At a glanceCiphertext-only break · none (key obtained, text not read)
- The letter
- Copy of a letter from Charles III, duke of Lorraine, to his son the comte de Vaudémont, Nancy, 18 June 1592.
- Where
- BnF Français 3621 no. 97 (f. 109); DECODE lists it as Non-decrypted.
- The cipher
- A reciprocal letter-pair substitution (a/i, b/p, c/f …) in cursive letterforms, doubling dots, a looped æ as null word-divider, and partly syllabic figures.
- How it was read
- A contributor recovered a 44-symbol key from the ciphertext alone on 18 September 2026; a line-by-line re-transcription on 22 September gave the simpler key.
- Credit
- The 18 September key recovery was contributed by aryasn2026 in pull request #4.
- Still open
- Most special signs, 11 of the 14 figures and four garbled runs; no second letter in this cipher is known.
01The document, and the search for the ciphered originals
No. 97 is at folio 109 (Gallica canvas 227): “Coppie d’une lettre … de Charles de Lorraine à monsieur de Vaudemont”, Nancy, 18 June 1592. The volume is the duc de Nevers’s intercept and correspondence file for 1591–92. The task came with an instruction to check first for the ciphered originals of the letters intercepted in January 1592. They are not in the volume. No. 22, at folio 31, is a plaintext decipherment only: a fair copy of the French of three intercepted Vaudémont letters, with no cipher anywhere on the sheet, headed “Dechiffrement des lettres de Monsieur de Vaudemont à Monsieur de Lorraine [son] pere, interceptees et apportees à Monsieur de Dinteville, le XX[e] Janvier 1592”. DECODE agrees: its record for no. 22 (9444) is marked Decrypted. The other ciphered pieces of the volume (Birago nos. 31 and 36, Potier no. 79, Dinteville nos. 114 and 116) are Nevers’s own correspondents and their keys, not Lorraine’s. So no. 97 is a single copy with no sibling.
The letter mixes clear French and cipher inline on the same lines, and the postscript is clear. The clear text concerns the same business as the cipher: munitions promised and undelivered, Chaumont, the sieur de Buzonville, the attempt on Chasteauvillain.
02No key has ever been published
DECODE record 9449 is this letter, by shelfmark, sender, receiver and date, and its status field reads Non-decrypted; of the eight DECODE records for Français 3621 only this one and no. 116 have that status.
No key record in DECODE is attributed to Charles III or to Vaudémont. Keys for other Lorraine ciphers are published and are not this system: Bréval to Henri II of about 1620, and Bassompierre to
Charles III of 1 August 1593, both reconstructed by Satoshi Tomokiyo. Desenclos and Lasry’s 2024 paper on the Henri IV–Nevers ciphers of Français 3995 never mentions Français 3621, and Henri
Lepage’s 1864 edition of Charles III’s League correspondence stops in 1591 and prints no cipher table.
A prior reading did exist. The search above looked for a published key and missed a published claim. Satoshi Tomokiyo’s list of unsolved historical ciphers marks this letter (“Duke of Lorraine (1592)”, DECODE R9449) as solved by him in 2025, and quotes its opening: “J’ay este infiniment mal satisfait du peu d’execution …”. He published no key and no further text. The entry was already there on 6 September 2026, before this attempt; it was found on 24 September, after the reading, and was not used. The reading here opens with the same words, which independently confirms the first line.
Four 1592 key sheets in the Nevers key book, Français 3995, whose DECODE profile matched this cipher, were fetched and examined. None of the four is this key.
| Sheet | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| fol. 32 | A jargon dictionary of covert equivalents — Nouvelles = “Draps de soye”, Necessité = “Medecine” — in geometric signs and figures 2–40. Not a letter cipher. |
| fol. 83–84 | An all-digit cipher with a Nulles row. “Duc de Lorraine” appears in it as nomenclator entry 46, so it is somebody else’s key that mentions Lorraine. |
| fol. 98 | Endorsed in its own hand: “1592 / Chifre d’entre le Duc de Parme et le Roy Cath[olique] en l’an 1592 / lequel sert aussi p[our] le Duc de Sessa et don Diego de Ybarra”. |
| fol. 103 | A Nevers-circle nomenclator, its flap listing Gondi, Nemours, Guise and Montpensier, with three homophones for every letter — not a one-for-one pair cipher. It shows what a full key of this milieu holds: syllable figures 1–72, double-letter figures 73–98, word figures 99–353, and lists of places in which Lorraine is 30 and Metz 68. |
03The key recovery of 18 September (contributed)
An earlier attempt had treated the page as a cipher of invented symbols: segment the glyphs, cluster them by shape, solve the cluster sequence. The segmentation worked (the baselines slope, and a shear of −0.031 resolves the block into 21 line bands), but the clustering was unnecessary. The glyphs are ordinary cursive minuscules, the same letters as the clear text, some with dots or a bar, with a handful of special signs, and at one and a half times native size they can be transcribed directly from the page. The contributor’s transcription recorded 1,109 tokens: 1,071 letter symbols in 44 distinct forms, and 38 nomenclator figures. Its letter frequencies match French rank for rank through fourteen places, and its index of coincidence lies between those of a monoalphabetic and a fully homophonic system.
On a control with a known key of the same size, the random-move annealer of the earlier attempt recovered only 37–56% of letters at −2.64 per character while the true key scored −1.62: the failure was in the search. A steepest-ascent search with restarts from local optima recovers known keys at 98.7–99.6%. Two traps were closed on the way (free nulls that delete every hard position, and a degenerate etenete… key). The key it found was checked against the manuscript, not only the model: the eight-form group it deciphers as chasteau occurs twice in the cipher, and Chasteauvillain stands in the clear on the same page, in the body and in the postscript.
A 4-gram search over 44 free parameters can produce French-looking text from random input, so the pipeline was also run unchanged on shuffled nulls of the same symbols and frequencies, and scored blind:
| 4-gram score | Dictionary coverage | Distinct words of 6+ letters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The manuscript | −2.10 | 83.0% | 33 |
| Five nulls, mean (range) | −2.73 | 74.6% | 1.2 (0–3) |
Thirty-three long words against none to three: there was French under the transcription. From controls with deliberately merged glyphs, the contributor estimated that about a quarter of the glyph
transcriptions were still wrong, and proposed re-transcribing the page with the key in hand. The 18 September decryption gave, for example,
chasteauilainss [145] nntaises deramenermonarme dooites esquartiers de-, with whole words correct and the joins between them wrong.
04The re-transcription of 22 September, and what it corrected
The re-transcription was done as proposed: the native IIIF image of canvas 227 (4046 × 5762), sheared −0.031 and cut into 21 line bands, each viewed in five crops at 2.3×, every word checked against the 18 September decryption. Laid out as pairs, the 18 September values already showed the system: glyph a gave i and glyph i gave a, o gave r and r gave o, q gave d and d gave q, n gave s and s gave n. Every letter of the hand stands for its partner in eleven fixed pairs, the whole 22-letter alphabet of the period:
| Pair | a / i | b / p | c / f | d / q | e / t | g / u | l / y | m / z | n / s | o / r | h / x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written a reads i, and so on both ways | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ | ↔ |
| Sign | Value | Examples | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| two dots under a letter | the letter doubled: ṇ = ss, c̤ = ff, c̈ = tt | promesses, assister, passer, affin, remettre | H |
| looped æ | null, a word divider | peu · d’execution, belles · promesses | H |
| Θ | s | chemins, audits | H |
| 31 | ma (syllable) | com-31-nder, de-31-nde, 31 resolution | C |
| 139 | vous | chemins, 139 tiendrés; et 139 ne manquiés | C |
| 145 | me | affin que 141 ne 145 delaissent | C |
| λ, m̄, U, E, π, γ, ꜗ, low-barred t, figure-4 form | open | about 60 tokens | I |
| 13, 57, 88, 98, 103, 121, 122, 123, 137, 141, 146 | open | 17 tokens | I |
At least part of the nomenclator is therefore syllabic, like the syllable figures of the fr. 3995 keys, and not only a list of persons and places.
