Ludovico Ridolfi to the duque de Arcos, Rome, 8 May 1646

transcription.txt

# ridolfi1646 - transcription v1 of AHNOB OSUNA,C.3456,D.107 pp. 1-5 (Ludovico Ridolfi, Rome, 8 May 1646)
# One line per line of the letter. Groups of 2 digits (letters, syllables) and 3 digits (nomenclator) as written;
# X = the barred sign used as punctuation; a trailing ' = superscript dot over the group; a/b = two possible
# readings of a doubtful group (the first is used by the decryption). Made sign by sign from the PARES images
# (four passes on enlarged strips, 28 Oct 2026) and frozen before any key existed; page 5 was transcribed with
# pages 1-4 but never decoded until the single held-out measurement. "Di Roma li 8 Maggio 1646" is in clear.
# No image is included (fonds of the Archivo Historico de la Nobleza; see NOTES.md).

## page 1
1.01	X 82 25 97 40 24 29 42 75 54 43 77 65 22 74 38 20
1.02	38 25 32 20 66 80 78 25 34 42 33 31 68 41 73 36 20
1.03	36 78 67/63 23 41 37 36 98 34 62 X 22 34 38 25 42'
1.04	23 38 29 41 61 27 22 36 40 24 21 27 29 78 27 20
1.05	24 25 34 61 X 64 126 24 23 34 54 36 70 41 29 33
1.06	36 42 37 27' 23 41 42 37 71 34 107 X 54 32 20 71
1.07	43 78 64 62 27 23 36 27 21 71 41 29 26 50 38 21 41
1.08	62 42 75 78 56 59 68 X 33 37 32 23 38 41 37 38
1.09	23 42 78 25 34 42 33 31 68 41 73 36 25 36 78 67/63
1.10	23 X 97 25 27' 29 43 77 33 34 38 20 42' 37 66 34
1.11	59 89 41 54 64 101 24 23 34 27 37 36 27 21 71 41
1.12	62 X 38 29 41 97 40 24 25 36 79 40 24 21 42 75
1.13	27 20 24 25 34 60 41 33 20 42 25 41 20 66 34 59
1.14	27 22 43 75 72 89 41 61 66 34 59 41 37 54 31 65
1.15	X 38/78 29 41 73 24 21 29 22 34 27 25 56 68 72 41
1.16	33 43 78 24 29 41 42 37 52 62 31 65 X 42 29
1.17	22 24 107 42 25 41 20 42 75 78 25 75 22/27 20
1.18	43 78 70 33 121 X 21 43 32 25 24 29 41 20 51
1.19	42 37 31 68 72 40 24 21 42 78 42 37 27 23
1.20	41 42 37 X 38 23 43 41 25 36 68 29 36 43 41
1.21	25 41 21 66 34 62 42 75 78 71/21 34 107 X 68 36
1.22	29 42' 21 36 73 22 34 27/22 23 36 87/83 68 38 22 24

## page 2
2.01	62 36 75 66 72 73 72 27 22 56 31 62 20 X 54
2.02	40 24 25 36 73 33 34 107 68 36 32 20 26 51 25
2.03	51 42 37 31 68 X 42 29 31 24 22 76 41 25 36 68 22
2.04	34 27/22 20 56 68 24 21 41 42 37 52 62 31 61 29 24 21
2.05	41 42 37 62 42 75 78 72 56 59 61 X 22 34 38 20
2.06	41 77 78 29 38 33 25 27 22 24 78 20 73 36 25
2.07	36 78 67 23 X 29 43 32 20 24 23 63 78 64 33
2.08	37 66 38 25 41 61 20 34 110 72 107 X 64 34 32
2.09	25 62 70 78 31 41 20 36 71 55 36 76 X 29 66 32
2.10	20 72 42 38 25 27' 33 20 78 27 23 41' 22 29
2.11	41 37 25 34 107 X 29 27 41 21 73 25/23 36 27/22 37
2.12	41 20 64 33 36 37 31 67 27 20 42 37 42 33 25
2.13	38 29 41 38 33 20 27/22 21 41 29 25 101 X 36 29
2.14	41 97 68 36 74 51 76 41 20 64 61 121 42 33 73
2.15	34 31 32 33 68 64 32 25 26 51 20 85 43' 75 44 65
2.16	68 24 22 75 X 71 34 59 25 41 54 75 121 68 36
2.17	27 33 29 25 34 43 41 37 20 24 22 42 23 X 72
2.18	27 29 50 66 24 65 86 63 27 20 25 41' 33 24
2.19	25 75 22 36 41 37 54 72 32 20 24 21 41 42
2.20	29 36 77'/22' 78 38 21 41 40 24 21' 42' 76 42 38 33 20
2.21	31 82 29 64 90 42'/412' 29 82/62 24 36 75 66 34 83
2.22	34 89 71 34 60 42 38 21 77 29 X 54 40 24 25 36
2.23	73

