At a glanceExisting decipherment · complete
- The documents
- Two letters of Philip II to his ambassador in France, San Lorenzo, 7 September 1589 (ff. 10 and 12), with the 1589 decipherers’ copies on ff. 14 and 76.
- Where
- BnF Français 3641; Omont’s catalogue mislabels the copies, and f. 14 is not a cipher letter.
- The cipher
- A Spanish nomenclator; the published fragment of the Cg.13 table agrees at every syllable it covers.
- How it was read
- Both letters were deciphered in 1589. Aligning originals against copies group by group extends the table and decodes groups the decipherers left blank (pur = respeto, mes = vuestro, san = negocio).
- What was added
- Two corrections of their readings: dun is England, not “Francia”; and si yo hiziesse.
- Still open
- Fourteen nomenclator groups; the Simancas table (Devos 1950) would close them.
01 What is on the leaves
| Leaf | Content | Omont (BnF catalogue) | Tomokiyo |
|---|---|---|---|
| f. 10 (address leaf f. 11, seal trace) | Letter A, sent original, 13 lines of Cg.13, Dupp.da | folded into no. 4 | no. 5, “in Cg.13, decipher in no. 7” |
| f. 12 (address leaf f. 13) | Letter B, sent original, 22 lines of Cg.13 after two and a half in clear | no. 5, “lettre avec chiffre” | no. 6, “decipher in no. 36” |
| f. 14 (address on the verso) | Decipherer’s copy of A; ten unread groups in the margin | no. 6, “lettre avec chiffre” — catalogue item 32 | no. 7, “decipherment of no. 5” |
| f. 15 | Philip II to Mendoza, 8 September 1589, two-figure blocked-square cipher with interlinear decipherment | no. 7, “déchiffrement de la lettre n° 5” | no. 8 |
| f. 76 (verso blank) | Decipherer’s copy of B; fourteen unread groups in the margin | no. 36, “déchiffrement de la lettre portée au n° 6” | no. 36 |
21 80: 9. 70 65 37 39 dun = se han es-ca-pa-do de [dun]; fer 46 21 79: 86. 38 28 65 20 37. n tam = [fer] que se-gun les di-xo pa-sa-dos a [tam]. Image: Bibliothèque nationale de France, fr. 3641 f. 10, via Gallica btv1b52508089f.02 The cipher
Cg.13 is the general cipher Devos dates 1587 and Tomokiyo found in use by Philip II, Parma and Mendoza in 1588–89; Viète broke it in France and Phelippes in England, and the copies in this volume are Phelippes’s file. Its letters are single figures or letters (n = a, b = u, m and 9 = e, 1 = o, 7 = y, g = el), its syllables two-figure groups in rows of five in the order a e i o u (ta–tu 10–14, sa–su 20–24, na–nu 40–44, ra– 50–, va–vo 55–58, ma–mu 60–64, pa–pu 65–69, ca–cu 70–74, ga–gu 75–79, ha 80, la–lo 85–88), some rows reversed (bu–ba 95–99, fu–fa 90–94, du–de 36–39), with the qu-row at 45–49 so that 46 is simply que. Three marks after a group add a letter: a colon adds n (10: = tan, 73: = con, 9: = en), a point adds s (85. = las, 37. = dos, 7. = ys), a cross adds r (68+ = por, 56+ = ver); a stroke above inserts r after the consonant (30ʹ = dra) and a bar doubles an l. Words of the nomenclator are two- or three-letter groups (na carta, yu cosa, quer Rey, quor Reyno, Zan para, he aviso), with the same marks for plural and changed endings (na. cartas, he+ avisar, yenc otra). The full table as recovered, with the evidence for each value, is targets/mendoza1589/key_cg13_partial.tsv.
03 The two letters
Letter A (f. 10, copy f. 14). Dos papeles que se han escapado de [Inglaterra*] refieren que salieron de alli en compañia de Manuel de Andrada, [portugués*], que segun les dixo, pasados a [Francia*], y va a llevar dos cartas, una al Reyno de [Francia*] y otra al principe de Bearne; de [quien] entendieron juntamente que las copias desta carta vernian a parar a vuestras manos; y que Antonio de Goda, [portugués*], que es castellano y governador de un castillo y ysleta que esta a la boca del puerto de Premua, seria [fru] que quisiesse hazerme algun servicio con entregarme lo que tiene a su cargo si yo hiziesse alguna negociacion con el. Y pues el Manuel Andrada va con pensamiento de veros, ya avreys entendido el [tum] que esto puede tener, y a haver alguno para encaminar el negocio, que seria tan a proposito, no dudo que avreys procurado ponerlo en [cor], porque por todo buen respeto me ha parescido avisaros desta particularidad que se me ha dado, y encargaros que me aviseys si aveys entendido algo del [tum] que tuviere.