The 18 September key had 44 symbols instead of eleven pairs mainly because of two transcription merges. The transcription’s c was two glyphs, the secretary e (which stands for t) and c (which stands for f). The search had to send the merged form to t, so every f in the letter was lost (intiniment, satistait). This is why the old key had no value at all for b, f, g, x and z, a gap the earlier page had already flagged as the place where mis-transcribed glyphs had gone. Its B was likewise two glyphs, the beta-like b (p) and the looped secretary h (x, hence h): du peu but ceulx and d’execution. The dotted and barred variants that the search had spread over extra homophones are doublings. Correcting those turned most of the short connecting words of the old decryption into plain French with no further guessing.
What changed in the decipherment:
- prisonniers is pionniers: the Duke complains of pioneers and munitions promised, not of prisoners.
- 139 and 145 are not names. The earlier page guessed, from the clear text, that they might be Chasteauvillain and Chaulmont; in context they decode as vous and me (grade C).
- The f words come back: infiniment, satisfait, fait, affin, faire, fauldra, la Faulche.
- The chasteauilains slip that the null test exposed is confirmed at both places (L14, L18): the scribe left out the v twice, so it is an emendation, not a fault of the key.
- The measure: the old claim that about three quarters of the letters were right was an estimate from controls. Counted word by word against the new decipherment, the 18 September key and tokens give the same words for 449 of 1,105 tokens, 40.6%; the re-transcription gives 790, 71.5% (section 06).
05The decipherment
Running text of the re-transcription, line by line as the manuscript runs (lines numbered from L00; the unnumbered lines are in clear on the page). [?] is a word not deciphered; a word in brackets is doubtful
(grade M); bracketed figures are nomenclator figures not decoded. u/v and i/j are folded as the period writes them.
L00 [?] j'ay esté [?] infiniment [?] mal satisfait [?] du peu d'execution [?] vous
L01 [57] [?] et ceulx de la [98] [?] ont, de tant de belles promesses [141] [?] avoient fait,
L02 [l'?] de me assister et de [122] [123] [?] pionniers [?] et [?] munitions [?] [dressera]
L03 [?ien] fait. Vous [?] le faire l'entendre [?] clairement ausdits [57] [?], et les de-
L04 -putés de [?] [98], et vous ne [manquiés] à me [?] [demander] [?] [141] [?] conno-
L05 -issent le juste mescontentement [?]. Vous [?] dois avoir l'[137] [?]. Il [?] f-
L06 -auldra [?] de prudence, affin [que] [141] [?] ne me delaissent [?] tout à cou-
L07 -p [?] et de munitions et chevaulx [?] [121] [?] et aultres commoditez [?]
(clear) aussi si Dieu nous fault la grace de prendre Chasteauvillain
L08 [?] [57] me [?] demande [?] la plaine. I-
L09 -l fauldra [?] le remettre [13] ou le [?] luy [?] dire. Vous [?] escrire [?] afin de [?]
L10 recepvoir mon commandement [?]. Ne [?] mettre [?] quelq[u'un] qui, pour y comma-
L11 -nder et conserver la plaine [?] quant à ne vous, ceulx de [88] [?] [?] pour fa-
L12 -ire [?] passer [?] les [?] leur [?] ses promesses ne me [?] induiront [et re-]
L13 [-solument] [?ien] [?] le fera [?] le [?] des [?] ... apres l'effect [?] de
L14 Chasteau[v]ilains. Me [ne fais] [es] de ramener mon armée [droites] [?] quartiers de
L15 la Faulche [?] et me preadvertir [?] jour. Vous me [?] [pour] [?] me ma-
L16 -nde [?] chemins. Vous tiendrés [?] s'il ne vous [?] fault, pour tant faire paroistre ausd-
L17 -its de [88] ma resolution [146] [?ien] le peu de moien que [?] secours. Vous me promet[tés] par de-
L18 -là pour [?] le [?] Chasteau[v]ilain, ainsy vous l'on avoit [?] promis [?]
(clear) et de la ilz pourroient tascher de remedier, ou bien juger le peu de suiect qui me doibt occasionner
L20 [asseurté?] ses promesses [?] faire [?] passer oultre [?] [103] [?]In substance: the Duke has been infinitely ill satisfied with the little execution of what was promised. Certain people (57, “ceux de la 98”) had made so many fine promises to help him with pioneers and munitions; his son is to make it plain to them and to the deputies of 98, and not fail to demand of them that they recognise le juste mescontentement. Prudence will be needed so that 141 do not abandon me all at once, for munitions, horses and other supplies. After the clear line on taking Chasteauvillain, someone must be put there pour y commander et conserver la plaine; the Duke means de ramener mon armée ès quartiers de la Faulche (La Fauche lies between Neufchâteau and Chaumont, the area the clear postscript describes) and wants to be préadverti of the day. Vous tiendrés [les] chemins. He sets out ma resolution … le peu de moien que [j’ai] de secours, what l’on avoit promis about Chasteauvillain, and whether to passer oultre.
06How much is deciphered, measured
The rule, stated in measure_reread.py: the unit is the cipher token (one letter sign, a dotted double counting once; one special sign; one null; one figure). Each word of the decipherment is graded
H secure, C probable, M doubtful or I not deciphered, and a token counts as deciphered if its word is H or C. Every word is also decrypted mechanically with the pair key, so a decipherment that departs from the key shows up as an emendation.
| Tokens | Read | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All cipher tokens (letters, specials, nulls, figures) | 1,105 | 790 | 71.5% |
| Letter signs only | 1,067 | 769 | 72.1% |
| Nomenclator figures (31, 139, 145 assigned) | 38 | 21 | 55.3% |
| Before: the 18 Sept key and tokens, same words | 1,105 | 449 | 40.6% |
Four emendations among the deciphered words: the two omitted v in Chasteau(v)ilain(s), q(u)e, and one promesses where the page has a special sign inside the word. At 71.5% the letter is below the 95% at which a text counts as complete, and the extent is recorded as partial.
| Figure | 139 | 145 | 31 | 57 | 141 | 88 | 98 | 13 | 103 | 121 | 122 | 123 | 137 | 146 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times used | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Value | vous (C) | me (C) | ma (C) | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
07What remains uncertain
315 tokens are not deciphered. Each open piece, with the reason it is open:
- Re-measured 5 October 2026. After a further pass on 5 October 2026, 844 of 1,102 tokens (76.6%) are deciphered (
measure_reread.py); 787 (71.4%) also pass a lexicon check (measure_sense.py). These count tokens in recognised words, not sentences: read as a text, the decode has a gap in almost every line, and the letter is decoded, not read (reading audit, 22 October 2026). Settled: λ, γ, U, π and m̄ are nulls, and L18’s run reads l’effect du dict; quelq, auld…is and promes were downgraded to M because they fail the lexicon check. Open: the special signs ŧ (12 tokens), ⊙ where it is not s, α, ꜗ, E, the figure-4, a Z and V (about 60 tokens with their words); ten single figures (14 tokens; 98 = ville fits but so do other nouns); the garbled runs of L12, L13 and L20 (about 35 tokens), legible at full IIIF resolution but not decodable under the pair key. - Re-read 23 October 2026. The graded re-read of 5 October was written out as running text with the clear lines (
ct/no97_partial_reading.md, with English), the standalone crossed t taken as a null (eight of eight places between complete words). One sign in five is still open, and only about one sentence in seven holds: the letter stays decoded, not read. DECODE R9449 and R9444 were opened again (one image, no attachment), and the DECODE record list and the BnF keys of 1580–1600 were searched for a key in this pair system; none was found (fr. 3623 no. 23, R9453, is the Bienvenut–Nevers key of 1590). A key or duplicate may survive in the Lorraine ducal archive (Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle), not consulted. - Special signs with no settled value: λ (11 times), m̄ (9), U (8), γ (5), E (4), π (4), ꜗ, t with a low bar, the figure-4 form, and the reversed 3 in some places: about 60 tokens, and most of the words not deciphered contain one. m̄ and λ stand between whole words and may be nulls, but that is not proved. Grade I. Open because no key survives and each sign occurs one to eleven times, too few for context to fix most of them.
