Marignano to Ferrante Gonzaga, 12 June 1546

transcription_c13r.txt

# Marignano to Ferrante Gonzaga, 12 June 1546, c. 13r: the cipher, sign by sign, after two passes and adjudication
# (validation/adjudication.tsv); M08 quale corrected 9 -> g after the independent check (3 Nov). Sign names describe shapes, not values (legend in scripts/pass2_blind.py), plus:
#   H  = the double-crossed sign (named # in the pass legend)
#   l  = a looped script l with descender (M01 only; pass 1 called it g; doubtful, written l?)   s = a small sigma-shaped sign (pass 1 merged it with f)
#   dd = d with a cross on the ascender                                      W = omega (M04) as distinct from w = lying double loop (M01)
#   Lo, 1o = L or a plain stroke joined to o, copied as one group            ? after a sign = doubtful on the image
#   {onu} {nao} {nou} {anu} = groups of dotted vowels standing apart         [word] = clear word in ordinary script
#   eti = a code written like a clear word (V. Ecc.a)
M01	[Qua] {onu} n j c H d o 8 , Lo & / l? 8 + u Z f s j / c H X D a 8 , n u q e a j X w
M02	, Z , T e a / k Z 9 H n D j / 9 & 8 c f Z X Lo Z / j t s e / T a H u & g e s r X Z
M03	{nao} e D , & H . X H X , n e s , h 8 X c r , Lo & / g u 8 X D H , v H dd o H
M04	Z , X e , + H , T & u , Lo & , v 8 a D Z / {nou} [Hora] 9 & c H W ,
M05	X H 9 c e a j , [meglio] . eti , [L'aparechio] , Z , + a j X Lo H ,
M06	, e , T Z a , & n , v a & o H , X Z , h 8 X 1o j a H , T 8 a D & [cular]
M07	j u & 9 H , j'? , eti , F u j 9 & N j T a H q Z dd o & H X Z Lo &
M08	D Z X e a [questa] [cosa] {anu} H c u n D 8 , g u j n Z , + & j . Z
M09	T u o? n & c j , T Z a H , eti , X H X , h & . X Z , 1 j N & j , o Z ,
M10	j u c f H a Z {nao} :

decryption_c13r.txt

# Decryption of c. 13r, rebuilt by scripts/decode.py from transcription_c13r.txt and key.tsv.
# Per line: the signs, then the values (a|b = sign name with two values, null = no letter, ? = doubtful sign).
M01	signs	{onu} n j c H d o 8 Lo & l 8 + u Z f s j c H X D a 8 n u q e a j X w
M01	values	null l a c o s s|m a d i l? a g|h u|v e r|t null a c o n t r a l u|v t|f e|i r a n i
M02	signs	Z T e a k Z 9 H n D j 9 & 8 c f Z X Lo Z j t s e T a H u & g e s r X Z
M02	values	e p e|i r r e s o l t a s i a c r|t e n d e a l null e|i p r o u|v i s|q e|i null o n e
M03	signs	{nao} e D & H X H X n e s h 8 X c r Lo & g u 8 X D H v H dd o H
M03	values	null e|i t i o n o n l e|i null m a n c o d i s|q u|v a n t o p o s s|m o
M04	signs	Z X e + H T & u Lo & v 8 a D Z {nou} 9 & c H W
M04	values	e n e|i g|h o p i u|v d i p a r t e null s i c o g
M05	signs	X H 9 c e a j eti Z + a j X Lo H
M05	values	n o s c e|i r a [V. Ecc.a] e g|h r a n d o
M06	signs	e T Z a & n v a & o H X Z h 8 X 1o j a H T 8 a D &
M06	values	e|i p e r i l p r i s|m o n e m a n d a r o p a r t i
M07	signs	j u & 9 H j' eti F u j 9 & N j T a H q Z dd o & H X Z Lo &
M07	values	a u|v i s o a? [V. Ecc.a] q u|v a s i f|c a p r o t|f e s s|m i o n e d i
M08	signs	D Z X e a {anu} H c u n D 8 g u j n Z + & j Z
M08	values	t e n e|i r null o c u|v l t a s|q u|v a l e g|h i a e
M09	signs	T u o n & c j T Z a H eti X H X h & X Z 1 j N & j o Z
M09	values	p u|v s|m? l i c a p e r o [V. Ecc.a] n o n m i n e f a f|c i a s|m e
M10	signs	j u c f H a Z {nao}
M10	values	a u|v c r|t o r e null