## page 3
3.01	34 25 24 22 42 37 90 42' 29 44 21 41 37 X 126 66
3.02	32 25 24 29 41 21 26 50 41 33 27 29 24 78 27 23
3.03	41' 22 21 41 37 70 116 X 54 22 37 42 29 36 78 64
3.04	68 36 42 22 20 38 37 42' 33 51 60 64 59 81 36 76
3.05	42 33 27 23 36 74 27 20 38 29 41 59 27 25 41 85
3.06	31 65 36 20 25 136 X 38 21 41 29 42' 21 41 25 36
3.07	27 23 41 20 40 44 21 34 60 57 36 75 31 66 38 33 29
3.08	66 72 66 24 21 X 29 64 38 21 41 37 40 24 25 36 74
3.09	71 26 49 25 36 70 41 21 66 34 62 42 75 78 72 56 59
3.10	68 38 20 41 21 38 33 44 24 21 41 22 42 33 56 60
3.11	64 42 49 41 98 59 42 37 34 70 76 42 27 25 20
3.12	24 87 24 55 71 34 59 60 36 91 X 21 64 38 29 41
3.13	59 24 25 34 72 75 41 37 42 22 27 23 36 74 27
3.14	20 66 34 38 25 41 56 82 20 68 X 72 97 85 54
3.15	31 82 37 41 55 36 76 42 23 42 38 29 43 75 41 29
3.16	64 22 34 115 72 42 23 24 41 29 42 33 25 42
3.17	75/25 78 63 36 80 55 36 76 20 66 83 77 25 41 29
3.18	27 23 36 40 44 21 34 114 22 36 68 55 71 33 121
3.19	X 22 34 114 72 24 25 36 73 57 56 42 27 41 33 24
3.20	21 59 41 33 42 243/23 63 77 37 66 71 34 61 44 83
3.21	68 43 77 72 103 72 42 23 34 60 44 20 41 42 33

## page 4
4.01	X 29 59 42 24 25 72 85 41 42 33 27 20 38 23
4.02	62 42 37 X 29 43 33 23 32 37 85 43 78 24 21
4.03	71 41 29 60 34 21 43 76 41 29 23 41 22 82 65 61
4.04	25 74 42 37 31 68 41 25 56 41 20 36 76 X 33 34
4.05	40 24 25 60 44 37 41 29 26 50 70 41 29 25 74 71
4.06	43 78 114 X 61 73 72' 27 22 56 59 74 27/22 20 77
4.07	64 100 27 23 54 36 73 82 25 64 31 61 90 42' 29
4.08	41 37 38 25 80 77 X 38 23 22 97 42 29 66
4.09	24 23 41 21 26 50 38 41 29 24 25 60 41 21 38 21
4.10	41 85 41 61 42 52 41 42 20 41 29 25 33 27 20
4.11	38 22 71 34 61 24 83 68 43 77 X 40 24' 25
4.12	36 73 22 37 32 25 26 51 20 24 36 38 37 27 23
4.13	72 76 36 38 23 54 30 71 41 37 59 27 23 38
4.14	33 25 71 34 59 71 43 75 60 43 76 41 20 72 24/74
4.15	25 36 73 57 25 126 X 20 34 59 40 24 25 60 68
4.16	36 38 23 42' 37 72 41 25 34 43 41 37 71 34 66
4.17	83 77 23 72 53 31 61 23 66 X 42 75 36 23 42
4.18	29 36 38 41 21 66 22 55 71 42 33 56 76 41 56
4.19	68/67 X 54 27 23 36 60 55 71 42 22 55 38 20 41 37
4.20	60 64 56 42 25 41 20 70 75 42 44 51 78/28 59