- Eleven figures: 57 (3), 141 (3), 88 (2), 98 (2), 13, 103, 121, 122, 123, 137, 146; 17 tokens, grade I. 141 is a plural subject (affin que 141 ne me delaissent), 57 and 98 are persons or bodies (ceulx de la 98, les deputés de … 98). One letter, no key, no sibling in the same cipher.
- Four garbled runs, about 45 tokens, grade I: L12 after passer; L13 between des and apres; L18 between pour and Chasteauvilain; L20 around m’a d…te. At IIIF 1:1 the glyph sequence does not decode to French under the pair key even with the specials set aside; the original or a higher-resolution scan is needed to tell e from c, b from h and the dotted forms apart there.
- Doubtful readings (grade M): dressera (L02), …ien (L03, L13, L17), manquiés and demander (L04), et re-/-solument (L12–13), ne fais, es and droites (L14), pour (L15), one vous (L16), asseurté (L20). Not counted as deciphered.
- Probable readings (grade C), counted as deciphered: the figures 31, 139 and 145; pionniers, belles, ont, avoient, l’entendre, ausdits, conno-issent, mescontentement, prudence, affin, delaissent, remettre, commandement, quelq[u’un], induiront, l’effect, vilain(s), préadvertir, jour, ainsy, l’on avoit, oultre and a few short words. Every other deciphered word is H.
- Not consulted: the Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, where a duplicate or a key would most plausibly survive; the remaining key sheets of Français 3995 one by one. Both need physical access or a catalogue not online.
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.
fr. 3621 no. 97, Nancy, 18 June 1592 decoded, not read
A contemporary copy of Charles III of Lorraine's letter to his son the comte de Vaudémont, with clear French and cipher alternating on the same lines. The Duke is infinitely ill satisfied with the little execution of the promises of pioneers and munitions made to him, urges his son to press the attempt on Chasteauvillain, and writes of putting someone there to command and hold the plain and of bringing his army back to quarters. The volume is the duc de Nevers's intercept and correspondence file for 1591-92.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# BnF fr. 3621 no. 97, f. 109 (Gallica canvas f227): "Coppie d'une lettre de Monsieur de
# Lorraine a Monsieur de Vaudemont", 18 June 1592.
# By-eye transcription of the ciphered portions, read from per-line crops lc/L{00..20}{a,b}.jpg
# fetched from the IIIF region x=490+, y=980+ of the native 4046x5762 image, shear -0.031.
#
# One line per manuscript line. Tokens separated by spaces.
# Figures (nomenclator) in angle brackets. Clear text in [[ ]]. Uncertain glyph suffixed ?
#
# GLYPH KEY (transcription token -> letterform seen)
# a b c d f g i l m n o q t v y ordinary minuscule
# s = long s r = the r/hook form x = the looped x (ae-like)
# z = the 3-shaped z
# L = l with crossbar T = t with crossbar G = g with crossbar
# C = c with overbar K = c with two dots under N = n with two dots under
# J = n with descending tail S = long s with overbar O = o with mark above
# M = double m with overbar and underline
# W = lambda form Y = gamma form P = the pi form
# Q = alpha form D = o with central dot B = the beta-like b
# E = capital E U = capital E with vertical bar H = looped e
# F = capital H (crossed) V = small square with dot Z = reversed 3
# A = the large X / doubled vertical R = dagger form p = p with barred descender
# j = the figure-4 form
# . : / - punctuation as written # inked-out blot
#
L00 W D a i L t n c t g a s c a s a z t s c j W x z i y A n i c a n c i a c M q G B t G x q t G t f G c a r s G <139>
L01 <57> T t c f t g y B q t y Q <98> E c r s c q t c i s c q t p? t J t n A x b o r z t J t J <141> m i g r a t S c i a c y
L02 W q t <145> x i N a n c t o t c q t <122> <123> G b a r c s a t o n o t c F z G s a c a r s J j q N t J t x o i
L03 T a t s c i a c <139> M P y t c i a o t J t s c t s G o t J W f y i a o t z t s c i z G q a c D <57> Z t c y t J q T
L04 B g c t J q t E <98> x t C <139> s t z i s G T a t J i z t W D J t z i s q t o z i C a s i <141> J U f r s B s x R
L05 a U n t s c y t a G n C t x z t y f r s c i s c t z t c c C G <139> Q a t s q r a J i G r a o y <137> M a y T c
L06 . i G y q o i o L G y t o q t B v G q t s T T A x i K a C <141> J / Y s t <145> q t y i a n t s c U Q c r G c i x f r G
L07 B P t c q t z G s a c a r C J t Z f H t G i G y B q # <121> G r j t c i G y c o t y f r z r q a c t J M [[p mand-]]
L08 [[aussi si dieu nous fault la grace de prendre Chasteauvillain]] A Z n L <57> <145> E q t <31> s q t V Y y i B y i s t a
L09 y c i G y q o i W P y t o t z t K o f <13> r L y x t C y G L T q a o t <139> z z t Q t n f o a o t J A x i c a C q t s ..
L10 o t f T B G r a v o z r s # f r z i s q t z t c c Z M . s t B t a q i a r L y z t C o t y d G t y d d G a B r G o L f r z <31>
L11 s q t o t c G r s J t o G t o y i B y i s t a d G i s c i s t <139> x f T G y B q t . <88> E t Q G r a t a c G t o y z r L y B r G o c i
L12 a o t Y x B i n t v i t G y B G r J c r o y t n W P y t G o T J t n b o r z t N t n s T z T t D a s q G t a o r s c U T C o t r
L13 y G z t s C M a t s T y t c t o i L y t C q t n z i a C c s i c r c a t G r G y q a o i L Z i B o t J y t K t f f C U q t -