Two papers smuggled out of England report that their writers left in company with Manuel de Andrada, a Portuguese (Dom António’s agent, Walsingham’s informant “David”), who said he had crossed to France carrying letters for the French court and for Navarre, and who expected copies of the present letter to reach Mendoza; and that a Portuguese castellan of an island fort at a harbour mouth might hand it over if the King dealt with him. Andrada means to see Mendoza; the King wants the matter followed and reported.
Letter B (f. 12, copy f. 76). Receipt of Mendoza’s letters of 27 July, 2 and 8 August; the death of el Rey mi hermano (Henry III, 2 August) ha sido cosa de gran lastima ... por todos los respetos que se pueden considerar; with France in such confusion Mendoza is to suspend the leave he has to quit the kingdom, porque siendo tan importante vuestra [gu] en el [bu] para el buen assiento de las cosas, and in no way absent himself without a new order, but attend to los negocios con el cuydado que soleys, steering towards el bien publico, que es solo el fin que yo tengo; news of England is badly wanted, en lo que toca a sus [designios*] y lo que traman y traçan, since the route by which their fleet came home is known from prisoners; Mendoza is to keep his sources going and write often, y de creer es que entre ellos y el de Bearne se deven andar urdiendo malas cosas ... todo importa entenderlo, y en particular sus armaçones.
04 The code words
- Decoded from the other letter. pur = respeto (por todos los respetos que se pueden considerar; the copyist of A wrote “puerto” for por todo buen respeto). bor, which the copyist of A rendered “porque”, is not: Phelippes’s decipherment on f. 5 has dur for porque, and pero fits both letters. mes = vuestro (A: a vuestras manos; B: glossed vro). san = negocio: B has a la forma que el negocio pidiere and, where the copyist wrote “a lo necessario”, the cipher has a los with a plural mark before san; in A it gives para encaminar el negocio, que seria tan a proposito.
- A miscopy. The copyist’s tur in A does not exist; the cipher has tum in both places (el tum que esto puede tener ... algo del tum que tuviere): one word, perhaps fundamento.
- Two wrong readings. The copyist wrote francia for dun in A and glossed tam as francia in the same letter; two groups cannot both be France. In B, dun is the power whose fleet came back by a route known from prisoners, whose plots run entre ellos y el de Bearne, and whose armaçones matter: England, in the summer the Drake–Norris expedition returned. So dun = Inglaterra* and tam = Francia*, which is where Andrada went and where Mendoza was. The copyist’s struck Inglaterra on f. 14 shows him weighing exactly this. And si se hiziesse alguna negociacion con el stands where the cipher has 18 = yo: the King wrote si yo hiziesse.
- From Phelippes’s own hand. His interlinear decipherment of Parma’s letter of 30 December 1588 (f. 5, same cipher) confirms the syllable values at every overlap and supplies bur persona, dom dicho, dur porque, pen mucho, mis V. M., and the x-row at 25–29.
- From Viète’s papers. fer, qualifying Manuel de Andrada and Antonio de Goda, is the group in the heading of a spy report copied in Cinq Cents de Colbert 33 (f. 113), Avisos que ha venido a dar David, traducidos de [fer]: Portugués*.
- Still open (contextual proposals only, asterisked in the key file): tum, fru, cor in A; hon (copyist: diligencia; the sense wants licencia), bor (pero?), gu, bu, com, ga (armada?), Jam, lo, bem, par in B; and a sixteen-group passage of B that the encipherer struck out and the copyist skipped.
05 Method
- Item 32 traced to the leaf through the BnF Archives et manuscrits notice (folios for Omont’s numbers) and the Gallica IIIF manifest (folio labels); ff. 10–15 and 76–77 fetched at native resolution, with the pacing the server enforces (30 s between requests, two-minute back-offs after 429).
