A Gonzaga agent in Rome, 9 August 1428

At a glanceCiphertext-only break · complete

The letter: An unnamed Gonzaga agent, signing with a lozenge mark, to Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, lord of Mantua, Rome, 9 August 1428. All 37 lines are in cipher.
Where: Archivio di Stato di Mantova, Archivio Gonzaga. DECODE R1854, image 2: the record has five images, catalogued as one letter of unknown sender and recipient.
The cipher: A homophonic substitution in graphic signs and digits: about forty letter signs, a dozen nulls, signs for con, et and -rum, and two word codes.
How it was deciphered: A solver (simulated annealing on a Latin language model) recovered the key from the ciphertext alone; every sign was then checked on the image.
What it says: A countess agrees to her daughter’s match with a Gonzaga son, but her subjects object that Mantua is too far and “Carolus est nimis iuvenis ad talia”.
Still open: One word code used once, and about 45 signs in doubtful spans.

DECODE R1854 holds four letters to Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, each in a different cipher, and each has its own page: Pandolfo Malatesta, 22 April 1428 (not solved), an informant at Forlì, 6 November 1428 and Francesco de’ Cattanei, February 1430. They were written up together until 14 October 2026.

01 The record and the register

DECODE R1854 “Mantova enciphered letters” has five images (I8411–I8415), catalogued as “unknown” with graphic signs. Each sheet has an archivist’s note at the top: “1428 · 22 ap(ri)le Roma” (stamped 23), “1428 · 9 Ag.to Roma” (24), “1428 · 6 novembre Forlì” (26), and so on. This page is image 2. The images are not in the public domain, so none is reproduced here.

The companion record R1853 “Mantova keys” is the Gonzaga chancery register of ciphers, begun about 1401. Its first folio lists “Zifra cum Malatesta d(omi)ni Pandulfi”, “Zifra nova cum fratribus de Malatestis” and two keys “cum Karolo de Malatestis”, and later folios have keys dated 1406–1419. All are simple substitutions in letters and digits, and none gives sense on this letter. The other Mantua records on DECODE (R7858–R7888, Archivio Gonzaga E.I.2 busta 423) are sixteenth- and seventeenth-century keys.

02 Rome, 9 August 1428: a marriage for the Gonzaga

The whole letter is in cipher: 37 lines of graphic signs and digits, dated in clear “Rome die viiii augusti”. It uses about forty letter signs, a dozen nulls, syllable signs for con, et and -rum, and two word codes, one of them twice in “in domo [·] Senensis” and “cum prefato [·]”, that is, the cardinal of Siena. The opening, as deciphered:

Heri Iohannes de Orlandis, quam primum me vidit, dixit michi quod ser Victorius eomet die venit ad ipsum dicens dominam comitissam velle facere id totum quod placet et Iohanni predicto. Verum quia ipse incipiebat tunc prandere, dixit se ad eum reversurum et dicturum latius de ista materia. Postea cum heri sero plures essemus congregati in domo [cardinalis] Senensis pro quodam actu scolastico et cenaturi cum prefato [cardinali] …

Ser Vittorio goes on to report the countess’s answer: as far as she is concerned she agrees to the match of her daughter, but her subjects are not content, “quia dominatio vestra nimium distat, si ibi contingeret aliquod sinistrum; et quod Carolus est nimis iuvenis ad talia”. The bridegroom under discussion is Gianfrancesco’s son Carlo, then eleven. The cousins of domina Palma and Antonio Colonna, the pope’s nephew, appear as parties to the negotiation. Line 28, read on 5 October 2026 from the re-fetched image: persuaserat matri et filie ut vellent vendere terras ipsas. The full text, with the doubtful spans marked, is in reading_p2.md.