L14 f H i n c t i G a y i a s D x <145> s j c i a J t J q t o i z t s T o z r s i o z T q r r a c t J Y x d G i o c a t o J q t -
L15 y i c i G y f H t Q : t c z t B o T i q G t o c a y i s C G G a r G o <139> <145> L B r G Z O t J i O a G t o a t <145> <31> s
L16 q t v i L y t T f H t z a s D <139> C a t s q o t J U a y s T G r D G y x c i G y c B r G o c i s C c i a o t B i v r a n c o t i G y q
L17 a n q t x W <88> <31> o t n r y G c a r s M <146> T a t s y t Z b t G q t z r a t s d T c n t f r g o n <139> <145> c o r z T n B i o q
L18 t y i B r G o p i G i a s T o y t C t s H c q G q a s c r s f H i n c t i G a y i a C x i a s n L <139> y r s i G r a C U W B o r z a n x M
L19 [[et de la ilz pourroient tascher de remedier, ou bien juger le peu de suiect qui me doibt occasionner]]
L20 W n G o c t J t n B o r W z z t n i t J c i a o t U B i N t v o r G y C o T z i q a s c t x Y <103> T M . [[[dire] si munitions]]Transcription
# BnF fr. 3621 no. 97 (f. 109, Gallica canvas f227): re-read of the cipher with the key in hand, 22 Sept 2026. # # Source: the native 4046x5762 IIIF image, sheared -0.031 and cut into 21 line bands (img/, git-ignored), # each band viewed in five crops at 2.3x (img/g/L??_?.png) and four at 2x (img/seg/). # # THE SYSTEM, as the re-read shows it (supersedes the 44-free-symbol key of no97_solution.txt): # a reciprocal letter-pair substitution written in ordinary letterforms: # a<->i b<->p c<->f d<->q e<->t g<->u l<->y m<->z n<->s o<->r h<->x # (the glyph written is the pair-mate of the plain letter: glyph "t" = plain e, glyph "ſ" = plain n); # two dots under a letter double it (ṇ = ss, c̤ = ff, c̈ = tt); the looped æ is a null; # a handful of special signs (λ, Θ, ꝗ, m̄, π, γ, E, ŧ, ʒ, figure-4 ...) and 14 figures for syllables/words. # The earlier transcription's "c" merged two glyphs, the secretary e (-> t) and c (-> f); its "B" # merged b (-> p) and the looped secretary h (-> x). Those two merges are most of the old key's errors. # # FORMAT: one line per manuscript line; each word is tokens=plain/GRADE # tokens: the old transcription's token names (no97_eye.txt), joined by '.', corrected against the image; # tok:val overrides the key value for that one token (used for the c/e split, B = b or h, C = t or n, # and marked emendations); tok: (empty value) = null. # plain: the reading (u/v and i/j folded; apostrophes dropped); '?' = not read. # GRADE: H secure, C probable, M doubtful, I unread. # <n>=value/GRADE for nomenclator figures. # Measured by ../measure_reread.py; sense check by ../measure_sense.py. # # 5 OCT 2026 PASS (old file kept as no97_reread_22sept.txt): full-resolution IIIF f227 (4046x5762), sheared # -0.031, lines re-cropped and re-read at 2x (img/r/, git-ignored). Changes: # * 141 = "qu'il", pooled over its three occurrences: 141+m(z) "qu'ilz avoient fait" (L01), 141+J(s) # "qu'ils connoissent" (L04), "affin qu'ils ne me delaissent" (L06). # * lambda (W), gamma (Y), U, pi (P) and m-bar (M) are nulls: every occurrence but one or two stands between # complete words and the sentence runs on without it (like the looped ae). Whole-word occurrences now # tok:=/C. M inside "M.a.t.s" (L13) and U inside L05 "issent" keep their readings. # * image corrections: L01 last glyph is gamma, not y; L04 "gamma theta y t z i s q t o" = "[?] le mander" # (not "demander"); L18 "y t c-dot t f c / q g / q a f c" = "l'effect du dict" Chasteau(v)ilain; # L12 "induiront" has no t; L12 end "t c o t n r" + L13 "lument" = "et resolument"; L02 "pioniers" has # no c. L00: W:=/C D=?/I a.i.L:y=iay/H t.n.c:t.t=este/H g=?/I a.s.c.a.s.a.z.t.s.c:t=infiniment/H j=?/I W:.x:=/C z.i.y=mal/H A=/C n.i.c:t.a.n.c.i.a.c:t=satisfait/H M:=/C q.G=du/H B.t.G=peu/H x=/H q.t.B:x.t.f.G.c:t.a.r.s=dexecution/H G=?/I <139>=vous/C L01: <57>=?/I T=?/I t.c:t=et/H f.t.g.y.B:x=ceulx/H q.t=de/H y.Q=la/H <98>=?/I E.c=?/I r.s.c:t=ont/C q.t=de/H c:t.i.s.c:t=tant/H q.t=de/H p.t.J:ll.t.n=belles/C A.x=/C b.o.r.z.t.J:ss.t.J=promesses/H <141>=quil/C m=z/C i.g.r.a.t.S=avoient/C c.i.a.c:t=fait/H Y:=/C L02: W:=/C q.t=de/H <145>=me/C x=/H i.N.a.n.c:t.t.o=assister/H t.c:t=et/H q.t=de/H <122>=?/I <123>=?/I G=?/I b.a.r.s.a.t.o.n=pioniers/H o=?/I t.c:t=et/H F=?/I z.G.s.a.c:t.a.r.s.J=munitions/H j=?/I q.N:r.t.J:ss.t.x.o.i=dressera/M L03: T.a.t.s=?ien/M c.i.a.c:t=fait/H <139>=vous/C M:.P:=/C y.t=le/H c.i.a.o.t=faire/H J:l.t.s.c:t.t.s.G:d.o.t=lentendre/C J=?/I W:=/C f.y.i.a.o.t.z.t.s.c:t=clairement/H i.z:u.G:.q.a.c:t.D=audits/C <57>=?/I Z=?/I t.c:t=et/H y.t.J=les/H q.T=de/H L04: B.g.c:t.t.J=putes/H q.t=de/H E=?/I <98>=?/I x=/H t.C=et/H <139>=vous/C s.t=ne/H z.i.s.G:q.T:u.a.t.J=manquies/M i.z.t=ame/H Y:=/C D=?/I y.t=le/H z.i.s.q.t.o=mander/H z.i.C.a.s.i=?/I <141>=quil/C J=s/C U:=/C f.r.s.B:.s.x.R=conno/C L05: a.U:s.n.t.s.c:t=issent/C y.t=le/H a.G.n.C.t=iuste/H x=/H z.t.y:s.f.r.s.c:t.i.s.c:t.t.z.t.c:n.C=mescontantement/C G=?/I <139>=vous/C Q.a.t.s=?/I q.r.a.J=dois/C i.G.r.a.o=avoir/H y=l/C <137>=?/I M:=/C a.y=il/H T=?/I c=f/H L06: i.G.y.q.o.i=auldra/H o.L.G.y.t.o=?/I q.t=de/H B.v.G.q.t.s.T:c.T=prudence/C A.x=/C i.K.a.C:n=affin/C <141>=quil/C J=s/C Y:=/C s.t=ne/H <145>=me/C q.t.y.i.a.n.t.s.c:t=delaisent/C U:=/C Q=?/I c:t.r.G.c:t=tout/H i=a/H x=/H f.r.G=cou/H L07: B=p/H P:=/C t.c:t=et/H q.t=de/H z.G.s.a.c:t.a.r.C:n.J=munitions/H t.Z:t=et/C f.H.t.G.a:a.G.y.B:x=chevaulx/H q=?