- Both originals transcribed group by group (
f10_cipher.txt,f12_cipher.txt), both copies transcribed with the copyists’ underlinings, glosses, strikings and margin lists (f14_clear.txt,f76_clear.txt). - Alignment by hand, word by word; every syllable value kept only where the copy’s clear text requires it; values confirmed at two or more positions marked as such, and checked against the eleven syllables of Tomokiyo’s published fragment of the table (all agree).
- Nomenclator groups decoded where the copyist’s clear text stands over them in one letter and the group recurs in the other; the rest given contextual proposals, asterisked, and not counted as decoded.
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.
Letter A, f. 10 (sent original) / f. 14 (the 1589 decipherer's copy), San Lorenzo, 7 Sept 1589
Philip II to Bernardino de Mendoza, his ambassador in France: two papers smuggled out of England report that Manuel de Andrada, a Portuguese, has gone to France with letters for the King of France and the Prince of Béarn, and that Antonio de Goda, governor of a castle at the mouth of the harbour of Plymouth, might hand it over; Mendoza is to report what he learns.
Transcription
# BnF Français 3641, f. 10r (Gallica btv1b52508089f, canvas 27). Philip II to Bernardino de Mendoza, San Lorenzo, # 7 Sept 1589, letter A, sent original in the general cipher Cg.13 (Devos), address leaf f. 11 with seal trace. # Transcribed 17 Sept 2026 from the native-resolution IIIF image. Conventions: figures and letters as written; # ":" "." "+" are the marks written after a group (respectively +n, +s, +r; see key_cg13_partial.tsv); # "̄" bar over a group = doubled consonant (ll); "ʹ" = the small stroke over a group (r inserted); "̈" = two dots. # Three-letter groups in lower case are nomenclator words. "|" = end of manuscript line. Uncertain readings in [ ]. El Rey Don Ber.no de Mendoça del mi cons.o y mi Embax.or / 37. nem+. 46 | 21 80: 9. 70 65 37 39 dun 5 19 21 m 51: 46 20 87 m 53: 39 cie 9: nu 39 60 44 m 39 n: 3ʹ0 30 | fer 46 21 79: 86. 38 28 65 20 37. n tam 7 55 n 86̄ 55+ 37. na. b 40 n quor 39 tam | 7 yenc n har 39 98 n+ 41 39 mar 9: 11: 38 m 53: 31: 10 61: 11 46 85. ya. 39. 10. na. | 56+ 42 n: n 65 50 n mes 60 43. 7 46 n: 13 42 1 39 78 30 fer 46 9. 70. 11 85 43 7 Xim 39 | b: 70. 12 88̄ 74. 86 10 46 9. 10 n 85 96 70 39 g Jic 39 66 64 n 11 51 n fru 46 47 22 m 21 80 105 61 | n 79: xer 73: 9: 11 75+ 61 88 46 12 m 41 n 24 mu 22 18 21 06 m 21 n 79 40 41 78 72 n | 72 1: 73: g 7 69 m. g 60 44 m 39 n: 30 [7]0 7 55 73: 66: 20 62 m: 13 39 56 1. u | n 56 7. 9: 11: 38 37 g tum 46 9. 13 69 m 39 11 4+ 7 n 80 56 n 79 43 Zan 9: 70 62 | 4+ 21 san 46 21 2[1] n 10: n 68 68 22 13 43 36 37 46 n 56 7. 68 74 50 37 68 4+ 88 9: cor | bor 68 1337 95 m: pur 61 80 65 51 72 37 he+ 1. 39. 10 nur 46 21 61 80 30 37 7 | m: 70 75 1. 46 61 he 47. 22 n 56 7. 9: 11: 78 37 n 78 39 tum 46 14 57 m 51 / de | San Lorenço a 7 de sept.re 1589 Yo el Rey [below:] Dupp.da Don Martin de Idiaquez
Decryption
# BnF Français 3641, f. 14r (canvas 35). The 1589 decipherer's fair copy of the letter on f. 10 (letter A), laid out
# like the original down to "Yo el Rey", the countersignature and the address (written on f. 14v). Catalogued by
# Omont as no. 6, "Lettre, avec chiffre, de Philippe II ... a don Bernardino de Mendoça ... 7 de setiembre 1589".
# Underlined code groups left unread by the decipherer are given in [ ]; his interlinear glosses in { }; the words
# he wrote in clear for code groups of f. 10 are marked with the code in ( ). Line breaks of the manuscript kept.
# Left margin, in the decipherer's hand, the list of unread groups: fer / tam / tam / [y]a / fer / fru / tur / san / cor / tum.