03 Method

The transcription was made from the DECODE image, in crops at 4–13×. The triangle sign is followed by sign 17 in 21 of its 29 occurrences, which fixed q and u. A homophonic annealer on the project’s shared Latin model then produced Latin words, and per-sign and per-occurrence rescoring separated nulls and look-alike glyphs, confirmed on the image: a bold ∇ is s while a thin dotted ∇ is a null, and a tailed circle is p while a plain circle is h. The key was tested against chance and overfitting with a letter model (docs/_validate.py, re-run on this letter alone on 14 October 2026): it passes.

04 What remains uncertain

1,757 of 1,802 signs (97.5%) read as sense, re-counted 5 October 2026.
The word code in “in filium [·]” (once), and about 45 signs in doubtful spans (lines 15, 27, 31–32), for example “habet [in] num[ero] de ve[..]”; grades M–I.
The writer is not named; he signs with a lozenge mark.

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.

Unnamed Gonzaga agent to Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, Rome, 9 Aug 1428 (DECODE R1854 image 2)

Marriage negotiations reported through ser Vittorio and Giovanni de Orlandis: a countess agrees to the match of her daughter; the subjects object that the lord of Mantua is too far away and that 'Carolus est nimis iuvenis ad talia' (Carlo Gonzaga, b. 1417); Antonio Colonna and the cousins of domina Palma are mentioned.