/I <121>=?/I G=?/I r=?/I j=?/I t.c:t=et/H i.G.y.c:t.o.t=aultre/H f.r.z.r.q.a.c:t.t.J=comodites/H M:=/C L08: A.Z.n.L=?/I <57>=?/I <145>=me/C E=?/I q.t=de/H <31>=ma/C s.q.t=nde/H V=?/I Y:=/C y.i=la/H B.y.i.s.t=plane/H a=i/C L09: y=l/C c.i.G.y.q.o.i=fauldra/H W:.P:=/C y.t=le/H o.t.z.t.K:tt.o.f:e=remettre/C <13>=?/I r.L=ou/C y.x.t=le/C C=?/I y.G.L:y=luy/C T=?/I q.a.o.t=dire/H <139>=vous/C z.z.t.Q=?/I t.n.f.o.a.o.t=escrire/H J.A.x=?/I i.c.a.C:n=afin/C q.t=de/H s=?/I L10: o.t.f.T.B.G.r.a.v=recepuoir/H z.r.s=mon/H f.r.z.i.s.q.t.z.t.c:n.c:t=comandement/C Z=?/I M:=/C s.t=ne/H B.t.a.q.i.a.r.L.y=?/I z.t.C:tt.o.t=mettre/C y=?/I d.G.t.y.d=quelq/M d.G.a=qui/C B.r.G.o=pour/H L:y=y/C f.r.z=com/H <31>=ma/C L11: s.q.t.o=nder/H t.c:t=et/H G:c.r.s.J.t.o.G.t.o=conserver/H y.i=la/H B.y.i.s.t=plane/H a=?/I d.G.i.s.c:t=quant/C i=a/C s.t=ne/C <139>=vous/C x=/H f.T.G.y.B:x=ceulx/H q.t=de/H <88>=?/I E.t=?/I Q.G.r.a.t.a.c=?/I G.t.o=?/I y.z.r.L.y=?/I B.r.G.o=pour/H c.i=fa/H L12: a.o.t=ire/H Y:.x:=/C B.i.n.t.v=paser/C i.t.G.y.B.G.r.J.c.r.o=?/I y.t.n=les/C W:.P:=/C y.t.G.o=leur/H T=?/I J.t.n=ses/H b.o.r.z.t.N.t.n=promesses/H s.T=ne/C z.T=me/C t.D=?/I a.s.q.G.a.o.r.s.c:t=induiront/C U:=/C t.c:t=et/C o.t.n.r=reso/C L13: y.G.z.t.s.C=lument/C M.a.t.s=?ien/M T=?/I y.t=le/H c.t.o.i=fera/H L=?/I y.t=le/C C=?/I q.t.n=des/H z.i.a.C=?/I c.s.i.c.r.c.a.t.G.r.G=?/I y.q.a.o.i=?/I L.Z=?/I i.B.o.t.J=apres/H y.t.K.t.f.f:.C=leffect/C U:=/C q.t=de/H L14: f.H.i.n.c:t.t.i.G=chasteau/H a.y.i.a.s.D=vilains/C x=/H <145>=me/C s.j.c.i.a.J=nefais/M t.J=es/M q.t=de/H o.i.z.t.s.T.o=ramener/H z.r.s=mon/H i.o.z.T=arme/H q.r:r.r.a.c:t.t.J=droites/M Y:.x:=/C d.G.i.o.c:t.a.t.o.J=quartiers/H q.t=de/H L15: y.i=la/H c.i.G.y.f.H.t=faulche/H Q=?/I t.c:t=et/H z.t=me/H B.o.T.i.q.G.t.o.c:t.a=preadverti/C y=?/I a.s.C=?/I G.G=?/I a.r.G.o=iour/C <139>=vous/C <145>=me/C L=?/I B.r.G.Z=pou/M O.t.J=?/I i.O.a.G.t.o.a.t=?/I <145>=me/C <31>=ma/C s=n/H L16: q.t=de/H v.i.L.y.t=?/I T=?/I f.H.t.z.a.s.D=chemins/H <139>=vous/C C.a.t.s.q.o.t.J=tiendres/H U:=/C a.y=il/C s.T=ne/C G.r.D.G=vous/M y.x=?/I c.i.G.y.c:t=fault/H B.r.G.o=pour/H c:t.i.s.C=tant/H c.i.a.o.t=faire/H B.i.v.r.a.n.c:t.o.t=paroistre/H i.G.y.q=auld/M L17: a.n=is/M q.t=de/H x=/H W:=/C <88>=?/I <31>=ma/C o.t.n.r.y.G.c:t.a.r.s=resolution/H M:=/C <146>=?/I T.a.t.s=?ien/M y.t=le/H Z=/C b.t.G=peu/H q.t=de/H z.r.a.t.s=moien/H d.T=que/C c=?/I n.t.f.r.g.o.n=secours/H <139>=vous/C <145>=me/C c:p.o.r.z.T.n=promes/M B.i.o=par/H q=d/H L18: t.y.i=ela/H B.r.G.o=pour/H p.i.G.i.a.s.T.o=?/I y.t.C:ff.t.f.c:t=leffect/C q.G=du/C q.a.f.c:t=dict/C T=?/I f.H.i.n.c:t.t.i.G=chasteau/H a.y.i.a.C:n=vilain/C x=/H i.a.s.n.L:y=ainsy/C <139>=vous/C y.r.s=lon/C i.G.r.a.C=avoit/C U:.W:=/C B.o.r.z.a.n=promis/H x=/H M:=/C L20: W.n.G.o.c:t.t=?surte/M J.t.n=ses/H B.o.r.W:.z.z.t.n=promesses/C i.t.J=?/I c.i.a.o.t=faire/H U:=/C B.i.N.t.v=passer/C o:.r.G.y.C.o.T=oultre/C z.i.q.a.s.c:t.t=?/I x=/H Y:=/C <103>=?/I T=?/I M:=/C
Decryption
# BnF fr. 3621 no. 97 (f. 109, Gallica canvas f227): re-read of the cipher with the key in hand, 22 Sept 2026. # # Source: the native 4046x5762 IIIF image, sheared -0.031 and cut into 21 line bands (img/, git-ignored), # each band viewed in five crops at 2.3x (img/g/L??_?.png) and four at 2x (img/seg/). # # THE SYSTEM, as the re-read shows it (supersedes the 44-free-symbol key of no97_solution.txt): # a reciprocal letter-pair substitution written in ordinary letterforms: # a<->i b<->p c<->f d<->q e<->t g<->u l<->y m<->z n<->s o<->r h<->x # (the glyph written is the pair-mate of the plain letter: glyph "t" = plain e, glyph "ſ" = plain n); # two dots under a letter double it (ṇ = ss, c̤ = ff, c̈ = tt); the looped æ is a null; # a handful of special signs (λ, Θ, ꝗ, m̄, π, γ, E, ŧ, ʒ, figure-4 ...) and 14 figures for syllables/words. # The earlier transcription's "c" merged two glyphs, the secretary e (-> t) and c (-> f); its "B" # merged b (-> p) and the looped secretary h (-> x). Those two merges are most of the old key's errors. # # FORMAT: one line per manuscript line; each word is tokens=plain/GRADE # tokens: the old transcription's token names (no97_eye.txt), joined by '.', corrected against the image; # tok:val overrides the key value for that one token (used for the c/e split, B = b or h, C = t or n, # and marked emendations); tok: (empty value) = null. # plain: the reading (u/v and i/j folded; apostrophes dropped); '?' = not read. # GRADE: H secure, C probable, M doubtful, I unread. # <n>=value/GRADE for nomenclator figures. # Measured by ../measure_reread.py; sense check by ../measure_sense.py. # # 5 OCT 2026 PASS (old file kept as no97_reread_22sept.txt): full-resolution IIIF f227 (4046x5762), sheared # -0.031, lines re-cropped and re-read at 2x (img/r/, git-ignored). Changes: # * 141 = "qu'il", pooled over its three occurrences: 141+m(z) "qu'ilz avoient fait" (L01), 141+J(s) # "qu'ils connoissent" (L04), "affin qu'ils ne me delaissent" (L06). # * lambda (W), gamma (Y), U, pi (P) and m-bar (M) are nulls: every occurrence but one or two stands between # complete words and the sentence runs on without it (like the looped ae). Whole-word occurrences now # tok:=/C. M inside "M.a.t.s" (L13) and U inside L05 "issent" keep their readings. # * image corrections: L01 last glyph is gamma, not y; L04 "gamma theta y t z i s q t o" = "[?] le mander" # (not "demander"); L18 "y t c-dot t f c / q g / q a f c" = "l'effect du dict" Chasteau(v)ilain; # L12 "induiront" has no t; L12 end "t c o t n r" + L13 "lument" = "et resolument"; L02 "pioniers" has # no c. L00: W:=/C D=?