Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (1714–1716)

At a glanceCiphertext-only break · partial (95% of the cipher)

The letters: Ten letters from the Potocka and Mniszech correspondence, 1714 and undated, mostly clear French or Polish with short cipher inserts.
Where: Shelfmarks ASang_teka_290/6 to 422/7; ten DECODE records, R7524Archives, ASang_teka series; DECODE R7524–R7536 (the ten records on the page).ndash;R7536.
The cipher: A simple-substitution alphabet with homophones, many of them the basic figure doubled (25 and 50 = e).
How it was read: A simulated-annealing solver with a Polish language model recovered the alphabet from the postscript of R7526, and it decrypts short French passages in eight other letters.
What it says: Property, court influence, a political accusation and the safety of correspondence.
Still open: 863 of 887 Potocka tokens have a letter value (97.3%). Mniszech’s 232-token cipher (R7524) is not decrypted. Four person codes and one figure are open. No independent check exists.

01The documents and the evidence

Józef Mniszech’s letter to Dunin of 18 March 1714 (R7524), filed in the same archive and on this page until 14 October 2026, is in a different cipher, with its own page.

All 29 source images of the ten letters to Dunin were inspected, including backs, addresses and spreads. These are chiefly clear letters with brief cipher inserts; the tables below transcribe those inserts and the clear words just before them (the “clear anchor” column); the rest of the cleartext is not transcribed. Image numbers are DECODE image suffixes. Some letters have no year: placeholder catalogue dates have not been adopted as historical dates.

Potocka calls Dunin “mon fils,” but the university Women’s Court biography identifies her as his aunt. That source was found after the key recovery and supplied no cipher values.

Record	Shelfmark	Tokens valued / transcribed
R7525	ASang_teka_301/8	54 / 56
R7526	ASang_teka_343/12	163 / 163
R7527	ASang_teka_354/5_1	252 / 261
R7528	ASang_teka_354/5_2	49 / 50
R7529	ASang_teka_365/5	34 / 35
R7530	ASang_teka_386/11	60 / 62
R7534	ASang_teka_421/7	53 / 58
R7535	ASang_teka_422/6	96 / 100
R7536	ASang_teka_422/7	101 / 101

02The recovered alphabet

The basic sequence runs backwards from 25=e through 14=x, and forwards from 26=a through 39=p, with a break before l. The Polish postscript uses 27 for a and distinguishes 31/32 in positions for l/ł; the exact diacritic rule remains uncertain. Attested higher homophones include 50=e, 52=a, 58=c, 68=n and 74=r. Doubling suggests values without fixing them: 14=x does not make 28=x, since 28=b.

Figure	Letter
14	x
15	y
16	z
17	w
18	u
19	t
20	k
21	i
22	h
23	g
24	f
25	e
26	a
27	a
28	b
29	c
30	d
31	l
32	l
33	m
34	n
35	o
36	s
37	r
38	q
39	p
40	k
42	i
44	h
46	g
48	f
50	e
52	a
54	a
56	b
58	c
60	d
62	l
64	l
66	m
68	n
70	o
72	s
74	r
76	q
78	p

Every letter value is inferred here (grade I), with doubtful readings marked M. None has grade H (original key) or C (independent known plaintext). The standalone figures 87, 94, 100 and 270 are unvalued person codes. A possible identification of 100 as the king is contextual only.

03R7525

Horyhorki and court influence: code 94 wants to be alone in the credit of 100; a house causes the writer harm; justice and enemies.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
2: pour ... qui l'a oblige	horyhorki	Horyhorki
2: mais le [94] veut ... dans le	estreseul	estre seul
2: dans le ... du [100]	credit	credit
2: et celuy qui commence	cesmachine	ces machine
2: cete ... me fait beaucoup du tort	mayson	mayson
2: il faut rendre	laiustice	la iustice
2: et tous nos	inmis	inmis (ennemis)

04R7526

The starosta is present; she asked whether he had arranged anything, and he has nothing; a journey to Lublin; a report that he was with the Dominicans at the time when Dunin danced with a woman in the field. The office/place name reads serecki and the reporting name Stabrowski in the numerical text; the letters of both are clear on the image, but neither person is securely identified. They are not emended to Merecki, serejski or Dąbrowski.

A cautiously word-divided reading, retaining the source’s irregular forms:

Pan starosta serecki iest tu. Pytałam się ieżeli ma co postanowionego. Ni ma nic. Iedzie ⟨dzie⟩ do Lublina. To tesz prawda że był u dominikanow wtenczas iakeś tańcował z nią w polu. Powiedał mi Stabrowski.