Transcription

p2v3.txt

# R1854 p.2 second pass (5x crops). o=plain circle, q=circle with tail (o-/ơ), f=φ, F=crossed φ, b=Ƭ/ƀ, g=ꞡ, j=ɟ
L01: M o 7 & 19 r 20 ih 1 o 2 P # i V w 14 ii & V wq = + P w f V A 17 13 g q _ & r # _ g j F g g 7 12 ih w W r N w K
L02: f b ih N g K r _ T o f A j 16 w V 7 & _ 19 v 12 ih T ii & 20 f 17 V 14 ii g 7 N w # r i 12 14 _ # K P ih N + w
L03: r q V 19 17 g w F v f T 7 P V w 1 g ih P # Y 2 M g T ii g r N ih V 13 g W 17 7 = 18 2 T i & 20 14 ih w N 1 K
L04: N 17 g A 17 16 Y w q = + T 14 N O S f 1 o 13 P ih q & 7 w r T N ii ? 17 7 & 12 g A j ih + K f q V 7 ih P T f
L05: q r 7 U 2 K Y # E 19 W N 17 P T q & 2 ? P w 14 & Y 14 w ih b v F r N V i + w 14 17 g & 7 j i & M V 7 8t
L06: S w ih T N 12 8t = + N # r j V w 7 f V W N + wq g 2 N 7 & ih 2 q 1 V N 7 2 T j g o i & _ W ih V 14
L07: & 1 q = 17 Y & i V 7 K # V 14 g 12 V 3 9 & i W 9 2 N ih f M P w 16 g 1 ARW V 7 P i P V f i V 19 V q wq K & ii
L08: A 17 16 w 13 g + T N 17 V T ii = 2 V 20 N Y ih T 16 W S T 7 P 2 N 17 & f T 19 17 g q & 7 8 2 N ii _ ARW
L09: T j Y g 8 ii & 14 g ih P 2 12 = + 13 N 7 T i P 13 g 7 T T i V 14 & 12 ih # T N 1 W & ih 17 V P 13 g 3 17 i & V 2
L10: N g & f U ih w 7 g A 17 ih 2 f U r M _ 8 ih = f 12 g o 2 U 7 N 17 14 P Y W ih N 2 w g 7 A 17 ih N 13 K P w
L11: 7 g q ii V N _ V 2 = 17 N _ + N ih ii P i g w f D b ih N 17 14 & U + q & ii = ih b + V 7 w 3 T = j K 19 V f F
L12: 17 i A W 12 16 w w ih i f 1 17 r V 20 V q & ii b ih g 16 17 14 P ih 7 P V w 7 T 2 = + U & ih 2 N & 13 K # P V ih 17 f N q
L13: 7 & & ii g 2 g T j g 17 P ii 3 V 1 U v & ih P ii w 16 g f P 14 q 2 = g 7 V ii T ih 2 P N 7 17 P 2 g q & Y # ii q W &q
L14: v & ih 2 g V ii & 1 _ # & 7 g V 12 q & 13 17 M 19 r N 7 & U f 17 g P 12 q Y N + g ih P w 7 A 17 i W & 14 12 7 & V 17 V 8
L15: j f N q wq & 7 T 7 w i P # Y N ih w r 14 S A 12 ii w o 2 U 7 N g P 17 g U w i 12 7 2 w K M O 7 b o + & N 7 2 = ih ii 8t N &
L16: ih 17 g 3 V ii U & f P Y 1 8t w 1 g W ih P wq 7 q 2 = g i 12 w A 12 ii V 17 ih T N ii & W r 17 V w ih T f N + P N 1 P
L17: f wq 17 F v g T ii = 17 g Y P 2 wq g V 7 V i P q 14 & & 7 N K j = r V 7 i b ii P P 7 & + P w ii V 14 S w K ih T 7 P