/I a.i.L:y=iay/H t.n.c:t.t=este/H g=?/I a.s.c.a.s.a.z.t.s.c:t=infiniment/H j=?/I W:.x:=/C z.i.y=mal/H A=/C n.i.c:t.a.n.c.i.a.c:t=satisfait/H M:=/C q.G=du/H B.t.G=peu/H x=/H q.t.B:x.t.f.G.c:t.a.r.s=dexecution/H G=?/I <139>=vous/C L01: <57>=?/I T=?/I t.c:t=et/H f.t.g.y.B:x=ceulx/H q.t=de/H y.Q=la/H <98>=?/I E.c=?/I r.s.c:t=ont/C q.t=de/H c:t.i.s.c:t=tant/H q.t=de/H p.t.J:ll.t.n=belles/C A.x=/C b.o.r.z.t.J:ss.t.J=promesses/H <141>=quil/C m=z/C i.g.r.a.t.S=avoient/C c.i.a.c:t=fait/H Y:=/C L02: W:=/C q.t=de/H <145>=me/C x=/H i.N.a.n.c:t.t.o=assister/H t.c:t=et/H q.t=de/H <122>=?/I <123>=?/I G=?/I b.a.r.s.a.t.o.n=pioniers/H o=?/I t.c:t=et/H F=?/I z.G.s.a.c:t.a.r.s.J=munitions/H j=?/I q.N:r.t.J:ss.t.x.o.i=dressera/M L03: T.a.t.s=?ien/M c.i.a.c:t=fait/H <139>=vous/C M:.P:=/C y.t=le/H c.i.a.o.t=faire/H J:l.t.s.c:t.t.s.G:d.o.t=lentendre/C J=?/I W:=/C f.y.i.a.o.t.z.t.s.c:t=clairement/H i.z:u.G:.q.a.c:t.D=audits/C <57>=?/I Z=?/I t.c:t=et/H y.t.J=les/H q.T=de/H L04: B.g.c:t.t.J=putes/H q.t=de/H E=?/I <98>=?/I x=/H t.C=et/H <139>=vous/C s.t=ne/H z.i.s.G:q.T:u.a.t.J=manquies/M i.z.t=ame/H Y:=/C D=?/I y.t=le/H z.i.s.q.t.o=mander/H z.i.C.a.s.i=?/I <141>=quil/C J=s/C U:=/C f.r.s.B:.s.x.R=conno/C L05: a.U:s.n.t.s.c:t=issent/C y.t=le/H a.G.n.C.t=iuste/H x=/H z.t.y:s.f.r.s.c:t.i.s.c:t.t.z.t.c:n.C=mescontantement/C G=?/I <139>=vous/C Q.a.t.s=?/I q.r.a.J=dois/C i.G.r.a.o=avoir/H y=l/C <137>=?/I M:=/C a.y=il/H T=?/I c=f/H L06: i.G.y.q.o.i=auldra/H o.L.G.y.t.o=?/I q.t=de/H B.v.G.q.t.s.T:c.T=prudence/C A.x=/C i.K.a.C:n=affin/C <141>=quil/C J=s/C Y:=/C s.t=ne/H <145>=me/C q.t.y.i.a.n.t.s.c:t=delaisent/C U:=/C Q=?/I c:t.r.G.c:t=tout/H i=a/H x=/H f.r.G=cou/H L07: B=p/H P:=/C t.c:t=et/H q.t=de/H z.G.s.a.c:t.a.r.C:n.J=munitions/H t.Z:t=et/C f.H.t.G.a:a.G.y.B:x=chevaulx/H q=?/I <121>=?/I G=?/I r=?/I j=?/I t.c:t=et/H i.G.y.c:t.o.t=aultre/H f.r.z.r.q.a.c:t.t.J=comodites/H M:=/C L08: A.Z.n.L=?/I <57>=?/I <145>=me/C E=?/I q.t=de/H <31>=ma/C s.q.t=nde/H V=?/I Y:=/C y.i=la/H B.y.i.s.t=plane/H a=i/C L09: y=l/C c.i.G.y.q.o.i=fauldra/H W:.P:=/C y.t=le/H o.t.z.t.K:tt.o.f:e=remettre/C <13>=?/I r.L=ou/C y.x.t=le/C C=?/I y.G.L:y=luy/C T=?/I q.a.o.t=dire/H <139>=vous/C z.z.t.Q=?/I t.n.f.o.a.o.t=escrire/H J.A.x=?/I i.c.a.C:n=afin/C q.t=de/H s=?/I L10: o.t.f.T.B.G.r.a.v=recepuoir/H z.r.s=mon/H f.r.z.i.s.q.t.z.t.c:n.c:t=comandement/C Z=?/I M:=/C s.t=ne/H B.t.a.q.i.a.r.L.y=?/I z.t.C:tt.o.t=mettre/C y=?/I d.G.t.y.d=quelq/M d.G.a=qui/C B.r.G.o=pour/H L:y=y/C f.r.z=com/H <31>=ma/C L11: s.q.t.o=nder/H t.c:t=et/H G:c.r.s.J.t.o.G.t.o=conserver/H y.i=la/H B.y.i.s.t=plane/H a=?/I d.G.i.s.c:t=quant/C i=a/C s.t=ne/C <139>=vous/C x=/H f.T.G.y.B:x=ceulx/H q.t=de/H <88>=?/I E.t=?/I Q.G.r.a.t.a.c=?/I G.t.o=?/I y.z.r.L.y=?/I B.r.G.o=pour/H c.i=fa/H L12: a.o.t=ire/H Y:.x:=/C B.i.n.t.v=paser/C i.t.G.y.B.G.r.J.c.r.o=?/I y.t.n=les/C W:.P:=/C y.t.G.o=leur/H T=?/I J.t.n=ses/H b.o.r.z.t.N.t.n=promesses/H s.T=ne/C z.T=me/C t.D=?/I a.s.q.G.a.o.r.s.c:t=induiront/C U:=/C t.c:t=et/C o.t.n.r=reso/C L13: y.G.z.t.s.C=lument/C M.a.t.s=?ien/M T=?/I y.t=le/H c.t.o.i=fera/H L=?/I y.t=le/C C=?/I q.t.n=des/H z.i.a.C=?/I c.s.i.c.r.c.a.t.G.r.G=?/I y.q.a.o.i=?/I L.Z=?/I i.B.o.t.J=apres/H y.t.K.t.f.f:.C=leffect/C U:=/C q.t=de/H L14: f.H.i.n.c:t.t.i.G=chasteau/H a.y.i.a.s.D=vilains/C x=/H <145>=me/C s.j.c.i.a.J=nefais/M t.J=es/M q.t=de/H o.i.z.t.s.T.o=ramener/H z.r.s=mon/H i.o.z.T=arme/H q.r:r.r.a.c:t.t.J=droites/M Y:.x:=/C d.G.i.o.c:t.a.t.o.J=quartiers/H q.t=de/H L15: y.i=la/H c.i.G.y.f.H.t=faulche/H Q=?/I t.c:t=et/H z.t=me/H B.o.T.i.q.G.t.o.c:t.a=preadverti/C y=?/I a.s.C=?/I G.G=?/I a.r.G.o=iour/C <139>=vous/C <145>=me/C L=?/I B.r.G.Z=pou/M O.t.J=?/I i.O.a.G.t.o.a.t=?/I <145>=me/C <31>=ma/C s=n/H L16: q.t=de/H v.i.L.y.t=?/I T=?/I f.H.t.z.a.s.D=chemins/H <139>=vous/C C.a.t.s.q.o.t.J=tiendres/H U:=/C a.y=il/C s.T=ne/C G.r.D.G=vous/M y.x=?/I c.i.G.y.c:t=fault/H B.r.G.o=pour/H c:t.i.s.C=tant/H c.i.a.o.t=faire/H B.i.v.r.a.n.c:t.o.t=paroistre/H i.G.y.q=auld/M L17: a.n=is/M q.t=de/H x=/H W:=/C <88>=?/I <31>=ma/C o.t.n.r.y.G.c:t.a.r.s=resolution/H M:=/C <146>=?/I T.a.t.s=?ien/M y.t=le/H Z=/C b.t.G=peu/H q.t=de/H z.r.a.t.s=moien/H d.T=que/C c=?/I n.t.f.r.g.o.n=secours/H <139>=vous/C <145>=me/C c:p.o.r.z.T.n=promes/M B.i.o=par/H q=d/H L18: t.y.i=ela/H B.r.G.o=pour/H p.i.G.i.a.s.T.o=?/I y.t.C:ff.t.f.c:t=leffect/C q.G=du/C q.a.f.c:t=dict/C T=?/I f.H.i.n.c:t.t.i.G=chasteau/H a.y.i.a.C:n=vilain/C x=/H i.a.s.n.L:y=ainsy/C <139>=vous/C y.r.s=lon/C i.G.r.a.C=avoit/C U:.W:=/C B.o.r.z.a.n=promis/H x=/H M:=/C L20: W.n.G.o.c:t.t=?surte/M J.t.n=ses/H B.o.r.W:.z.z.t.n=promesses/C i.t.J=?/I c.i.a.o.t=faire/H U:=/C B.i.N.t.v=passer/C o:.r.G.y.C.o.T=oultre/C z.i.q.a.s.c:t.t=?/I x=/H Y:=/C <103>=?/I T=?/I M:=/C
Decryption
# BnF fr. 3621 no. 97: the re-read (22 Sept 2026)
Charles III of Lorraine to the comte de Vaudémont, Nancy, 18 June 1592 (fol. 109, Gallica canvas f227,
DECODE R9449). This replaces section 5 of `no97_reading.md` as the reading of record. Transcription and
word grades: `no97_reread.txt`; measurement: `../measure_reread.py`.