## page 5
5.01	42 27 41 33 43 79/29 41 20 41 33 98 29 42 75 X
5.02	21 43 22 23 68 36 44 37 41' 29 22 64 27 23 36
5.03	59 63 36 31 32 21 47 91 X 72 42 38 29 41 25
5.04	78 53 31 61 23 66 42 33 25 27 23 41 70 42' 29 27
5.05	23 36 61 121 X 38 37 33 97 22 34 108 54 91
5.06	41 33 68 42 21 36 38 41 29 31 61 85 41 20 73
5.07	38 22 25 41 60 37 86 41 26

decryption.txt

# ridolfi1646 - mechanical decryption of transcription.txt with key.tsv, no correction.
# "·" separates groups; ". " = X; [nnn] = nomenclator group (no value applied); [nn?] = 2-digit group outside the key;
# superscript dots dropped; first reading of a/b alternatives. Pages 1-4: the key proposer's output, reproduced
# identically by our own decoder; page 5: the raw output of the single held-out measurement (frozen/mesure.out).
1.01	. ·gi·a·che·q·u·e·s·ta·ma·t·ti·na·i·du·p·a·
1.02	p·a·h·a·ne·ga·to·a·l·s·i·g·no·r·do·n·a·
1.03	n·to·ni·o·r·o·n·chi·l·lo·. ·i·l·p·a·s·
1.04	o·p·e·r·li·c·i·n·q·u·e·c·e·to·c·a·
1.05	u·a·l·li·. ·che·[126]·u·o·l·ma·n·da·r·e·i·
1.06	n·s·o·c·o·r·s·o·de·l·[107]·. ·ma·h·a·de·
1.07	t·to·che·lo·c·o·n·c·e·de·r·e·b·be·p·e·r·
1.08	lo·s·ta·to·mi·la·no·. ·i·o·h·o·p·r·o·p·
1.09	o·s·to·a·l·s·i·g·no·r·do·n·a·n·to·ni·
1.10	o·. ·che·a·c·e·t·ti·i·l·p·a·s·o·ne·l·
1.11	la·fo·r·ma·che·[101]·u·o·l·c·o·n·c·e·de·r·
1.12	lo·. ·p·e·r·che·q·u·a·n·tu·q·u·e·s·ta·
1.13	c·a·u·a·l·le·r·i·a·s·a·r·a·ne·l·la·
1.14	c·i·t·ta·di·fo·r·li·ne·l·la·r·o·ma·g·na·
1.15	. ·p·e·r·do·u·e·e·i·l·c·a·mi·no·di·r·
1.16	i·t·to·u·e·r·s·o·bo·lo·g·na·. ·s·e·
1.17	i·u·[107]·s·a·r·a·s·ta·to·a·ta·i·a·
1.18	t·to·da·i·[121]·. ·e·t·h·a·u·e·r·a·bi·
1.19	s·o·g·no·di·q·u·e·s·to·s·o·c·o·
1.20	r·s·o·. ·p·o·t·r·a·n·no·e·n·t·r·
1.21	a·r·e·ne·l·lo·s·ta·to·de·l·[107]·. ·no·n·
1.22	e·s·e·n·do·i·l·c·o·n·fi·no·p·i·u·
2.01	lo·n·ta·ne·di·do·di·c·i·mi·g·lo·a·. ·ma·
2.02	q·u·a·n·do·i·l·[107]·no·n·h·a·b·bi·a·
2.03	bi·s·o·g·no·. ·s·e·g·u·i·te·r·a·n·no·i·
2.04	l·c·a·mi·no·u·e·r·s·o·bo·lo·g·li·e·u·e·
2.05	r·s·o·lo·s·ta·to·di·mi·la·li·. ·i·l·p·a·
2.06	r·ti·to·e·p·i·a·c·i·u·to·a·do·n·a·
2.07	n·to·ni·o·. ·e·t·h·a·u·o·lu·to·che·i·
2.08	o·ne·p·a·r·li·a·l·[110]·di·[107]·. ·che·l·h·
2.09	a·lo·da·to·g·r·a·n·de·me·n·te·. ·e·ne·h·
2.10	a·di·s·p·a·c·i·a·to·c·o·r·i·e·
2.11	r·o·a·l·[107]·. ·e·c·r·e·do·a·n·c·o·
2.12	r·a·che·i·n·o·g·ni·c·a·s·o·s·i·a·
2.13	p·e·r·p·i·a·c·e·r·e·a·[101]·. ·n·e·
2.14	r·che·no·n·du·bi·te·r·a·che·li·[121]·s·i·do·