‘The starosta serecki is here. I asked whether he has anything settled. He has nothing. He is going to Lublin. It is also true that he was with the Dominicans at the time when you danced with her in the field. Stabrowski told me.’ ⟨dzie⟩ marks a syllable the writer enciphered twice (M): the figures run 21 25 30 16 21 25 30 16 21 25 30 35, iedziedziedo, evenly spaced with no cancellation, so the second dzie is taken as a slip of the pen; the alternative is the dialect form dzie for gdzie, ‘somewhere’. serecki is clear on the image (36 25 37 25 29 20 21, the 20 retouched in darker ink); the starostwo it names is not identified. Other irregularities are not silently repaired.

The division iakeś tańcował, ‘when you danced’, replaces iak estancował (corrected 30 September 2026; the letter values, grade I, are unchanged). It follows the writer’s own grouping: on the image the figures 21 27 20 25 36 (iakes) close a line as one group, and 19 27 34 29 35 17 27 32 (tancowal) open the next as one group, followed by a stop. A line end alone would not settle it, since the writer also breaks words across lines (udomini|kanow, powi|edal). But jakeś tańcował is ordinary Polish, the ending -eś of the second person placed on jak, while the earlier division needs a word estancował that Polish does not have, and a lodging verb such as stancować would need a second s that the figures do not give. The change makes Dunin, the addressee, the one who danced with her, and turns the clause into a date for his visit to the Dominicans; the earlier gloss, his staying with a woman, is withdrawn. On the image the first figure of the last group is 36 (s), not 39 (p) as first transcribed: its second digit closes at the foot like the 6 of starosta, while the 9 of 39 in polu on the same line ends in a tail. The transcription was corrected on 30 September 2026, and the name reads Stabrowski, an existing surname, instead of p. Tabrowski.

Literal unspaced output

panstarostasereckiiesttupytalamsieiezelimacopostanowionegonimaniciedziedziedolublinatoteszprawdazebyludominikanowwtenczasiakestancowalzniawpolupowiedalmistabrowski

05R7527

The palatine of Vilna's obligation for sant mil fran on Bychow; measures to take and distrust of 94's help. The reverse concerns an accusation against the marshal of Lithuania, Biegański's confession to his father, a letter to 100, a letter through the grand chancellor, and an oath. The allegation is the correspondent's account, not an independently verified event.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
2: ce que le	palatin	palatin
2: de	wilna	Wilna
2: luy a done un	obligation	obligation
2: pour	santmilfran	sant mil fran (cent mille francs)
2: sur le	bychow	Bychow
2: en cas sy il ne	paye	paye
2: pas dans un	ans	ans
2: il sest promit de prendre le	bychow	Bychow
2: prendre	nosmesour	nos mesour (nos mesures)
2: jay peur que [94] ne	nousayderespas	nous ayderes pas
2: car son ... bien proche	aliance	aliance
2: luy conseille de sen	iustifie	iustifie
2: et bien	allerluymeme	aller luy meme
2: pour seure on la bien	nourit	nourit; crossed/overwritten 24 excluded, see crop
3-left: comme le ... de	marchal	marchal (marechal)
3-left: de	litwanie	Litwanie
3-left: puisque	bieganskiaconfese	Bieganski a confese
3-left: devant son	pere	pere
3-left: il a rendu la ... au 100	lestre	lestre (lettre)
3-left: et quand le	marchal	marchal (marechal)
3-left: luy ... cete afaire au 94	resproche	resproche (reproche)
3-right: cest luy qui a ... tout	fomonte	fomonte (fomente)
3-right: tout	cela	cela
3-right: il a done un ... par grand	lestre	lestre (lettre)
3-right: grand	chancelier	chancelier
3-right: de sa propre	main	main
3-right: luy	exeusant	exeusant (excusant; 25 could be 29)
3-right: il a pourtant solicite le	marchal	marchal (marechal)
3-right: de luy faire le	serment	serment
3-right: quil	tegn	tegn (unclear spelling; likely tienne)
3-right: avec	luy	luy
3-right: dans	toulmal	tou l mal (tout le mal)
3-right: ou	bien	bien
3-right: vous pouvez faire quelque chose	mouese	mouese (mauvaise)
3-right: et cela	tombap	tombap (unclear ending; likely tombe)
3-right: sur	moy	moy

06R7528

Rakiszki, the palatine of Mścisław, and property/reformation involving the first husband, Kroszyński. The second surname spelling is irregular (Krodyznski).