El Rey.
Don Ber.no de Mendoça del my consejo y my embax.or
dos papeles(nem+) que se han escapado de francia(dun) refieren que salieron
alli(cie) en compañia(nu) de Manuel de Andrada [fer] que segun les
dixo pasados a [tam]{francia} y a a llevar dos <cartas struck> (na.) vna al Reyn[o](quor)
de <Inglaterra struck> [tam] y otra(yenc) al principe(har) de Bearne de manera(mar)
entendieron juntamente que las [ya] desta carta(na) vernian
a parar a vuestras(mes) manos y que Antonio de Goda [fer]
que es castellano y governador(Xim) de vn castillo y ysleta que esta
a la boca del puerto(Jic) de Premua seria [fru] que quisiesse haser
me algun servicio(xer) con entregarme lo que tiene a su cargo(mu) si se(18 = yo) se
hiziesse alguna negociacion con el y pues el Manuel Andrada
y va con pensamiento de veros ya havreys entendido el [tur] (f. 10 has tum)
que esto puede tener y a haver alguno para encaminarse [san]
que seria tan a proposito no dudo que havreys procurado
ponerlo en [cor] porque(bor) por todo buen puerto(pur) me ha parescido
avisar os desta particularidad(nur) que se me ha dado y encargaros
que me aviseys si aveys entendido algo del [tum] que tuviere
de San Lorenço a 7 de setiembre 1589
Yo el Rey
Dupp.da Don Martin de Idiaquez
A la sobrescripta
Por el Rey
A don Ber.no de Mendoça del su
consejo y su embax.or en FranciaDecryption
# Letter A (f. 10 / f. 14), as read here with the extended Cg.13 key
Copied verbatim from NOTES.md ('The letters, as read'), 22 Oct 2026. [brackets] = nomenclator groups; * = proposed value.
**Letter A (f. 10 / f. 14).** *Dos papeles que se han escapado de [Inglaterra\*] refieren que salieron de alli en
compañia de Manuel de Andrada, [portugués\*], que segun les dixo, pasados a [Francia\*], y va a llevar dos cartas,
una al Reyno de [Francia\*] y otra al principe de Bearne; de [quien / manera] entendieron juntamente que las copias
desta carta vernian a parar a vuestras manos; y que Antonio de Goda, [portugués\*], que es castellano y governador
de un castillo y ysleta que esta a la boca del puerto de Premua [so the copyist; cipher 66 64 n], seria [fru] que
quisiesse hazerme algun servicio con entregarme lo que tiene a su cargo si yo hiziesse alguna negociacion con el. Y
pues el Manuel Andrada va con pensamiento de veros, ya avreys entendido el [tum] que esto puede tener, y a haver
alguno para encaminar[se] el negocio, que seria tan a proposito, no dudo que avreys procurado ponerlo en [cor],
porque por todo buen respeto me ha parescido avisaros desta particularidad que se me ha dado, y encargaros que me
aviseys si aveys entendido algo del [tum] que tuviere. De San Lorenço a 7 de setiembre 1589.*
Two papers smuggled out of England report that their writers left in company with Manuel de Andrada, a Portuguese,
who told them he had crossed to France and was carrying two letters, one for the French court and one for Navarre,
and that copies of the present letter would reach Mendoza; and that one Antonio de Goda, Portuguese, castellan of a
fort on an islet at a harbour mouth, might be willing to hand over his charge if the King negotiated with him. Since
Andrada means to see Mendoza, the King asks him to look into it and report.Reading
# Letter A (f. 10 / f. 14), as read here with the extended Cg.13 key
Copied verbatim from NOTES.md ('The letters, as read'), 22 Oct 2026. [brackets] = nomenclator groups; * = proposed value.