L18: w 1 7 ii V P 16 f P 3 N 7 P N + & _ 19 ih A 17 16 w U & 7 17 2 3 N f P P 14 M N ih q V W r V f q = 2 # T 7 & 14
L19: ? i = K ih U 7 & 2 N f ii P 14 F g O S ih V N 7 A 17 13 & N g v 3 V W V ii U & r P 17 V ih P V 12 1 & 7 w ih N 17
L20: 12 r V ih N + U Y # f N O w ih r N 17 & j V pp 17 ii = 12 P N + N 7 g V 17 13 K g S + = r ii 8t 17 N 8 ih 13 N
L21: w 7 = ih U i & 2 N ih 1 O 2 w A 17 ii w 7 1 V W 17 ih T N 1 & ih 17 V K _ r P T = ih P 2 V 7 F V Y V 14
L22: f 2 T N 2 N S A 17 1 F v w T ii g ih N f V 2 g ih N W r N O w ih T 7 & Y K 14 V ih T 17 N 2 = f + V
L23: q 7 & 7 17 g g ih V r N A 17 ii F 19 w A j + P N 12 g ih P 7 + i V N K f q wq V 2 3 N 7 P N 2 N 17 & w 7 w 14
L24: = ih U 14 wq & + N ih 1 # P 7 O V 7 w A 17 1 w V j U w r N f P ii Y P j ih w 7 U 2 P N 17 & U i P 7 Y 3 N 14 P N ih A j _
L25: ih 2 w ii g f P 2 N r 1 17 i V N & 2 P ih g f 17 g w ih V N 2 N V W r f U ih Y 3 N ih P j 7 & i N + = ih A 17 ii w
L26: V ih P r V ? & 19 K 7 # g S 4 A 17 i 16 w & 2 & ii = 17 V 7 F V N P ih g f V ih 17 12 7 P K r V + w N 2 = ih 13 r N
L27: 7 g S q 17 i = + P ii P U 7 P i 3 N 7 P N + U 13 N 17 & # P 2 f w ih T f N 17 w r T N ii & ih 17 19 20 V A 17 ii F
L28: w q 7 & V 17 2 V 7 g i & 2 N g 2 N wq v & ih S 8 f = r 7 17 1 v 17 i = 14 j 14 P w 7 & K i N 14 & + V ih
L29: M q V 2 F 19 V S A 17 ih 13 O P 1 P V T & ih q V ih N o + T 17 = N f g K + 17 Y ih T 7 P ih V f q
L30: 17 7 = 7 T wq j ih w 17 g N + b F 2 N V T & f q V ih N O q & ii q N 7 & g 2 N & ih V ih P v o 17 P T
L31: g 1 w 17 g A 17 ii w f q V 7 12 j = N # 17 N g 2 N & ih g ii P ih 17 g w 7 i + ih P 8 f = r 17 g ARO A 17 F
L32: ii w ih ? V 7 Th 2 w A W 17 7 g ih w 7 8 ih T 7 & i V q 14 T N + N 7 b N 7 V N K 2 g 14 P N ii V
L33: F j ih q 2 N & f K W V w 7 = ih U i & 2 j ih N w 7 U v i & i 14 8 i ih 7 & f ii g P i ih P 1 8 f W 2 N ih q V 13
L34: + v F 17 N 7 K Y g W v g 2 N # 7 & w 17 U ih N 2 P V P 7 V ih T N ii & f V 7 V w i ih b 7 & ih N O g ih N
L35: W F r V 7 ih N 7 8t wq i b T 17 V & 14 i b A 17 ih U 17 V S g 12 = N ih V 2 = 19 f ih V A 17 7 V 2 N
L36: r v F K V V 12 q 7 & 8 = 17 i w ih b f N ih q V 2 g T ii g ih N i V 2 g 8 13 T N 17 & 2 g A 17 ii w O ih 17
L37: V 7 & ih N T j ih 17 V Y 12 1 = F j P N + V 7 F V i 12 f w 7 N 12 & 17 N 8 W r 2 N