## 1. What the re-read changed: the system is a reciprocal pair cipher
Going back to the page with the 18 Sept decode beside it showed that the key was not 44 free symbols
at all. Laid out as pairs, the 18 Sept values already said so: glyph *a* = i and glyph *i* = a, *o* = r and
*r* = o, *q* = d and *d* = q, *n* = s and *s* = n. Every letter of the hand stands for its partner in eleven
fixed pairs:
a<->i b<->p c<->f d<->q e<->t g<->u l<->y m<->z n<->s o<->r h<->x
(22 letters, the whole alphabet of the period). Plus:
* **two dots under a letter double it**: ṇ = ss (*promesses*, *assister*, *passer*), c̤ = ff (*affin*),
c̈ = tt (*remettre*);
* the looped æ is a **null**, used as a word divider (*peu · d'execution*, *belles · promesses*);
* a small set of **special signs** (λ, Θ, ꝗ, m̄, π, γ, capital E, t with a low bar, reversed 3, a figure-4
form); Θ = s is secure (*chemins*, *audits*); the rest are open;
* **figures for syllables and words**, at least some syllabic: **31 = "ma"** (*com-31-nder*, *de-31-nde*,
*me 31-nde*, *31 resolution*), **139 = "vous"** (*chemins, 139 tiendres*; *et 139 ne manquies*),
**145 = "me"** (*affin que 141 ne 145 delaisent*).
The two transcription merges that did most of the damage in the 18 Sept decode:
* the transcription's **c** was two glyphs, the secretary **e** (→ t) and **c** (→ f). The old key had
to send it to t, so every f in the letter was lost (*intiniment*, *satistait*); five plain letters
(b f g x z) had no cipher value at all, as the page write-up noticed;
* its **B** was two glyphs, the beta-like **b** (→ p) and the looped secretary **h** (→ x): *du peu* but
*ceulx* and *d'execution*.
Correcting those two, and reading the dotted and doubled forms as doublings, turns most of the 18 Sept
"connective tissue" into plain French with no further guessing.
## 2. The reading
Graded words in `no97_reread.txt`; here rendered as running text. `[?]` = not read; `[word]` = doubtful.
Line numbers follow the manuscript (L19 is clear).
> L00 [?] j'ay esté [?] infiniment [?] mal satisfait [?] du peu d'execution [?] vous
> L01 [57] [?] et ceulx de la [98] [?] ont, de tant de belles promesses [141] [?] avoient fait,
> L02 [l'?] de me assister et de [122] [123] [?] pionniers [?] et [?] munitions [?] [dressera]
> L03 [?ien] fait. Vous [?] le faire l'entendre [?] clairement ausdits [57] [?], et les de-
> L04 -putés de [?] [98], et vous ne [manquiés] à me [?] [demander] [?] [141] [?] conno-
> L05 -issent le juste mescontentement [?]. Vous [?] dois avoir l'[137] [?]. Il [?] f-
> L06 -auldra [?] de prudence, affin [que] [141] [?] ne me delaissent [?] tout à cou-
> L07 -p [?] et de munitions et chevaulx [?] [121] [?] et aultres commoditez [?]
> (clear:) aussi si Dieu nous fault la grace de prendre Chasteauvillain
> L08 [?] [57] me [?] demande [?] la plaine. I-
> L09 -l fauldra [?] le remettre [13] ou le [?] luy [?] dire. Vous [?] escrire [?] afin de [?]
> L10 recepvoir mon commandement [?]. Ne [?] mettre [?] quelq[u'un] qui, pour y comma-
> L11 -nder et conserver la plaine [?] quant à ne vous, ceulx de [88] [?] [?] pour fa-
> L12 -ire [?] passer [?] les [?] leur [?] ses promesses ne me [?] induiront [et re-]
> L13 [-solument] [?ien] [?] le fera [?] le [?] des [?] ... apres l'effect [?] de
> L14 Chasteau[v]ilains. Me [ne fais] [es] de ramener mon armée [droites] [?] quartiers de
> L15 la Faulche [?] et me preadvertir [?] jour. Vous me [?] [pour] [?] me ma-
> L16 -nde [?] chemins. Vous tiendrés [?] s'il ne vous [?] fault, pour tant faire paroistre ausd-
> L17 -its de [88] ma resolution [146] [?ien] le peu de moien que [?] secours. Vous me promet[tés] par de-
> L18 -là pour [?] le [?] Chasteau[v]ilain, ainsy vous l'on avoit [?] promis [?]
> (clear:) et de la ilz pourroient tascher de remedier, ou bien juger le peu de suiect qui me doibt occasionner
> L20 [asseurté?] ses promesses [?] faire [?] passer oultre [?] [103] [?]
The substance, where it reads: the Duke has been *infinitely ill satisfied with the little execution*
of what was promised; certain people (57, "ceux de la 98") had *so many fine promises* made to help him
with (122, 123), pioneers and munitions; he wants it made plain to them and to the deputies of 98, and
asks his son not to fail to demand of them … that they recognise *le juste mescontentement*; *il fauldra
[user] de prudence, affin que 141 ne me delaissent tout à coup*, both for munitions, horses and other
supplies. After the clear line on taking Chasteauvillain: someone must be put there *pour y commander et
conserver la plaine*; he means *de ramener mon armée … ès quartiers de la Faulche*, wants to be
*préadverti* of the day; *vous tiendrés [les] chemins*; he sets out *ma resolution … le peu de moien que
[j'ai] de secours*, what *l'on avoit promis* about Chasteauvillain, and whether to *passer oultre*.
## 3. Measured
`python measure_reread.py` (rule in the script's docstring: a cipher token is read if the word it
belongs to is graded H or C):
| | tokens | read | share |
|---|---|---|---|
| all cipher tokens (letter signs, specials, nulls, figures) | 1,105 | 790 | **0.715** |
| letter signs only | 1,067 | 769 | 0.721 |
| nomenclator figures (139, 145, 31 assigned) | 38 | 21 | 0.553 |
| **before**: same words, 18 Sept key and tokens decode them identically | 1,105 | 449 | 0.406 |
Four emendations among the read words (the key decode differs from the reading): two omitted *v* in
*Chasteau(v)ilain(s)*, *q(u)e*, and *promesses* where the page has a special sign in the word.
The "before" figure is lower than the 18 Sept estimate of ~70% coherent because it demands that the old
decode give the word exactly, not that a reader recognise it through *intiniment* and *satistait*.
## 4. What is not read (315 tokens)
* **Special signs** with no settled value: λ (11), m̄ (9), U (8), E (4), π (4), γ (5), ꝗ, t with a low
bar, the figure-4 form, reversed 3 in some places. Most unread words contain one. Several may be
nulls (m̄ and λ stand between whole words), but that is not proved.
* **Eleven figures** (57, 98, 141, 122, 123, 13, 137, 88, 146, 121, 103; 17 tokens).