**Letter A (f. 10 / f. 14).** *Dos papeles que se han escapado de [Inglaterra\*] refieren que salieron de alli en
compañia de Manuel de Andrada, [portugués\*], que segun les dixo, pasados a [Francia\*], y va a llevar dos cartas,
una al Reyno de [Francia\*] y otra al principe de Bearne; de [quien / manera] entendieron juntamente que las copias
desta carta vernian a parar a vuestras manos; y que Antonio de Goda, [portugués\*], que es castellano y governador
de un castillo y ysleta que esta a la boca del puerto de Premua [so the copyist; cipher 66 64 n], seria [fru] que
quisiesse hazerme algun servicio con entregarme lo que tiene a su cargo si yo hiziesse alguna negociacion con el. Y
pues el Manuel Andrada va con pensamiento de veros, ya avreys entendido el [tum] que esto puede tener, y a haver
alguno para encaminar[se] el negocio, que seria tan a proposito, no dudo que avreys procurado ponerlo en [cor],
porque por todo buen respeto me ha parescido avisaros desta particularidad que se me ha dado, y encargaros que me
aviseys si aveys entendido algo del [tum] que tuviere. De San Lorenço a 7 de setiembre 1589.*
Two papers smuggled out of England report that their writers left in company with Manuel de Andrada, a Portuguese,
who told them he had crossed to France and was carrying two letters, one for the French court and one for Navarre,
and that copies of the present letter would reach Mendoza; and that one Antonio de Goda, Portuguese, castellan of a
fort on an islet at a harbour mouth, might be willing to hand over his charge if the King negotiated with him. Since
Andrada means to see Mendoza, the King asks him to look into it and report.Translation
# Letter A (f. 10 / f. 14): Philip II to Bernardino de Mendoza, San Lorenzo, 7 September 1589: English translation Translation (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026) of the reading in `texts/A_reading.md` (the letter as read with the extended Cg.13 key). Same marks: `[word*]` a proposed value (here `[?word]`), `[fru]`, `[tum]`, `[cor]` groups unread, `[quien / manera]` two possible values, `[se]` supplied. "Premua" is as the copyist has it (Plymouth). Spanish. ## Translation Two papers that have been smuggled out of [?England] report that [their writers] left there in company with Manuel de Andrada, a [?Portuguese], who, as he told them, [had] crossed to [?France], and is going to carry two letters, one to the Kingdom of [?France] and the other to the Prince of Béarn; from [whom / which way] they understood at the same time that the copies of this letter would come to end up in your hands; and that Antonio de Goda, a [?Portuguese], who is castellan and governor of a castle and islet at the mouth of the harbour of Premua, would be [fru] that he would like to do me some service by handing over to me what he has in his charge, if I conducted some negotiation with him. And since the said Manuel Andrada is going with the intention of seeing you, you will already have understood the [tum] that this may have; and if there is any [way] for the business to be set on [its] way, which would be so much to the purpose, I do not doubt that you will have tried to put it in [cor]; because, for every good consideration, it has seemed to me right to inform you of this particular that has been given me, and to charge you to inform me if you have learned anything of the [tum] it may have. From San Lorenzo, 7 September 1589.
Letter B, f. 12 (sent original) / f. 76 (the 1589 decipherer's copy), San Lorenzo, 7 Sept 1589
Philip II to Mendoza: receipt of his letters of July and August; the death of Henry III is a great pity; with France in confusion Mendoza is not to leave the kingdom without a new order, and is to send news of England's designs and of its plots with the Prince of Béarn.