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
1: la poste passee sur	rakiszki	Rakiszki
1: Mr le	palatine	palatine
1: de	mscislawi	Mscislawi; verify
1: sur le	tere	tere (terre)
1: de reformation de sa premiere mary	kroszynski	Kroszynski
3-left: je les voy parler a	krodyznski	Krodyznski: irregular surname spelling, cf Kroszynski in the same letter

07R7529

Clear French says that since 10 May the clef is rompue and there is no way to loubrire. Another passage says someone has the clef in ceur. These report trouble using the cipher; they do not establish interception or cryptanalytic compromise. Later cipher words are rayne and maitresse.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
2: depuis [10] may que cete ... est rompue	clef	clef
2: na plus moyen de	loubrire	loubrire (l ouvrir); overwritten sign excluded
5-right: il me dit quil a la ... en	clef	clef
5-right: en	ceur	ceur (coeur)
6-right: la	rayne	rayne (reine)
6-right: et point de	maitresse	maitresse

08R7530

The grand treasurer, a confederation, the surrender of an army, and evidence concerning the arrival of a morcowide (probably Moscovite). Some number sequences yield corrupt spellings; the letter is not treated as a fluent verified transcript.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
1: avec	grande	grande
1: title continued	tresrorier	tresrorier; overwritten sign needs note
2: de son	arme	arme
2: au	connedere	connedere: intended confedere; substitution errors n/f and d/f
2: beaucoup de chose	contrelue	contre lue
2: celuy qui a fait	uenir	u venir
2: le	morcowide	morcowide: likely Moscovite, original irregular spelling
2: et on a le	document	document

09R7534

Deputies, libertation, a doubtful zaia[73]d (possibly Polish zajazd), Bychowa, Białystok, Tykocin and Rybiński. Codes 87, 94 and 270 remain open.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
1: plusieurs	depute	depute
1: avoir par luy	libertation	libertation
2: pour	zaia<73>d	zaia[73]d; probably zajazd, but 73 unvalued
2: place	bychowa	Bychowa
2: tout droit a	bialstok	Bialstok (Bialystok)
3-left: destre	tykoccin	Tykoccin (Tykocin); preceding a is cleartext
3-left: avec	rybinski	Rybinski

10R7535

Children and a brother, being Saxon, Dunin's house, Chomiński and an ensign; court correspondence, the marshal and his father, Menzykw (possibly Menshikov), the queen and the prince of Courland.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
2: jusque a leur	fils	fils
2: destre	saxon	saxon
2: particulierement son propre	frere	frere
2: sur vostre	maisson	maisson
2-bottom: la cest	chominski	Chominski
2-bottom: et vostre	ensegne	ensegne
2-margin: le	oszmiana	Oszmiana
3-right: escrive a	lacour	la cour
3-right: que	marszalek	marszalek
3-right: et son	per	per (pere)
3-right: il se	mel	mel (mele)
3-right: cete afaire a	chominski	Chominski
3-right: vendu ... a	menzykw	Menzykw (Menshikov): possible omitted o
3-right: puisque la	reine	reine
3-right: prince de	courlande	Courlande

11R7536

A disturbed seal and concern over correspondence; instructions to route letters via a name resembling Königsberg, followed by an unidentified Kinnik. The writer expects delay but greater safety. The reverse considers her security, lodging in case of war, keeping Dunin's wife company and a safeguard.

Image / clear anchor	Literal cipher output	Editorial interpretation or uncertainty
1: que vous	adressieuosleritre	adressie vos leritre: address your letters; some surplus letters or digit misreadings
1: par	keinisberkakinnik	Keinisberk a Kinnik: Konigsberg to Kinnig? verify name
1: quoy que	restarderono	restarderono (retarderont)
1: quelque	iours	iours
1: mais il seront plus	seur	seur
3-left: de mon	seurte	seurte (surete)
3-left: ou	iemodoitloge	ie mo doit loge (je me dois loger)
3-left: en cas de la	guere	guere
3-left: tenir la	companie	companie
3-left: a vostre	famme	famme
3-left: et pour le	sauwegarde	sauwegarde

12Method and limits

Solver runs with a French language model failed. A simple-substitution solver with a Polish language model recovered the R7526 alphabet, and the key was tested on eight other letters before the remaining figures were assigned. Repeated words and names confirmed the higher homophones. Full-resolution crops and a final check of every page corrected transcribed figures, added the cipher on R7527’s reverse, and counted the standalone codes.