2.15	l·g·h·i·no·che·h·a·b·bi·a·fa·t·ta·u·na·
2.16	no·u·i·ta·. ·de·l·la·a·r·ma·ta·[121]·no·n·
2.17	c·i·e·a·l·t·r·o·a·u·i·s·o·. ·di·
2.18	c·e·be·ne·u·na·fe·lu·c·a·a·r·i·u·
2.19	a·ta·i·n·r·o·ma·di·h·a·u·e·r·s·
2.20	e·n·ti·to·p·e·r·q·u·e·s·te·s·p·i·a·
2.21	g·gi·e·che·fu·s·e·gi·u·n·ta·ne·l·go·
2.22	l·fo·de·l·le·s·p·e·ti·e·. ·ma·q·u·a·n·
2.23	do·
3.01	l·a·u·i·s·o·fu·s·e·u·e·r·o·. ·[126]·ne·
3.02	h·a·u·e·r·e·b·be·r·i·c·e·u·to·c·o·
3.03	r·i·e·r·o·da·[116]·. ·ma·i·o·s·e·n·to·che·
3.04	no·n·s·i·a·p·o·s·i·bi·le·che·la·ge·n·te·
3.05	s·i·c·o·n·du·c·a·p·e·r·la·c·a·r·fa·
3.06	g·na·n·a·a·[136]·. ·p·e·r·e·s·e·r·a·n·
3.07	c·o·r·a·q·u·e·l·le·mo·n·ta·g·ne·p·i·e·
3.08	ne·di·ne·u·e·. ·e·che·p·e·r·o·q·u·a·n·du·
3.09	de·b·ba·a·n·da·r·e·ne·l·lo·s·ta·to·di·mi·la·
3.10	no·p·a·r·e·p·i·u·u·e·r·i·s·i·mi·le·
3.11	che·s·ba·r·chi·la·s·o·l·da·te·s·c·a·a·
3.12	u·fi·u·me·de·l·la·le·n·za·. ·e·che·p·e·r·
3.13	la·u·a·l·di·ta·r·o·s·i·c·o·n·du·c·
3.14	a·ne·l·p·a·r·mi·gi·a·no·. ·di·che·fa·ma·
3.15	g·gi·o·r·me·n·te·s·o·s·p·e·t·ta·r·e·
3.16	che·i·l·[115]·di·s·o·u·r·e·s·i·a·s·
3.17	ta·to·lu·n·ga·me·n·te·a·ne·go·ti·a·r·e·
3.18	c·o·n·q·u·e·l·[114]·i·n·no·me·de·i·[121]·
3.19	. ·i·l·[114]·di·u·a·n·do·mo·mi·s·c·r·i·u·
3.20	e·la·r·i·s·[243]·lu·ti·o·ne·de·l·li·u·go·
3.21	no·t·ti·di·[103]·di·s·o·l·le·u·a·r·s·i·
4.01	. ·e·la·s·u·a·di·fa·r·s·i·c·a·p·o·
4.02	lo·s·o·. ·e·t·i·o·h·o·fa·t·to·u·e·
4.03	de·r·e·le·l·e·t·te·r·e·o·r·i·gi·na·li·
4.04	a·du·s·o·g·no·r·a·mi·r·a·n·te·. ·i·l·
4.05	q·u·a·le·u·o·r·e·b·be·da·r·e·a·du·de·
4.06	t·to·[114]·. ·li·do·di·c·i·mi·la·du·c·a·ti·
4.07	che·[100]·c·o·ma·n·do·gi·a·che·g·li·fu·s·e·
4.08	r·o·p·a·ga·ti·. ·p·o·i·che·s·e·ne·
4.09	u·o·r·e·b·be·p·r·e·u·a·le·r·e·p·e·
4.10	r·fa·r·li·s·bo·r·s·a·r·e·a·i·c·a·
4.11	p·i·de·l·li·u·go·no·t·ti·. ·q·u·a·
4.12	n·do·i·o·h·a·b·bi·a·u·n·p·o·c·o·
4.13	di·te·n·p·o·ma·f·de·r·o·la·c·o·p·
4.14	i·a·de·l·la·de·t·ta·le·t·te·r·a·di·u·
4.15	a·n·do·mo·a·[126]·. ·a·l·la·q·u·a·le·no·
4.16	n·p·o·s·o·di·r·a·l·t·r·o·de·l·ne·
4.17	go·ti·o·di·bu·g·li·o·ne·. ·s·ta·n·o·s·
4.18	e·n·p·r·e·ne·i·me·de·s·i·mi·te·r·mi·
4.19	no·. ·ma·c·o·n·le·me·de·s·i·me·p·a·r·o·
4.20	le·che·mi·s·a·r·a·da·ta·s·u·bi·to·la·
5.01	s·c·r·i·t·tu·r·a·r·i·chi·e·s·ta·. 
5.02	e·t·i·o·no·n·u·o·r·e·i·che·c·o·n
5.03	la·lu·n·g·h·e·[47?]·za·. ·di·s·p·e·r·a
5.04	to·bu·g·li·o·ne·s·i·a·c·o·r·da·s·e·c
5.05	o·n·li·[121]·. ·p·o·i·che·i·l·[108]·ma·za
5.06	r·i·no·s·e·n·p·r·e·g·li·fa·r·a·do
5.07	p·i·a·r·le·o·fe·r·b