Transcription

ct_p2.txt

M o 7 & 19 r 20 ih 1 o 2 P # i V w 14 ii & V wq = + P w f V A 17 13 g q & r # g j F g g 7 12 ih w W r N w K
f b ih N g K r T o f A j 16 w V 7 & 19 v 12 ih T ii & 20 f 17 V 14 ii g 7 N w # r i 12 14 # K P ih N + w
r q V 19 17 g w F v f T 7 P V w 1 g ih P # Y 2 M g T ii g r N ih V 13 g W 17 7 = 18 2 T i & 20 14 ih w N 1 K
N 17 g A 17 16 Y w q = + T 14 N O S f 1 o 13 P ih q & 7 w r T N ii 17 7 & 12 g A j ih + K f q V 7 ih P T f
q r 7 U 2 K Y # E 19 W N 17 P T q & 2 P w 14 & Y 14 w ih b v F r N V i + w 14 17 g & 7 j i & M V 7 8t
S w ih T N 12 8t = + N # r j V w 7 f V W N + wq g 2 N 7 & ih 2 q 1 V N 7 2 T j g o i & W ih V 14
& 1 q = 17 Y & i V 7 K # V 14 g 12 V 3 9 & i W 9 2 N ih f M P w 16 g 1 ARW V 7 P i P V f i V 19 V q wq K & ii
A 17 16 w 13 g + T N 17 V T ii = 2 V 20 N Y ih T 16 W S T 7 P 2 N 17 & f T 19 17 g q & 7 8 2 N ii ARW
T j Y g 8 ii & 14 g ih P 2 12 = + 13 N 7 T i P 13 g 7 T T i V 14 & 12 ih # T N 1 W & ih 17 V P 13 g 3 17 i & V 2
N g & f U ih w 7 g A 17 ih 2 f U r M 8 ih = f 12 g o 2 U 7 N 17 14 P Y W ih N 2 w g 7 A 17 ih N 13 K P w
7 g q ii V N V 2 = 17 N + N ih ii P i g w f D b ih N 17 14 & U + q & ii = ih b + V 7 w 3 T = j K 19 V f F
17 i A W 12 16 w w ih i f 1 17 r V 20 V q & ii b ih g 16 17 14 P ih 7 P V w 7 T 2 = + U & ih 2 N & 13 K # P V ih 17 f N q
7 & & ii g 2 g T j g 17 P ii 3 V 1 U v & ih P ii w 16 g f P 14 q 2 = g 7 V ii T ih 2 P N 7 17 P 2 g q & Y # ii q W &q
v & ih 2 g V ii & 1 # & 7 g V 12 q & 13 17 M 19 r N 7 & U f 17 g P 12 q Y N + g ih P w 7 A 17 i W & 14 12 7 & V 17 V 8
j f N q wq & 7 T 7 w i P # Y N ih w r 14 S A 12 ii w o 2 U 7 N g P 17 g U w i 12 7 2 w K M O 7 b o + & N 7 2 = ih ii 8t N &
ih 17 g 3 V ii U & f P Y 1 8t w 1 g W ih P wq 7 q 2 = g i 12 w A 12 ii V 17 ih T N ii & W r 17 V w ih T f N + P N 1 P
f wq 17 F v g T ii = 17 g Y P 2 wq g V 7 V i P q 14 & & 7 N K j = r V 7 i b ii P P 7 & + P w ii V 14 S w K ih T 7 P
w 1 7 ii V P 16 f P 3 N 7 P N + & 19 ih A 17 16 w U & 7 17 2 3 N f P P 14 M N ih q V W r V f q = 2 # T 7 & 14
i = K ih U 7 & 2 N f ii P 14 F g O S ih V N 7 A 17 13 & N g v 3 V W V ii U & r P 17 V ih P V 12 1 & 7 w ih N 17
12 r V ih N + U Y # f N O w ih r N 17 & j V pp 17 ii = 12 P N + N 7 g V 17 13 K g S + = r ii 8t 17 N 8 ih 13 N
w 7 = ih U i & 2 N ih 1 O 2 w A 17 ii w 7 1 V W 17 ih T N 1 & ih 17 V K r P T = ih P 2 V 7 F V Y V 14
f 2 T N 2 N S A 17 1 F v w T ii g ih N f V 2 g ih N W r N O w ih T 7 & Y K 14 V ih T 17 N 2 = f + V
q 7 & 7 17 g g ih V r N A 17 ii F 19 w A j + P N 12 g ih P 7 + i V N K f q wq V 2 3 N 7 P N 2 N 17 & w 7 w 14
= ih U 14 wq & + N ih 1 # P 7 O V 7 w A 17 1 w V j U w r N f P ii Y P j ih w 7 U 2 P N 17 & U i P 7 Y 3 N 14 P N ih A j
ih 2 w ii g f P 2 N r 1 17 i V N & 2 P ih g f 17 g w ih V N 2 N V W r f U ih Y 3 N ih P j 7 & i N + = ih A 17 ii w
V ih P r V & 19 K 7 # g S 4 A 17 i 16 w & 2 & ii = 17 V 7 F V N P ih g f V ih 17 12 7 P K r V + w N 2 = ih 13 r N
7 g S q 17 i = + P ii P U 7 P i 3 N 7 P N + U 13 N 17 & # P 2 f w ih T f N 17 w r T N ii & ih 17 19 20 V A 17 ii F
w q 7 & V 17 2 V 7 g i & 2 N g 2 N wq v & ih S 8 f = r 7 17 1 v 17 i = 14 j 14 P w 7 & K i N 14 & + V ih
M q V 2 F 19 V S A 17 ih 13 O P 1 P V T & ih q V ih N o + T 17 = N f g K + 17 Y ih T 7 P ih V f q
17 7 = 7 T wq j ih w 17 g N + b F 2 N V T & f q V ih N O q & ii q N 7 & g 2 N & ih V ih P v o 17 P T
g 1 w 17 g A 17 ii w f q V 7 12 j = N # 17 N g 2 N & ih g ii P ih 17 g w 7 i + ih P 8 f = r 17 g ARO A 17 F
ii w ih V 7 Th 2 w A W 17 7 g ih w 7 8 ih T 7 & i V q 14 T N + N 7 b N 7 V N K 2 g 14 P N ii V
F j ih q 2 N & f K W V w 7 = ih U i & 2 j ih N w 7 U v i & i 14 8 i ih 7 & f ii g P i ih P 1 8 f W 2 N ih q V 13
+ v F 17 N 7 K Y g W v g 2 N # 7 & w 17 U ih N 2 P V P 7 V ih T N ii & f V 7 V w i ih b 7 & ih N O g ih N
W F r V 7 ih N 7 8t wq i b T 17 V & 14 i b A 17 ih U 17 V S g 12 = N ih V 2 = 19 f ih V A 17 7 V 2 N
r v F K V V 12 q 7 & 8 = 17 i w ih b f N ih q V 2 g T ii g ih N i V 2 g 8 13 T N 17 & 2 g A 17 ii w O ih 17
V 7 & ih N T j ih 17 V Y 12 1 = F j P N + V 7 F V i 12 f w 7 N 12 & 17 N 8 W r 2 N