Three Sanguszko key records (R7515, R7460, R7461) were inspected and ruled out by their signs or numerical values. Searches for editions, these correspondents and the shelfmarks found contextual references but no matching key or plaintext. Further correspondence is catalogued without online images located here. No earlier decipherment was found; that does not prove none exists.

13What remains uncertain

Re-measured 5 October 2026. measure_sense.py checks each segment word by word in the writer’s spelling: Potocka’s nine letters 844 of 886 tokens (95.3%) read as sense (R7525 96.4, R7526 100, R7527 94.3, R7528 98.0, R7529 97.1, R7530 96.8, R7534 82.8, R7535 96.0, R7536 93.1). Unread: zaia[73]d, a Kinnik, tegn, tomb·ap (19 tokens), re-read at full resolution.
Potocka codes 87, 94, 100, 270, 23 occurrences: context suggests roles but does not identify exact entries; no matching nomenclator.
R7534 exceptional figure 73 in zaia[73]d: one occurrence, no independent key, proposed zajazd does not justify assigning a value.
M-grade names and anomalous sequences in reading.md, especially the unidentified starosta serecki and Stabrowski, the dittography ⟨dzie⟩, Krodyznski, connedere/morcowide, Keinisberk a Kinnik, tegn and tombap: image ambiguities or possible original enciphering/spelling errors, no parallel witness. Literal decryptions and editorial suggestions are kept apart.

Across the nine letters, 862/886 cipher tokens have a value (97.3%). The conservative coherence count is 745/886 (84.1%): it excludes entire doubtful segments, so it is a lower bound, not an error-rate estimate. Raw output, editorial interpretation and confidence are kept distinct in the complete segment reading.

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.

R7525, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7525 of reading.md)

Horyhorki and court influence: code 94 wants to be alone in the credit of 100; a house causes the writer harm; justice and enemies.

Transcription

R7525-cipher.txt

22 35 37 15 44 70 74 20 21 25 36 19 37 25 36 25 18 31 29 37 25 30 21 19 29 25 36 33 26 29 22 21 34 25 33 26 15 36 35 34 31 26 21 18 36 19 21 29 25 21 34 33 21 36 94 100

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7525_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7525 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7525, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

Pour ⟦Horyhorki⟧ qui l'a oblige

Mais le <94> veut ⟦estre seul⟧ dans le ⟦credit⟧ du <100>.

Et celuy qui commence ⟦ces machine⟧

Cete ⟦mayson⟧ me fait beaucoup du tort.

Il faut rendre ⟦la iustice⟧

et tous nos ⟦inmis⟧

Translation

R7525_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7525_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7525, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

For ⟦Horyhorki⟧, who obliged him

But <94> wants ⟦to be alone⟧ in the ⟦credit⟧ of <100>.

And the one who begins ⟦these machinations⟧

This ⟦house⟧ does me a great deal of harm.

One must do ⟦justice⟧

and all our ⟦enemies⟧

R7526, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7526 of reading.md)

the starosta is present; she asked whether he had arranged anything, and he has nothing; a journey to Lublin; a report that he was with the Dominicans at the time when Dunin danced with a woman in the field (*iakeś tańcował*, corrected 30 Sept 2026, item 7). The office/place name reads *serecki* and the reporting name *Stabrowski* (corrected from *p. Tabrowski*, item 8); the letters are clear, the persons unidentified. Do not silently replace them with Merecki, *serejski* or Dąbrowski.

Transcription

R7526-cipher.txt

39 27 34 36 19 27 37 35 36 19 27 36 25 37 25 29 20 21 21 25 36 19 19 18 39 15 19 27 32 27 33 36 21 25 21 25 16 25 31 21 33 27 29 35 39 35 36 19 27 34 35 17 21 35 34 25 23 35 34 21 33 27 34 21 29 21 25 30 16 21 25 30 16 21 25 30 35 31 18 28 31 21 34 27 19 35 19 25 36 16 39 37 27 17 30 27 16 25 28 15 32 18 30 35 33 21 34 21 20 27 34 35 17 17 19 25 34 29 16 27 36 21 27 20 25 36 19 27 34 29 35 17 27 32 16 34 21 27 17 39 35 31 18 39 35 17 21 25 30 27 32 33 21 36 19 27 28 37 35 17 36 20 21