reading.md

# ridolfi1646 - reading of the cipher (Italian, spelling of the letter)

Marks: plain = certain (every group read directly with key.tsv); {x} = probable (encipherer's spelling or word division
uncertain, or a nomenclator value given by the sense only: {value}⁽code⁾); [x] = restored (one group of transcription v1
corrected, or a group supplied; list below); ‹nnn› = unresolved nomenclator group; / = the X sign (punctuation).
Spelling of the cipher kept (u = u/v; consonants written single, the superscript dot marking some doubles: paso, socorso,
acetti, coriero; n for m before p: senpre, tenpo). Reference = page.line where the clause starts.
Pages 1-4: reading by the key proposer (Claude Fable 5.2), from its raw decryption, which our own decoder reproduces
identically; page 5: reading by a Claude Opus 5.5 agent after the single held-out measurement (frozen/LECTURE-p5.txt).

## Reading, clause by clause

- 1.01: Gia che questa mattina [il] Papa ha negato al Signor Don Antonio Ronchillo /
- 1.03: il paso per li {cinqueceto} caualli /
- 1.05: che {V.E.}⁽126⁾ uol mandare in socorso del {Gran Duca}⁽107⁾ /
- 1.06: ma ha detto che lo concederebbe per lo stato [di] Milano /
- 1.08: io ho proposto al Signor Don Antonio /
- 1.10: che acetti il paso nella forma che {Sua Santita}⁽101⁾ uol concederlo /
- 1.12: perche [quando] questa caualleria sara nella citta di Forli nella Romagna /
- 1.15: per doue e il camino diritto uerso Bologna /
- 1.16: se [il] {Gran Duca}⁽107⁾ sara stato [atacatto] dai {Francesi}⁽121⁾ /
- 1.18: et hauera bisogno di questo socorso /
- 1.20: potranno entrare nello stato del {Gran Duca}⁽107⁾ /
- 1.21: non esendo il confino piu [lontano] di dodici [miglia] /
- 2.01: ma quando il {Gran Duca}⁽107⁾ non habbia bisogno /
- 2.03: seguiteranno il camino uerso [Bologna] e uerso lo stato di [Milano] /
- 2.05: il partito e piaciuto a Don Antonio /
- 2.07: et ha uoluto che io ne parli al ‹110› di {Gran Duca}⁽107⁾ /
- 2.08: che l ha lodato grandemente /
- 2.09: e ne ha dispaciato coriero al {Gran Duca}⁽107⁾ /
- 2.11: e credo ancora che in ogni caso sia per piacere a {Sua Santita}⁽101⁾ /
- 2.13: [perche] non dubitera che li {Francesi}⁽121⁾ si dolghino che habbia fatta una nouita /
- 2.16: della armata {Francesi}⁽121⁾ non ci e altro auiso /
- 2.17: dice bene una feluca ariuata in Roma di hauer sentito per queste {spiagge} che fuse giunta nel Golfo delle Spetie /
- 2.22: ma quando l auiso fuse uero /
- 3.01: {V.E.}⁽126⁾ ne hauerebbe riceuto coriero da ‹116› /
- 3.03: ma io sento che non sia posibile che la gente si conduca per la Carfagnana a ‹136› /
- 3.06: per eser ancora quelle montagne piene di neue /
- 3.08: e che pero [quando] debba andare nello stato di Milano pare piu uerisimile che sbarchi la soldatesca [al] fiume della {Lenza} /
- 3.12: e che per la Ual di Taro si conduca nel Parmigiano /
- 3.14: di che fa maggiormente sospettare che il ‹115› di {Soure} sia stato lungamente a negotiare con quel {Duca}⁽114⁾ in nome dei {Francesi}⁽121⁾ /
- 3.19: il {Duca}⁽114⁾ di Uandomo mi scriue la [risolutione] delli Ugonotti di ‹103› di solleuarsi /
- 4.01: e la sua di farsi capo [loro] /
- 4.02: et io ho fatto uedere le lettere originali [al] [Signor] Amirante /
- 4.04: il quale uorebbe dare [al] detto {Duca}⁽114⁾ /
- 4.06: li dodici mila ducati che {Sua Maesta}⁽100⁾ comando gia che gli fusero pagati /
- 4.08: poi che se ne uorebbe preualere per farli sborsare ai capi delli Ugonotti /
- 4.11: quando io habbia un poco di tenpo [mandero] la copia della detta lettera di Uandomo a {V.E.}⁽126⁾ /
- 4.15: alla quale non poso dir altro del negotio di Buglione /
- 4.17: {stano} senpre nei medesimi [termini] /
- 4.19: ma con le medesime parole che mi sara data subito la
- 5.01: scrittura richiesta /
- 5.02: et io non uorei che con la [lunghezza] /
- 5.03: disperato Buglione si acordase con li {Francesi}⁽121⁾ /
- 5.05: poi che il {Cardinale}⁽108⁾ Mazarino senpre gli fara {doppiar} le [oferte]