Transcription
# BnF Français 3641, f. 12r (canvas 31). Philip II to Bernardino de Mendoza, San Lorenzo, 7 Sept 1589, letter B,
# sent original ("Dupp.da"), general cipher Cg.13; address leaf f. 13 with seal trace. Omont no. 5.
# Transcribed 17 Sept 2026 from the native-resolution IIIF image; same conventions as f10_cipher.txt.
# Paragraph ends are marked in the manuscript by a long stroke ("(" below). A stretch of line 4 is struck through
# by the encipherer (marked <...>); the decipherer's copy on f. 76 omits it.
El Rey
Don Ber.no de Mendoça del mi cons.o y mi Embax.or / Vras cartas |
de 27 de julio 2 y 8 de agosto se han recivido estos dias y no la de 30 de |
julio q avisays en la de dos y en tpo de 10: 10 73: 90 22 1: ee 68+ ci 39 56 |
39 n 56+ <97 b 71 54 78 91 22 12 84 50 84 20 47 17 b 90 70+> 97 m: 80 22 37 36 67 70+ 68+ |
m̃ pen+ 57 n. ( |
85 64+ g 11 39 quer 62 Zum 80 22 37 yu 39 75: 85. 12 60 17 00 61 85 80 pi 37 n |
62 68+ 1337. 88. pur 46 21 69 m 39: 73: 22 39 50 pom 86 66 27 41 77 68: 75 85. 60 43. |
g: 85. yu. 39 21 quor 30: 37 86. g 51 61 38 1 46 [Jp] 60. 73: 56: 75 n 24 xer 7 n 97 m: |
39 85 pu ( |
9. 10: 37 1337 88 39 ci m: 85 73: 90 22 1: 46 21 80 85 97 [Br]7 15 47 1 1 46 73: mes 95 9 |
95 m: 10 88 24. 66: 38 m 50 39. g biò 39 85 hon 46 11 41 7. Zan 20 87 39 21 quor |
ho 72 43 21 1. he 50 39 ba bor n 29: 37 10: A 68+ 10: 11 mess gu m: g bu Zan |
g 95 9: n 22 9: 13 39 85. yu. 43 69 m 37 39 2+ 39 m: 70+ 75 1. 46 m: 8 [ene] lin |
10 11 7. 39 80 105 n b 12: 72 n 39 n 7 22: sun yan 61 n 22 43 46 n 11: 30 7. n 88. san |
77: g bam 46 23 86 7. 7 55 7. g: 39 51 70: 37 88 46 60. 73: 57 42 m 51 n 97 m: 69 97 73 |
46 9. 23 88 g 92: 46 18 11: 78 7 30: 37 61 Zub 39 1337 Zen 21 1: he+ 88 46 n 56 7. 39 80 105 ( |
7 5: 9̈4 10 n 7 68 ba 39 he. 39 dun g: 88 46 13 70 n 24. com. 7 88 46 10 60: 7 10 70: 46 |
39 bom 73: 46 96 57 1 24 ga 7 yu. 39. 10. 97 m: 21 20 98 68+ 85 86: 79 n 46 80: 13 60 37 |
n 79 43. 40 57 1. 46 n 9. 11 <pom> Jam 21 9̈ 97 53: 7 68+ 38 56+ 20. nur+. 68 74 50 37 58 11 4+ |
85. los. 7 n 61 44 37 39 lur 65 20 68 ci 7 m̀ 97 n 31 n 85 fom 46 g san 67 38 m 51 7 |
39 51ʹ 9̈ 9. 46 9: 11 m 88. 7 g 39 98 n+ 41 21 39 56: n: 30+ b+ 38 m: 37 yom 6. yu. g: bem |
39 85 par 1337 Aʹ 68+ 10 9: 11: 39+ 88 7 m: Zon 24. n+ 60 10 41. / de San Lorenço a |
7 de sept.re 1589 Yo el Rey Dupp.da Don Martin de IdiaquezDecryption
# BnF Français 3641, f. 76r (canvas 169). The 1589 decipherer's fair copy of letter B (f. 12), same layout as the
# original including "Yo el Rey", countersignature, "Dup.da" and the address. Omont no. 36, "Déchiffrement de la lettre
# portée au n° 6" (in fact of no. 5). Unread code groups in [ ]; the decipherer's glosses in { }; his struck words in < >;
# words he wrote in clear for code groups of f. 12 marked with the code in ( ).
# Left margin, decipherer's list of unread groups: pur / mes hon / <hon> / bu bor mess gu / dun com / ga / Jam / lo / bem par.
El Rey
Don Ber.no de Mendoça del mi consejo y mi embaxador, vras cartas
de 27 de jullio 2 y 8 de agosto se han recivido estos dias y no
la de 30 de jullio que avisays en la de dos y en tpo de tanta confusion
como(ee) por alla(ci) deve de haver bien ha sido duplicar por muchas vias
La muerte del Rey(quer) mi hermano(Zum) ha sido cosa(yu) de gran lastima
y assi me la ha causado(pi 37) a mi por todos los [pur] que se pueden
considerar Dios(pom) le perdone y ponga las manos en las cosas(yu.) desse
Reyno(quor) dandoles el remedio que mas convenga a su servicio(xer)
y al bien de la cristiandad(pu)
Estando todo lo de alla(ci) en la confusion que se halla
creo que con [mes]{vro} buen zelo suspendierades el usar(biò) de la [hon]{diligencia}
que teneys para salir desse Reyno(quor) antes no se os <bor> avisara(he 50) de
aca(ba) [bor→"por" written] siendo tan importante [mess] [gu] en el [bu] para el buen
assiento de las cosas no puedo dexar de encargaros que en ninguna
manera(lin?) trateys de hazer ausencia de ay sin <nuestra>{nueva}(sun) orden(yan) mia sino que
atendays a lo necessario(n 88. san = a los [negocios]) con el cuydado(bam) que soleys y vays endereçando
lo que mas conviniere al bien publico que es solo el fin que yo tengo y
dandome aviso(Zub) de todo para que(Zen) se os avise(he+) lo que havreys de
hazer
Gran falta ay por aca(ba) de avisos(he.) de [dun] en lo que toca a sus [com]
y lo que traman y traçan que del camino(bom) con que bolvio su [ga] y
cosas destas bien se sabe por la lengua que han tomado algunos navios
que a este [Jam] se embiaron y por diversas particularidades(nur+.)