reading_c13r.md

# Marignano to Ferrante Gonzaga, Ratisbon, 12 June 1546, c. 13r: reading of the cipher (Italian)

The cipher passage of c. 13r as the signs give it. Clear words that the writer mixed into the cipher are in *italics*.

Files: `reading_marked_c13r.txt` (line by line, checked by `scripts/check_marks.py`), `translation_c13r.md` (English),
`clear_c14r.txt` (the contemporary clear translation on c. 14r).

Marks: `(x)` = a letter with no sign, since the cipher writes double letters once. `[?x]` = a letter on a doubtful sign.
`{b}` = read b where the sign as named gives s. Null signs and the dotted-vowel groups are left out here.
*V. Ecc.a* expands the code `eti`.

## Italian

*Qua* la cossa di [?l]a guer(r)a contra luterani è per resolta, si actende al(l)e provisione, et io non li manco di quanto
posso, e ne ho più di parte. *Hora* si cognoscerà *meglio* V. Ecc.a. *L'aparechio* è grando, e per il primo ne mandarò
parti*cular* aviso [?a] V. Ecc.a. Qua si fa professione di tenir *questa cosa* oc(c)ulta, quale già è pu{b}lica. Però
V. Ecc.a non mi ne fac(c)ia me auctore.

## Notes on the text

- Spellings are the writer's and are kept: *cossa*, *di la*, *actende*, *grando*, *mandarò*, *auctore*. The translation
  on c. 14r has *della*, *grande* and *autore*.
- Double letters are written once in the cipher: *guera*, *ale*, *oculta*, *facia*.
- *pu{b}lica*: the third sign is a doubtful o-like sign (`o?`). Elsewhere `o` is s or m. The word rests on the sense and
  on c. 14r.
- *di [?l]a*: the l is a looped script l with a descender. It occurs once and is doubtful on the image. c. 14r has *della*.
- *aviso [?a]*: the sign is the hooked d (a) with an inner dot or stroke, which is doubtful.
- *per il primo*: by the first courier. c. 14r abbreviates it as "p.o".
- The last sentence on c. 14r reads "però V. Ecc.a no' [?mi ne] [?faccia] me autore". Some letters there are small and
  doubtful.
- An earlier rough reading of that line, "no' mancarà me avisare", was wrong.

translation_c13r.md

# Marignano to Ferrante Gonzaga, Ratisbon, 12 June 1546, c. 13r: English translation of the cipher

Same marks as `reading_c13r.md`: `[?x]` doubtful; `{b}` read against the sign as named. "Your Excellency" expands the code
`eti` (V. Ecc.a).

Here the matter of the war against the Lutherans is resolved. Provisions are being made, and I do not fail in them as far
as I can, and I have a part in them, more than my share. Now it will be better known, Your Excellency. The preparation is
great, and by the first [courier] I will send a detailed report [?to] Your Excellency. Here they make a profession of
keeping this matter secret, which is already pu{b}lic. But let Your Excellency not make me its author [do not name me as
the source].

Notes: *si cognoscerà* is impersonal ("it will be known"). The clear translation on c. 14r runs "Hora si cognoscerà meglio
V. Ecc.a l'apparecchio è grande" with no stop, so the sentence boundary before *L'aparechio* is uncertain, and "V. Ecc.a"
may belong to either sentence. *ne ho più di parte* is rendered loosely. In *di la* (M01) the *l* stands on a doubtful sign.