Then in clear: "Di Roma li 8 Maggio 1646".

## Count (Daniel's rule: certain + probable over all words; restored words not counted)

431 words (each nomenclator group counts as one word; 26 nomenclator groups): 378 certain, 27 probable, 21 restored,
5 unresolved.
- **certain + probable = 405/431 = 94.0%**: under the 95% bar, so **read in part**;
- with the 21 restored words: 426/431 = 98.8% (the count of our own working file, frozen/RESULTAT.md);
- certain alone: 87.7%.
Per page (certain / probable / restored / unresolved): p. 1 89/7/7/0; p. 2 96/7/3/1; p. 3 87/6/3/4; p. 4 83/4/6/0;
p. 5 23/3/2/0 (frozen/scripts/decompte.out).
Of the 27 probable words, 21 are nomenclator values given by the sense alone (107 Gran Duca x6, 121 Francesi x5, 126 V.E. x3,
114 Duca x3, 101 Sua Santità x2, 100 Sua Maestà, 108 Cardinale); the 5 unresolved words are the codes 103, 110, 115, 116, 136.
The classes of pp. 1-4 are the proposer's; they were not re-audited word by word by a second reader.

## Restored words

| place | transcription v1 | read as | effect | kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01 | 74 (du) | 34 (l) | i-du papa -> il papa | 3/7 confusion in the tens |
| 1.08 | (nothing) | 72 (di) | lo stato Milano -> lo stato di Milano | group omitted (the full formula recurs 3 times) |
| 1.12 | 79 (tu) | 73 (do) | quan-tu -> quando | 3/9 confusion in the units |
| 1.17 | 24 (u) | 34 (l) | i-u -> il | 2/3 confusion in the tens |
| 1.17 | 22/27 | 27 (c) | ata-i-atto -> atacatto (attaccato) | reading b of the transcription |
| 2.01 | 66 (ne) | 68 (no) | lontane -> lontano | 6/8 in the units |
| 2.01 | 62 (lo) | 61 (li) | mig-lo-a -> miglia | 1/2 in the units |
| 2.04 | 61 (li) | 65 (na) | Bolog-li -> Bologna | 1/5 in the units (cf. 1.16) |
| 2.05 | 61 (li) | 68 (no) | Mila-li -> Milano | 1/8 in the units |
| 2.13 | 36 (n) | 38 (p) | n-e-r-che -> perche | 6/8 in the units |
| 3.08 | 74 (du) | 73 (do) | quan-du -> quando | 3/4 in the units |
| 3.12 | 24 (u) | 34 (l) | a-u fiume -> al fiume | 2/3 in the tens |
| 3.20 | 243/23 | 23 (o) | ris-[243]-lutione -> risolutione | reading b of the transcription |
| 4.02 | 42 (s) | 41 (r) | lo-s-o -> loro | 1/2 in the units |
| 4.04 | 74 (du) | 34 (l) | a-du -> al | 3/7 in the tens |
| 4.04 | 37 (o) | 33 (i) | sognor -> signor | 3/7 in the units |
| 4.05 | 74 (du) | 34 (l) | a-du detto -> al detto | 3/7 in the tens |
| 4.13 | 30 (f) | 36 (n) | ma-f-dero -> mandero | 0/6 in the units |
| 4.18 | 68 (no) | 67 (ni) | termino -> termini | 7/8 in the units (or the encipherer's termine) |
| 5.03 | 47 (outside the key) | z | lunghe[47]za -> lunghezza | 47 not seen on pp. 1-4; z continues the alphabet 25-44 and 91 = za follows |
| 5.07 | 26 (b) | 76 (te) | ofe-r-b -> oferte | 2/7 confusion in the tens, the main confusion of this hand |

Most are one-digit confusions between shapes of this hand (2/3/7 in the tens, 1/2, 3/4, 6/8 in the units); a blind
re-reading of those groups on the images has not been done, so they stay restored. None contradicts certain letters.

translation.md