procurad vos tener las [lo]s y a menudo de quanto(lur) passa por alla(ci)
y embialdo a la forma(fom) que el negocio(san) pidiere y de creer es que
entre ellos y el de Bearne se deven andar urdiendo malas(yom 6.) cosas(yu.)
en [bem] de la [par] todo importa entenderlo y en particular(Zon)
sus armaçones. De San Lorenço a 7 de setiembre 1589
Yo el Rey
Dup.da Don Martin de Idiaquez
A la sobrescripta
Por el Rey
A don Ber.no de Mendoça del su consejo
y su embax.or en FranciaDecryption
# Letter B (f. 12 / f. 76), as read here with the extended Cg.13 key
Copied verbatim from NOTES.md ('The letters, as read'), 22 Oct 2026. A summary with quotations, not a full text; the full text is the 1589 decipherer's copy f76_clear.txt.
**Letter B (f. 12 / f. 76).** Receipt of Mendoza's letters of 27 July, 2 and 8 August (not that of 30 July); the death
of *el Rey mi hermano* (Henry III, 2 August) *ha sido cosa de gran lastima ... por todos los respetos que se pueden
considerar*; with things in France in such confusion Mendoza is to suspend using the *[licencia\*]* he has to leave
the kingdom, *porque siendo tan importante vuestra [gu] en el [bu] para el buen assiento de las cosas*, he is in no
way to absent himself without a new order, but attend to *los negocios con el cuydado que soleys*, steering towards
*el bien publico, que es solo el fin que yo tengo*; there is a great want of news from *[Inglaterra\*]*, their
*[designios\*]* and plots, since the route of their *[armada\*]*'s return is known well enough from prisoners; Mendoza
is to keep up his *[lo]* and send word often, *y de creer es que entre ellos y el de Bearne se deven andar urdiendo
malas cosas en [bem] de la [par]; todo importa entenderlo, y en particular sus armaçones.*Reading
# Letter B (f. 12 / f. 76): Philip II to Bernardino de Mendoza, San Lorenzo, 7 September 1589: reading
The whole letter, written out 23 Oct 2026 (translation wave v7), because `texts/B_reading.md` is a summary with
quotations. Text: the 1589 decipherer's fair copy `f76_clear.txt` (the contemporary decipherment of f. 12), with his
code markers ( ) left out, his struck words dropped and his interlinear corrections taken in ({nueva} for <nuestra>);
where he left a code group unread, the value proposed here with the extended Cg.13 key (`texts/B_reading.md`, NOTES)
is given as `[?word]` (bor = porque, as on f. 14), and groups unread by both are kept as `[bu]`, `[Jam]`, `[lo]`, `[bem]`, `[par]`. Spelling as
in the copy; capitals and punctuation added. Spanish.
## Reading
El Rey.
Don Bernardino de Mendoça, del mi consejo y mi embaxador: vuestras cartas de 27 de jullio, 2 y 8 de agosto se han
recivido estos dias, y no la de 30 de jullio que avisays en la de dos; y en tiempo de tanta confusion como por alla
deve de haver, bien ha sido duplicar por muchas vias.
La muerte del Rey mi hermano ha sido cosa de gran lastima, y assi me la ha causado a mi por todos los [?respetos] que
se pueden considerar. Dios le perdone y ponga las manos en las cosas desse Reyno, dandoles el remedio que mas convenga
a su servicio y al bien de la cristiandad.