* **Four runs** where the glyph sequence does not decode to French under the pair key even with the
specials set aside: L12 *i t G y B G r J c r o* (after *passer*), L13 middle (*des … apres*), L18
*pour [?] le [?] Chasteauvilain*, L20 *m'a d...te*. These need a second look at higher magnification
than the IIIF 1:1 crops, or they hide more special signs.Decryption
# BnF fr. 3621: the clear text around the cipher Transcribed by eye from the Gallica images (single pages, 4266 × 5883; canvas = 2 × folio + 9). `[chiffre]` marks a ciphered stretch; `⟨?⟩` an uncertain reading. Spelling as written. ## No. 97 (fol. 109, canvas 227) — Charles III of Lorraine to the comte de Vaudémont, Nancy, 18 June 1592 Headed, in the copyist's hand: **"Coppie d'une lettre de Monsieur de Lorraine à Monsieur de Vaudemont"**, with the older inventory number 125 at the head. > "Mon filz, J'ay ce jourd'huy au soir receu celles que vous m'aves escriptes du ⟨?⟩ > **[about twenty lines in cipher]** > … et de la, s'ilz pourront tascher de remedier, ou bien juger le peu d'effect qui peut ⟨?⟩ ou la somme > **[chiffre]** … et livrer bonne manquere ⟨?⟩. Je prie ⟨Dieu⟩ meilleurs moyens que vous envoyez brief des > biens expressement avec habitans de Chaulmont aussi bien. Et les fera entendre les promesses qu'ilz vous > ont faictes, le manquement d'ses munitions, et ⟨?⟩ qu'ilz veuillent y pourvoir, de sorte que faulte de la > ⟨?⟩ … Je ⟨?⟩ qu'ilz y pourvoiront. Mandez moy soudain de les nouvelles, de quoy attendant … priant Dieu > qu'il vous donne, Mon filz, ⟨ce que vous desirez⟩. Escript à Nancy, ce XVIII[me] jour de Juin 1592. > **Vostre bien bon amy, Charles**" Postscript, in clear: > "Depuis ceste escripte j'ay advisé de vous envoyer ⟨?⟩ et avez encor quelque manquement de la ⟨?⟩ vous a > promis vous la munition au S[ieu]r de Buzonville et autre de Chaulmont. Si vous faictes ⟨?⟩ à la dozime > apporte quelque advancement … soit de munitions promises et aultres choses, remettant le tout à vous. > **Mais pour cela, si vous pouvez venir à bout de Chasteauvillain, ne perdez pour ceste occasion les > ⟨jours⟩ en temps** … Puis si vous prenez Chasteauvillain, donnez ordre que vous en faictes quelque chose > pour secourir voz soldatz." So the ciphered middle is flanked by clear passages on the same business: munitions promised and not delivered, the inhabitants of Chaumont, the sieur de Buzonville, and above all the attempt on **Chasteauvillain** — the Champagne place whose capture the duke is urging on his son. ## No. 22 (fol. 31, canvas 71) — the January intercepts, deciphered by the other side Headed: **"Dechiffrement des lettres de Monsieur de Vaudemont à Monsieur de Lorraine [son] pere, interceptées et apportées à Monsieur de Dinteville, le XX[e] Janvier 1592"** (older number 138). It is a fair copy of the *plaintext* of three letters, with no cipher on the sheet: * **"Premiere lettre datée de La Fere du ⟨XVII⟩ Decembre 1591"** * **"Seconde lettre datée de Marcheonne ⟨?⟩ du ⟨VI⟩e Janvier 1592"** * **"Troisieme lettre datée du ⟨May…onne⟩ du ⟨XI⟩e Janvier 1592"** The substance is the relief of Rouen and the League's dealings with Parma's Spaniards, reported by the son to his father: > "… avec ⟨?⟩ canons, et douze cens picques de partie des Bourguignons … deux heures de marche … et > prenons le chemin droict à Rouen. Monsieur le duc du Mayne, se trouvant les Espagnols si resolus à une > bataille, s'en a approché ⟨du⟩ Roy … Mais lors qu'il s'en veut asseurer, le duc de Parme juge qu'il > ⟨fauldra⟩ … de ceste cavallerie, si difficile aux Espagnols …" and, further down the same sheet, the political matter: the cardinal légat and the Pope's charge, the Spanish pretensions, Villeroy at Pontoise, the house of Bourbon, the resolution of the duc de Mayenne, the sieur de Bellievre, and "la paix" — the peace nobody could any longer support the length of the war without. That is the double game the catalogue points at: the Duke of Lorraine's son inside the League army, writing home about Parma and about feelers toward Henri IV, and the King's side reading it.
Decryption
# BnF fr. 3621 no. 97: Charles III of Lorraine to the comte de Vaudémont, Nancy, 18 June 1592 — partial reading (b29) Rests on: the 5 Oct 2026 graded re-read `ct/no97_reread.txt` (pair key a/i b/p c/f d/q e/t g/u l/y m/z n/s o/r h/x, doubling dots, nulls æ λ γ U π m̄; 31 = ma, 139 = vous, 141 = qu'il, 145 = me), rendered as running text for the first time on 23 Oct 2026, with one further null adopted (the standalone crossed t, see the reread log), and the clear text (`ct/clear_texts.md`: the opening line, the two clear lines inside the cipher). The 22 Oct reading audit judged the 22 Sept text (`ct/no97_reading2.md` §2), which still had the 5 Oct nulls as `[?]`. i/j and u/v as the transcription folds them, rendered by position; apostrophes added; spelling otherwise as decoded. `[…]` = an unread sign, `[57]` = an unidentified figure, `[?word]` = a doubtful word (graded M), `[?…ien]` = a word with the special sign before *-ien*. No word supplied. **Not read**: one sign in five is still open, and most sentences have two or more holes. ## Reading Mon filz, j'ay ce jourd'huy au soir receu celles que vous m'aves escriptes du […]. […] J'ay esté […] infiniment […] mal satisfait du peu d'execution […] vous [57], et ceulx de la [98] […] ont, de tant de belles promesses qu'ilz avoient fait de me assister et de [122] [123] […] pioniers […] et […] munitions […] [?dressera] [?…ien] fait. Vous le faire l'entendre […] clairement ausdits [57] […] et les deputés de […] [98], et vous ne [?manquiés] à me […] le mander […] qu'ils connoissent le juste mescontantement […] vous […] dois avoir l'[137]. Il fauldra […] de prudence, affin qu'ils ne me delaisent […] tout à coup, et de munitions et chevaulx […] [121] […] […] […] et aultre comodités, aussi si Dieu nous fault la grace de prendre Chasteauvillain. […] [57] me […] demande […] la plaine. Il fauldra le remettre [13] ou le […] luy dire. Vous […] escrire […] afin de […] recepvoir mon comandement […]. Ne […] mettre […] [?quelq] qui pour y commander et conserver la plaine […] quant à ne vous, ceulx de [88] […] […] […] […] pour faire passer […] les leur ses promesses ne me […] induiront, et resolument [?…ien] le fera […] le […] des […] […] […] […] apres l'effect de Chasteau[v]ilains. Me [?ne fais] [?es] de ramener mon armée [?droites] quartiers de la Faulche […] et me preadverti […] […] […] jour. Vous me […] [?pou] […] […] me mande […] chemins. Vous tiendrés; il ne [?vous] […] fault pour tant faire paroistre [?ausdits] de [88] ma resolution [146] [?…ien] le peu de moien que […] secours. Vous me [?promes] par delà pour […] l'effect du dict Chasteau[v]ilain, ainsy vous l'on avoit promis, et de la ilz pourroient tascher de remedier, ou bien juger le peu de suiect qui me doibt occasionner [?seurté] ses promesses […] faire passer oultre […] [103].
Key: key.md
08Sources
- BnF Français 3621, no. 97, f. 109: Gallica btv1b52524472n, view 227; no. 22, f. 31, view 71.
- DECODE record 9449 (this letter, Non-decrypted) and record 9444 (no. 22, Decrypted).
- BnF Français 3995, ff. 32, 83–84, 98, 103 (the Nevers key book; eliminated).
- S. Tomokiyo, Cryptiana: the Lorraine keys (Bréval c. 1620; Bassompierre 1593). C. Desenclos and G. Lasry, HistoCrypt 2024, on the Henri IV–Nevers ciphers. H. Lepage, League correspondence of Charles III (1864).
- The 18 September key recovery: aryasn2026, pull request #4 (
ct/no97_reading.md,ct/no97_solution.txt). The 22 September re-transcription:ct/no97_reading2.md,ct/no97_reread.txt,measure_reread.py.
Manuscript rights: Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Transcriptions, key, scripts and controls: targets/lorraine1592/ in the repository.