Transcription

r7526-trial.txt

39 27 34 36 19 27 37 35 36 19 27 36 25 37 25 29 20 21 21 25 36 19
19 18 39 15 19 27 32 27 33 36 21 25 21 25 16 25 31 21 33 27
29 35 39 35 36 19 27 34 35 17 21 35 34 25 23 35 34 21 33 27 34 21 29
21 25 30 16 21 25 30 16 21 25 30 35 31 18 28 31 21 34 27 19 35
19 25 36 16 39 37 27 17 30 27 16 25 28 15 32 18 30 35 33 21 34 21
20 27 34 35 17 17 19 25 34 29 16 27 36 21 27 20 25 36
19 27 34 29 35 17 27 32 16 34 21 27 17 39 35 31 18 39 35 17 21
25 30 27 32 33 21 36 19 27 28 37 35 17 36 20 21

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7526_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7526 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7526, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

Postscript. ⟦Pan starosta serecki iest tu. Pytalam sie iezeli ma co postanowionego. Ni ma nic. Iedzie dzie do Lublina. To tesz prawda ze byl u dominikanow wtenczas iakes tancowal z nia w polu. Powiedal mi Stabrowski.⟧

Translation

R7526_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7526_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7526, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

Postscript. ⟦The starosta serecki is here. I asked whether he has anything settled. He has nothing. He is going to Lublin. It is also true that he was with the Dominicans at the time when you danced with her in the field. Stabrowski told me so.⟧

R7527, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7527 of reading.md)

the palatine of Vilna's obligation for *sant mil fran* on Bychow; measures to take and distrust of 94's help. The reverse concerns an accusation against the marshal of Lithuania, Biegański's confession to his father, a letter to 100, a letter through the grand chancellor, and an oath. The allegation is the correspondent's account, not an independently verified event.

Transcription

R7527-cipher.txt

39 26 31 52 19 21 34 17 21 31 34 26 35 28 31 21 23 26 19 42 35 34 36 26 34 19 33 21 31 24 37 26 34 28 15 29 22 35 17 39 26 15 25 26 34 36 28 15 29 22 35 17 34 35 36 33 25 36 35 18 37 34 35 18 36 26 15 30 25 37 25 36 39 26 36 26 31 21 52 34 29 25 21 18 36 19 21 24 21 25 26 31 62 25 37 31 18 15 33 25 33 50 34 35 18 37 21 19 33 26 37 29 22 52 31 31 21 19 17 26 34 21 25 28 21 25 23 26 34 36 20 42 26 29 35 34 24 25 36 25 39 25 37 50 31 25 36 19 37 50 33 26 37 29 22 52 31 37 25 36 39 37 35 58 44 50 24 35 33 70 34 19 25 29 25 31 26 31 25 36 19 37 50 29 22 26 34 58 25 31 21 50 37 33 26 21 34 25 14 25 18 36 26 34 19 33 26 37 29 22 52 31 36 25 37 33 50 34 19 19 25 23 34 31 18 15 19 35 18 31 33 26 31 28 21 25 34 33 35 18 25 36 50 19 35 33 28 52 78 33 35 15 94 100 94 94 100 94 100 94 94

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7527_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7527 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7527, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

Ce que le ⟦palatin⟧ de ⟦Wilna⟧ luy a done un ⟦obligation⟧ pour ⟦sant mil fran⟧ sur le ⟦Bychow⟧; en cas sy il ne ⟦paye⟧ pas dans un ⟦ans⟧, il sest promit de prendre le ⟦Bychow⟧.

prendre ⟦nos mesour⟧

Jay peur que <94> ne ⟦nous ayderes pas⟧, car son ⟦aliance⟧ bien proche.

luy conseille de sen ⟦iustifie⟧ et bien ⟦aller luy meme⟧

Pour seure on la bien ⟦nourit⟧.

comme le ⟦marchal⟧ de ⟦Litwanie⟧

Puisque ⟦Bieganski a confese⟧ devant son ⟦pere⟧

il a rendu la ⟦lestre⟧ au <100>.

Et quand le ⟦marchal⟧

luy ⟦resproche⟧ cete afaire au <94>

Cest luy qui a ⟦fomonte⟧ tout ⟦cela⟧.

Il a done un ⟦lestre⟧ par grand ⟦chancelier⟧

de sa propre ⟦main⟧

luy ⟦exeusant⟧

Il a pourtant solicite le ⟦marchal⟧ de luy faire le ⟦serment⟧ quil ⟦tegn⟧ avec ⟦luy⟧

dans ⟦tou l mal⟧ ou ⟦bien⟧.

vous pouvez faire quelque chose ⟦mouese⟧

et cela ⟦tombap⟧ sur ⟦moy⟧.

