 363 (old f. 332); images via DECODE R8613. Siblings: Vesp. C III f. 304 (R8476), Vesp. C IV ff. 313 and 315 (R8589, R8590).
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, vol. IV, ed. J. S. Brewer (1870–76), nos. 2727, 3291, 5282, 5300, on British History Online.
State Papers, King Henry the Eighth, vol. VI (1849), pp. 552–556 (R8476 with its deciphered passages).
S. Tomokiyo, Cryptiana, page henryviii.htm: the partial table for the Bishop of Worcester.
Related pages: Ghinucci, Lee and Poyntz to Wolsey, 1527 (the English cipher of the same embassy); Gilino to Francesco II Sforza, 1527 (a Milanese letter in the same volume, different cipher).

Transcriptions, key, decoder and reading: targets/ghinucci1527/ in the repository. Until 14 October 2026 this page also carried Gilino’s letter, as “Ghinucci to Wolsey and Gilino to Sforza, 1527”.