# ridolfi1646 - English translation of the cipher

Translation of reading.md (Brice Dudout, with a Claude Opus 5.5 agent, 11 Nov 2026). Probable and restored words are not
marked here (see reading.md); nomenclator values given by the sense are in square brackets with their code; unresolved
codes are left as ‹code›. Identifications in round brackets are ours and tentative.

This morning the Pope refused Signor Don Antonio Ronquillo passage for the five hundred horse that [Your Excellency, 126]
wishes to send to the relief of the [Grand Duke, 107], but he said that he would grant it for the State of Milan. I have
proposed to Signor Don Antonio that he accept the passage in the form in which [His Holiness, 101] is willing to grant it,
because when this cavalry is in the city of Forlì in the Romagna, from where the road runs straight towards Bologna, if the
[Grand Duke] has been attacked by the [French, 121] and needs this relief, they will be able to enter the State of the
[Grand Duke], the border being no more than twelve miles away; but if the [Grand Duke] has no need of them, they will go on
along the road towards Bologna and towards the State of Milan.

The plan has pleased Don Antonio, and he wished me to speak of it to the ‹110› of the [Grand Duke], who praised it highly
and has sent a courier to the [Grand Duke]. And I believe too that in any case it will please [His Holiness], for he will
not fear that the [French] complain that he has made an innovation.

Of the [French] fleet there is no further news. A felucca arrived in Rome does say that it heard along these shores that
the fleet had reached the Gulf of La Spezia; but if the news were true, [Your Excellency] would have had a courier from
‹116›. But I hear that the troops cannot possibly be brought through the Garfagnana to ‹136›, those mountains being still
full of snow, and that therefore, if they are to go into the State of Milan, it seems more likely that the soldiery will
land at the river Lenza (the Enza?) and be led through the Val di Taro into the Parmesan. This makes one suspect all the
more that the ‹115› de Souvré has been negotiating at length with that [Duke, 114] (of Parma?) in the name of the [French].

The [Duke] of Vendôme writes to me of the resolution of the Huguenots of ‹103› to rise, and of his own to make himself their
head. I have had the original letters shown to the Signor Almirante (the Admiral of Castile?), who would like to give the
said [Duke] the twelve thousand ducats that [His Majesty, 100] once ordered to be paid to him, since he would like to make
use of them to have them paid out to the leaders of the Huguenots. When I have a little time I will send a copy of the said
letter of Vendôme to [Your Excellency], to whom I can say nothing more about the business of Bouillon: they are still on
the same terms, but with the same words, that the document asked for will be given to me at once. And I would not want
that, with the delay, Bouillon in despair should come to terms with the [French], since the [Cardinal, 108] Mazarin will
always double his offers to him.

Rome, 8 May 1646 (in clear).