Translation

R7527_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7527_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7527, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

That the ⟦palatine⟧ of ⟦Wilna⟧ has given him an ⟦obligation⟧ for ⟦a hundred thousand francs⟧ on ⟦Bychow⟧; in case he does not ⟦pay⟧ within a ⟦year⟧, he has promised himself to take ⟦Bychow⟧.

to take ⟦our measures⟧

I fear that <94> will ⟦not help us⟧, for his ⟦alliance⟧ very close.

advises him to ⟦justify⟧ himself and indeed ⟦to go himself⟧

For certain they have ⟦fostered⟧ it well.

as the ⟦marshal⟧ of ⟦Lithuania⟧

Since ⟦Bieganski has confessed⟧ before his ⟦father⟧

he has handed the ⟦letter⟧ to <100>.

And when the ⟦marshal⟧

⟦reproaches⟧ him this affair to <94>

It is he who has ⟦fomented⟧ all ⟦that⟧.

He has given a ⟦letter⟧ through the grand ⟦chancellor⟧

in his own ⟦hand⟧

⟦excusing⟧ him

He has nevertheless asked the ⟦marshal⟧ to swear him the ⟦oath⟧ that he ⟦[?hold]⟧ with ⟦him⟧

in ⟦all the harm⟧ or ⟦good⟧.

you can do something ⟦bad⟧

and that ⟦[?falls]⟧ on ⟦me⟧.

R7528, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7528 of reading.md)

Rakiszki, the palatine of Mścisław, and property/reformation involving the first husband, Kroszyński. The second surname spelling is irregular (*Krodyznski*).

Transcription

R7528-cipher.txt

37 26 20 21 36 16 40 21 39 26 31 52 19 21 34 25 33 36 29 21 72 32 26 17 21 19 25 37 50 20 37 35 36 16 15 34 36 20 21 20 37 35 30 15 16 34 36 40 21 100

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7528_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7528 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7528, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

La poste passee sur ⟦Rakiszki⟧

Mr le ⟦palatine⟧ de ⟦[?Mscislawi]⟧

sur le ⟦tere⟧

de reformation de sa premiere mary ⟦Kroszynski⟧

Je les voy parler a ⟦Krodyznski⟧

Translation

R7528_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7528_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7528, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

Last post, concerning ⟦Rakiszki⟧

Monsieur the ⟦palatine⟧ of ⟦[?Mścisław]⟧

on the ⟦estate⟧

of reformation of her first husband ⟦Kroszynski⟧

I see them talking to ⟦Krodyznski⟧

R7529, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7529 of reading.md)

clear French says that since 10 May the *clef* is *rompue* and there is no way to *loubrire*. Another passage says someone has the *clef* in *ceur*. These report trouble using the cipher; they do not establish interception or cryptanalytic compromise. Later cipher words are *rayne* and *maitresse*.

Transcription

R7529-cipher.txt

29 31 25 24 31 35 18 28 37 21 74 50 29 31 25 24 29 25 18 37 37 26 15 34 25 33 26 21 19 37 25 36 72 25 100

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7529_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7529 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7529, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

Depuis [10] may que cete ⟦clef⟧ est rompue, na plus moyen de ⟦loubrire⟧.

Il me dit quil a la ⟦clef⟧ en ⟦ceur⟧

la ⟦rayne⟧

et point de ⟦maitresse⟧

Translation

R7529_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7529_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7529, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

Since [10] May, when this ⟦key⟧ was broken, there is no longer any means of ⟦opening it⟧.

He tells me that he has the ⟦key⟧ by ⟦heart⟧

the ⟦queen⟧

and no ⟦mistress⟧

R7530, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7530 of reading.md)

the grand treasurer, a confederation, the surrender of an army, and evidence concerning the arrival of a *morcowide* (probably Moscovite). Some number sequences yield corrupt spellings; the letter is not treated as a fluent verified transcript.

Transcription

R7530-cipher.txt

23 37 26 34 30 25 19 37 25 36 37 35 74 21 25 37 26 37 33 25 29 35 34 34 25 30 25 37 25 29 35 34 19 37 25 31 18 25 18 25 34 21 37 33 35 37 29 70 17 21 30 25 30 35 29 18 33 25 34 19 94 94

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7530_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7530 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7530, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

avec ⟦grande⟧

⟦tresrorier⟧

de son ⟦arme⟧ au ⟦connedere⟧

beaucoup de chose ⟦contre lue⟧

Celuy qui a fait ⟦u venir⟧ le ⟦morcowide⟧

et on a le ⟦document⟧.