Decryption

reading_p2.md

# R1854 image 2 — unnamed agent to Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, Rome, 9 August 1428

Whole letter in cipher (37 lines, 1,802 signs); dated in clear at the foot "Rome die viiii augusti" and signed with
a lozenge mark; archivist's note "1428 · 9 · Ag.to Roma", number 24.

Decipherment: `python show.py p2v3.txt key7.txt` (tokens `p2v3.txt`, key `key7.txt`). Below, the machine output in
word division, with editorial corrections in square brackets. `[?]` = sign unread or sign reading that makes no
sense; `(?)` = doubtful word. ARW and ARO are code signs, not letters.

## Latin

Heri Iohannes de Orlandis, quam primum me vidit, dixit michi quod ser Victorius eomet die venit ad ipsum dicens
dominam comitissam vel[le] facere id totum quod placet et Iohanni predicto. Verum quia ipse incipiebat tunc
pra[n]dere, dixit se ad eum reversurum et dicturum latius de ista materia. Postea cum heri sero plures essemus
congregati in domo [ARW = cardinalis] Senensis pro quodam actu scolastico et cenaturi cum prefato [ARW], cum forem
in aula ante cenam, ecce ser Victorius — nam conversatur ibidem, quia ibi filium habet — venit ad me et tandem post
salutationem dixit verba prolixa, sed conclusive quod die Iovis proximo, veniens de Calabria, transivit per Romam
cum uno consobrino domine Palme, sociante unam propriam sororem supra Viterbium nuptam; inde quo reversus fuit
precedenti die; et quod habet [in] num[ero?] de ve[..] ad [?] ex [p]arte aliorum trium consobrinorum domine Palme,
quos Victorius dicit Antonium Columnam se semper retulisse exonerando se et dicendo eos non contentari quod breve
contineat(?) ipsis placere [de]liberationem; et iste quartus consobrinus in suo reditu visitabit [..] iturus a[d]
voluntatem suam et aliorum ut fiat deliberatio, ad quod eos Victorius inclinasse se iactat; et quod comitissa mittit
dicere, sicut alias per eum misit, quod quantum in ea est ipsa contentatur de deliberatione, sed quod subditi non
videbantur bene contenti, quia dominatio vestra nimium distat, si ibi contingeret aliquod sinis[t]r[u]m; et quod
[C]arolus est nimis iuvenis ad talia; item et puella non bene contentabatur. Nam dicit [?] Victorius quod
persuaserat matri et filie u[t] vel(l)e(nt) vendere ter(r)as ipsas, et quia non scripsit hac ultima vice nisi puelle; que
dumtaxat scripsit propter matris [?], in hunc modum quod ipse vult ut matrimonium de ea in filium [ARO] quod [?], sed
ad quem [?] deficere respectat ex testamento sui patris, deliberavit debere fieri omnino. Fiat. Ipsa autem mater,
dubitans ne Victorius [?] dixerit, amiti(?) se iterum excusare(?); ex quibus et multis aliis que satis superflue dixit,
ipsam comitissam facturam quod iusserit, cuius voluntas esse videtur ut fiat.