Estando todo lo de alla en la confusion que se halla, creo que con [?vuestro] buen zelo suspendierades el usar de la
[?licencia] que teneys para salir desse Reyno antes no se os avisara de aca; porque siendo tan importante [?vuestra]
[gu] en el [bu] para el buen assiento de las cosas, no puedo dexar de encargaros que en ninguna manera trateys de
hazer ausencia de ay sin nueva orden mia, sino que atendays a lo necessario con el cuydado que soleys, y vays
endereçando lo que mas conviniere al bien publico, que es solo el fin que yo tengo, y dandome aviso de todo para que
se os avise lo que havreys de hazer.
Gran falta ay por aca de avisos de [?Inglaterra] en lo que toca a sus [?designios] y lo que traman y traçan; que del
camino con que bolvio su [?armada] y cosas destas bien se sabe por la lengua que han tomado algunos navios que a este
[Jam] se embiaron, y por diversas particularidades. Procurad vos tener las [lo]s, y a menudo, de quanto passa por
alla, y embialdo a la forma que el negocio pidiere; y de creer es que entre ellos y el de Bearne se deven andar
urdiendo malas cosas en [bem] de la [par]. Todo importa entenderlo, y en particular sus armaçones. De San Lorenço a 7
de setiembre 1589.
Yo el Rey. Don Martin de Idiaquez. Duplicada. Address: Por el Rey. A don Bernardino de Mendoça, del su consejo y su
embaxador en Francia.Translation
# Letter B (f. 12 / f. 76): Philip II to Bernardino de Mendoza, San Lorenzo, 7 September 1589: English translation Translation (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026) of `texts/B_full_reading.md` (the 1589 decipherer's copy, with values proposed here for the groups he left unread). Same holes: `[?word]` a proposed value, `[gu]`, `[bu]`, `[Jam]`, `[lo]`, `[bem]`, `[par]` groups unread. Spanish. ## Translation The King. Don Bernardino de Mendoza, of my council and my ambassador: your letters of 27 July and of 2 and 8 August have been received these days, but not that of 30 July which you mention in that of the second; and in a time of such confusion as there must be over there, it has been well to send duplicates by many ways. The death of the King my brother has been a thing of great pity, and so it has caused me [grief] for all the [?considerations] that may be weighed. God forgive him, and set His hands to the affairs of that kingdom, giving them the remedy most fitting for His service and the good of Christendom. All things over there being in the confusion in which they are, I believe that with [?your] good zeal you will have suspended using the [?licence] you have to leave that kingdom before you are informed from here; because, [?your] [gu] being so important in the [bu] for the good settlement of affairs, I cannot fail to charge you in no way to attempt to absent yourself from there without a new order from me, but to attend to what is necessary with your accustomed care, and to go on steering what is most fitting for the public good, which is the only end I have, and to give me notice of everything, so that you may be advised of what you are to do. There is a great want here of news from [?England] concerning their [?designs] and what they are plotting and scheming; for the route by which their [?armada] returned, and such things, are well known from the prisoners some ships have taken that were sent to this [Jam], and from various particulars. Do you take care to keep the [lo]s, and often, of all that passes over there, and send it in the form the business requires; and it is to be believed that between them and the man of Béarn evil things must be being woven in [bem] of the [par]. It all matters to understand, and in particular their armaments. From San Lorenzo, 7 September 1589. I the King. Don Martín de Idiáquez. Duplicate. Address: From the King. To Don Bernardino de Mendoza, of his council and his ambassador in France.
Key: key_cg13_partial.tsv
06 Sources
- BnF Français 3641, Gallica btv1b52508089f, ff. 10–15, 76; notice cc500920 (Omont’s item list).
- S. Tomokiyo, Thomas Phelippes’ Deciphering of Spanish Ciphers Found in French Archives (item list of fr. 3641 with first-line transcriptions and glosses); Spanish Ciphers during the Reign of Philip II (Cg.13); Ciphers Broken by François Viète (Cinq Cents de Colbert 33 f. 113).
- J. P. Devos, Les chiffres de Philippe II (1555–1598) et du Despacho universal (Brussels, 1950): prints the Simancas table of Cg.13; not online and not consulted. M. Alcocer, “Criptografía española”, BRAH 105 (1934), 107 (1935): forty Simancas ciphers, not this one.
- De Lamar Jensen, Diplomacy and Dogmatism: Bernardino de Mendoza and the French Catholic League (1964), on Mendoza’s ciphers and on Andrada; not consulted here.
Transcriptions, the partial key with its evidence and the notes are in the repository (targets/mendoza1589/). Readings marked * are inferences from context and are not verified against the Simancas table.