Translation

R7530_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7530_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7530, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

with ⟦grand⟧

⟦treasurer⟧

of his ⟦army⟧ to the ⟦[?confederate]⟧

many things ⟦against him⟧

The one who had the ⟦Muscovite⟧ ⟦come⟧

and we have the ⟦document⟧.

R7534, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7534 of reading.md)

deputies, *libertation*, a doubtful *zaia[73]d* (possibly Polish *zajazd*), Bychowa, Białystok, Tykocin and Rybiński. Codes 87, 94 and 270 remain open.

Transcription

R7534-cipher.txt

30 25 39 18 19 25 31 21 28 25 37 19 26 19 21 35 34 16 26 21 52 73 30 28 15 29 22 35 17 26 28 21 26 32 36 19 35 20 19 15 20 35 29 29 21 34 37 15 28 21 34 36 20 21 87 270 94 270

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7534_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7534 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7534, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

plusieurs ⟦depute⟧

avoir par luy ⟦libertation⟧

pour ⟦zaia<73>d⟧

place ⟦Bychowa⟧

tout droit a ⟦Bialstok⟧

destre a ⟦Tykoccin⟧ avec ⟦Rybinski⟧

Translation

R7534_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7534_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7534, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

several ⟦deputies⟧

to have through him ⟦liberation⟧

for ⟦[?zajazd, armed seizure]⟧

the place ⟦Bychów⟧

straight to ⟦Białystok⟧

to be at ⟦Tykocin⟧ with ⟦Rybinski⟧

R7535, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7535 of reading.md)

children and a brother, being Saxon, Dunin's house, Chomiński and an ensign; court correspondence, the marshal and his father, *Menzykw* (possibly Menshikov), the queen and the prince of Courland.

Transcription

R7535-cipher.txt

24 21 31 36 36 26 14 35 34 24 37 25 74 25 33 26 21 36 72 35 34 35 36 16 33 21 26 34 52 29 22 35 33 21 34 36 20 21 25 34 36 50 23 34 25 31 26 29 35 18 37 33 26 37 36 16 52 32 25 20 39 25 37 33 25 31 29 22 35 33 21 34 36 20 21 33 25 34 16 15 20 17 37 25 21 34 50 29 35 18 37 31 26 34 30 50 100 94 94 94

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7535_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7535 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7535, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

jusque a leur ⟦fils⟧

destre ⟦saxon⟧

particulierement son propre ⟦frere⟧

sur vostre ⟦maisson⟧

le ⟦Oszmiana⟧

(margin)

La cest ⟦Chominski⟧ et vostre ⟦ensegne⟧

escrive a ⟦la cour⟧

que ⟦marszalek⟧

et son ⟦per⟧

il se ⟦mel⟧

cete afaire a ⟦Chominski⟧

vendu

a ⟦Menzykw⟧

puisque la ⟦reine⟧

prince de ⟦Courlande⟧

Translation

R7535_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7535_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7535, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

even to their ⟦son⟧

to be ⟦Saxon⟧

particularly his own ⟦brother⟧

on your ⟦house⟧

the ⟦Oszmiana⟧

(margin)

There it is ⟦Chominski⟧ and your ⟦ensign⟧

writes to ⟦the court⟧

that ⟦marszałek⟧

and his ⟦father⟧

he ⟦meddles⟧

this affair to ⟦Chominski⟧

sold

to ⟦Menshikov⟧

since the ⟦queen⟧

prince of ⟦Courland⟧

R7536, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7536 of reading.md)

a disturbed seal and concern over correspondence; instructions to route letters via a name resembling Königsberg, followed by an unidentified *Kinnik*. The writer expects delay but greater safety. The reverse considers her security, lodging in case of war, keeping Dunin's wife company and a safeguard.