## English (summary translation)

Yesterday Giovanni de Orlandis told me, as soon as he saw me, that ser Vittorio came to him that same day saying the
countess would do everything that pleased (you) and the said Giovanni; but as he was then starting his dinner, he
said he would come back and tell him more. Later, yesterday evening, when many of us were gathered in the house of the
cardinal of Siena for an academic act and to dine with the cardinal, ser Vittorio — who is often there because his son
lives there — came up to me in the hall before dinner and, after long talk, said in conclusion that last Thursday,
coming from Calabria, he passed through Rome with a cousin of lady Palma who was escorting his own sister, married
beyond Viterbo, and returned the day before; that on behalf of the three other cousins of lady Palma, Antonio Colonna
has always excused himself, saying they are not content …; that the countess has sent to say, as before through him,
that as far as she is concerned she agrees to the match, but her subjects did not seem content, because your
lordship is too far away if anything untoward happened there, and because Carlo is too young for such things; and the
girl was not content either … The mother, doubting …, (will) do what (you) order; her wish seems to be that it be done.

## Measure

1,802 cipher signs. Unread or not in sense: about 60 signs in the spans marked `[?]` (lines 15, 19, 26, 28, 31–35),
plus the two code signs (ARW read from context as cardinalis). Read as sense: ≈ 1,740 / 1,802 = 0.966. 5 Oct 2026: L28 "vendere terras ipsas" read (17 signs): 1,757 / 1,802 = 0.975.

Translation

R1854-P2_en.md

<!-- English translation of the Latin reading in reading_p2.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the project's decipherment of image 2 with key7.txt, editorial corrections in square brackets as there. [?] = unread sign or span, (?) = doubtful word; [ARW] read from context as "cardinal"; [ARO] an unread code sign. This replaces the summary translation in reading_p2.md with a full one. -->

# R1854 image 2, unnamed agent to Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, Rome, 9 August 1428: English translation

Yesterday Giovanni de Orlandis, as soon as he saw me, told me that ser Vittorio had come to him that same day, saying
that the lady countess [wished] to do all that pleases [you], and the aforesaid Giovanni too. But because he was then
beginning to dine, he said he would come back to him and speak more fully on this matter. Afterwards, when yesterday
evening many of us were gathered in the house of the [cardinal] of Siena for an academic act and to dine with the
aforesaid [cardinal], while I was in the hall before dinner, behold, ser Vittorio — for he frequents the place,
because he has a son there — came up to me, and at length, after greeting me, he spoke many words, but in conclusion:
that last Thursday, coming from Calabria, he passed through Rome with a cousin of lady Palma, who was escorting his
own sister, married beyond Viterbo; from there he came back the day before; and that he has [in] num[ber?] of ve[..]
to [?] on the part of the other three cousins of lady Palma, whom, Vittorio says, Antonio Colonna has always cited,
excusing himself and saying that they are not content that the brief [?contains] that the deliberation pleases them;
and that this fourth cousin, on his way back, will visit [..], going [to] his own will and that of the others, so that
the deliberation be made, to which Vittorio boasts that he has inclined them; and that the countess sends word, as she
sent at other times through him, that as far as it lies in her she is content with the deliberation, but that her
subjects did not seem well content, because your lordship is too far away, should anything untoward happen there;
and that [C]arlo is too young for such things; and also that the girl was not well content. For Vittorio [?] says that
he had persuaded mother and daughter that they should be willing to sell those lands, and because this last time he
wrote only to the girl; who wrote only on account of the mother's [?], in this manner: that he wishes the marriage of
her to the son [ARO] that [?], but to whom [?] he expects to fail under her father's testament, he has decided must by
all means be made. Let it be done. The mother herself, however, fearing that Vittorio [?] had said, [?amiti] to
[?excuse] herself again; from which, and from many other things that he said quite superfluously, [it appears that]
the countess herself will do what [you] shall order, whose will seems to be that it be done.

Key: key7.txt, keys.txt

05 Sources

DECODE R1854 (the letters, 5 images) and R1853 (the Gonzaga cipher register, 14 images), de-crypt.org/decrypt-web/RecordsView/1854. Images © Archivio di Stato di Mantova; not reproduced here, since publication needs the archive’s permission.

Transcriptions, keys, solver and reading are in the repository folder targets/r1854/; the shared solver there also served the other three letters of the record.

A Gonzaga agent in Rome to Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, 9 August 1428