Transcription

R7536-cipher.txt

36 25 18 37 19 50 21 25 33 35 30 35 21 19 31 35 23 25 23 18 25 37 50 29 35 33 39 26 34 21 25 24 26 33 66 25 36 26 18 17 25 23 26 37 30 50 26 30 37 25 72 36 21 50 18 35 36 31 25 74 21 19 37 50 20 21 34 42 36 28 25 37 20 52 40 21 34 68 42 20 37 25 36 19 26 74 30 25 37 35 34 35 21 35 18 37 36 36 25 18 37

Decryption: reading.md

Reading

R7536_reading.md

<!-- Reading of section R7536 of reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: the letter is in clear French with short cipher insertions, and the repository holds only the insertions with their clear anchor words, not the letter. Each line puts the decoded insertion(s), in ⟦ ⟧, into its clear anchor; spelling as the figures give it; one anchor phrase per line (the clear text between two phrases is not in the repository); <94>, <100> are unvalued name codes. -->

# R7536, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: cipher insertions in their clear anchors

## Reading

de mon ⟦seurte⟧ ou ⟦ie mo doit loge⟧ en cas de la ⟦guere⟧

tenir la ⟦companie⟧ a vostre ⟦famme⟧ et pour le ⟦sauwegarde⟧

que vous ⟦adressie vos leritre⟧ par ⟦Kinisberk a Kinnik⟧

Quoy que ⟦restarderono⟧ quelque ⟦iours⟧, mais il seront plus ⟦seur⟧.

Translation

R7536_en.md

<!-- English translation of R7536_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). An excerpt: only the cipher insertions (in ⟦ ⟧) with their clear anchor words are in the repository, not the whole letter; one phrase per line; <94>, <100> unvalued name codes. -->

# R7536, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin [1714]: English translation (excerpt)

of my ⟦safety⟧ where ⟦I must lodge⟧ in case of ⟦war⟧

to keep ⟦company⟧ with your ⟦wife⟧ and for the ⟦safeguard⟧

that you ⟦address your letters⟧ by way of ⟦Königsberg to Kinnik⟧

Although ⟦they will be delayed⟧ some ⟦days⟧, they will be ⟦safer⟧.

Key: key-potocka.json

14Sources and reproducibility

Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie, Archiwum Sanguszków: the nine DECODE records linked in the document table. Related correspondence is catalogued as 29/637/0/1.3/9477, not established here as a duplicate of these letters. All ciphertext, the recovered key, the failed solver trials, the control and token-level measurements are in the repository. Run prepare_reading.py to reproduce the literal output and coverage.

Research notes, transcription, key and scripts. DECODE updates are queued, not submitted; the public reading files contain encrypted-passage extracts with gaps for omitted clear prose.

Figure	Letter
14	x
15	y
16	z
17	w
18	u
19	t
20	k
21	i
22	h
23	g
24	f
25	e
26	a
27	a
28	b
29	c
30	d
31	l
32	l
33	m
34	n
35	o
36	s
37	r
38	q
39	p
40	k
42	i
44	h
46	g
48	f
50	e
52	a
54	a
56	b
58	c
60	d
62	l
64	l
66	m
68	n
70	o
72	s
74	r
76	q
78	p

Figure	Letter
14	x
15	y
16	z
17	w
18	u
19	t
20	k
21	i
22	h
23	g
24	f
25	e
26	a
27	a
28	b
29	c
30	d
31	l
32	l
33	m
34	n
35	o
36	s
37	r
38	q
39	p
40	k
42	i
44	h
46	g
48	f
50	e
52	a
54	a
56	b
58	c
60	d
62	l
64	l
66	m
68	n
70	o
72	s
74	r
76	q
78	p

Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin, 1714–1716

01The documents and the evidence

02The recovered alphabet

03R7525

04R7526

05R7527

06R7528

07R7529

08R7530

09R7534

10R7535

11R7536

12Method and limits

13What remains uncertain

Full texts

R7525, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7525 of reading.md)

R7526, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7526 of reading.md)

R7527, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7527 of reading.md)

R7528, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7528 of reading.md)

R7529, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7529 of reading.md)

R7530, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7530 of reading.md)

R7534, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7534 of reading.md)

R7535, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7535 of reading.md)

R7536, Barbara Potocka to Jakub Dunin (cipher passages; section R7536 of reading.md)

14Sources and reproducibility

Figure	Letter
14	x
15	y
16	z
17	w
18	u
19	t
20	k
21	i
22	h
23	g
24	f
25	e
26	a
27	a
28	b
29	c
30	d
31	l
32	l
33	m
34	n
35	o
36	s
37	r
38	q
39	p
40	k
42	i
44	h
46	g
48	f
50	e
52	a
54	a
56	b
58	c
60	d
62	l
64	l
66	m
68	n
70	o
72	s
74	r
76	q
78	p