972Cyphersolver
44 26 03 07 02 62 8 · 58 6 52 4 62 4 · 28 06 2 66 36 68 4 42 05 07 03 6 96 96 2 → fortuna · come ne · auiso del strozzi
a = 28|38|8 · e = 24|34|4 · o = 26|36|6 · t = 07|76|86 · 1 = null

France → Rome · homophonic cipher of one- and two-digit figures, with nomenclator · March–December 1553

Prospero Santa Croce to Cardinal del Monte, 1553: five ciphered despatches, deciphered on arrival and printed in 1972

Prospero Santa Croce
fromProspero Santa Croce

ASV Segreteria di Stato, Nunziatura di Francia 3, ff. 117, 128, 230, 248, 263 (DECODE R6–R10; catalogue item 245). DECODE marks them "partially decrypted" and dates them 28 July 1552, the first date of the volume.

All five were deciphered in Rome on arrival, and the decifrati are bound with them. Lestocquoy printed the letters in 1972 with the cipher passages deciphered. George Lasry’s key was applied to the transcriptions as a check. The one passage Lestocquoy left out, three struck-through cipher lines on R9, was decrypted with the same key.

Daniel Bourdeau · posted · updated

Method: read from existing decipherment · Extent: complete

Credits · George Lasry (key or decipherment used) · Jean Lestocquoy (key or decipherment used) · Contemporary key or decipherment (key or decipherment used)

At a glanceExisting decipherment · complete

The letters
Five ciphered despatches (26 March – 23 December 1553) from Prospero Santa Croce, nuncio in France, to Cardinal Innocenzo del Monte in Rome; catalogued as “what the cipher hides is not known”.
Where
Archivio Apostolico Vaticano, Segreteria di Stato, Nunziatura di Francia 3; DECODE R6–R10.
The cipher
A homophonic alphabet of one- and two-digit elements, 1 as a null, and code groups for names and common words beginning with a dotted digit.
How it was read
All five were deciphered on arrival and printed by Lestocquoy (Acta Nuntiaturae Gallicae 9, 1972). Lasry’s key, applied to the volunteer transcriptions, agrees with the print.
What it says
The cancelled cipher on f. 248r (R9, not in the book) is the postscript written in clear beneath it: the royal fleet for Corsica has met a storm, and there is no word from Strozzi.
Credit
George Lasry attached the edition scan and his reconstructed key to each record on DECODE in October 2020.
Still open
The dotted code groups were not given values, since the print supplies the words. A few digits in R9 are illegible under the strokes, and the volunteer transcriptions have gaps.

01 The documents

The five records are leaves from Santa Croce's first French nunciature. In each, a letter in clear Italian moves into figures for its sensitive passages.

DECODEFolioLetterIn Lestocquoy 1972
R6117r–vPoissy, 26 March 1553; decipherment fol. 118vno. 67, p. 157
R7128r–vPoissy, 5 April 1553; decipherment fol. 129–130vno. 71, pp. 162–163
R8230rAbbaye d’Ourscamp, 28 September 1553no. 112, p. 218
R9248r (stamped 256)Paris, 14 December 1553 (the edition gives fol. 254–258v, another foliation)no. 124, p. 240; the cancelled cipher is not printed
R10263rParis, second letter of 23 December 1553pp. 243–244

02 The cipher

Lasry's reconstruction, as filed on the records, is a homophonic alphabet of one- and two-digit elements: a = 28, 38 or 8; e = 24, 34 or 4; i = 2, 22 or 32; o = 26, 36 or 6; t = 07, 76 or 86; u = 02, 04, 06 or 08; r = 03 or 56; s = 05 or 66; and single values for the other letters (b 48, c 58, d 68, f 44, g 54, h 64, l 42, m 52, n 62, p 46, z 96). The digit 1 is a null that mostly falls between words. Code groups for names and common words begin with a dotted digit. Element boundaries are not marked, so a run like 2 2 8 can be split in several ways. The decoder in the repository resolves the splits with a sixteenth-century Italian language model.

03 The printed letters, checked

For R6, R7, R8 and R10 the text is Lestocquoy's. The decrypts follow it where the volunteer transcription is clean, but on their own they have holes or garbled words in almost every clause: they are decoded, not read, and the reading is the print (reading audit, 22 October 2026). For example, Lestocquoy's p. 157 reads "ci è maneggio stretto col [duca di Ferrara], non so se sia per haver denari con promesse di mercanti et avvantaggio d’esso Duca o pur per qualche lega o per haver artigliaria con la scusa che ha usato il [duca di Firenze] a Siena". The R6 decode follows those words where it is clean. R8's "Il Re Chr.mo resta mal contento dell’impresa di Corsica … credo che si risolverà di mantenerla" agrees both with p. 218 and with the interlinear decipherment on the leaf. R7 (Ferrara as "generale supremo di Italia con vinti mila scudi", the Naples enterprise) and R10 ("Molti persuadeno S.M. di havere a far guerra in Italia") match pp. 162–163 and 244.

04 R9: the cancelled postscript

Foot of f. 248r: three lines of cipher figures crossed through, with the Italian postscript written in clear beneath and Santa Croce's subscription
f. 248r (R9), Paris, 14 December 1553. Three lines of cipher struck through, and below them the same postscript in clear: "L’armata regia che partì per Corsica ha havuto fortuna et non si sa come né dove sia et non credo ci sia aviso del Strozzi". Image: Archivio Apostolico Vaticano, Segreteria di Stato, Nunziatura di Francia 3 f. 248r, via DECODE R9.

Lestocquoy prints the letter of 14 December and its clear postscript (p. 240) but not the struck-through figures above the postscript. The figures were transcribed through the cancellation strokes and decrypted with the key. Long stretches match the postscript:

So the cancelled cipher is the postscript itself: l’armata regia che partì per Corsica ha havuto fortuna et non si sa come né dove sia et non credo che ci sia aviso del Strozzi. In English: the royal fleet that left for Corsica has met a storm, no one knows how or where it is, and I do not think there is any news of Strozzi. The secretary began to encipher it, gave up, struck the figures out and wrote the sentence in clear.

The cancelled lines themselves give only aligned words between illegible digits, so taken as cipher they are decoded, not read (reading audit, 22 October 2026): the sentence is known from the clear postscript, not from the figures. In this repository none of the five entries is therefore held as a reading: the reading is Lestocquoy’s printed decipherment of 1972, which is not copied here.

05 What remains uncertain

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.

R6, no. 67, Poissy, 26 Mar 1553 decoded, not read

Prospero Santa Croce, nuncio in France, to Cardinal Innocenzo del Monte. There is close dealing with the Duke, perhaps for money from merchants, a league or artillery on the excuse the Duke of Florence used at Siena.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

DOC_R6_D1624_1624.txt

#CATALOG NAME: Segr. di Stato Francia 3/1/
#IMAGE NAME: 117r.jpg-117v.jpg
#TRANSCRIBER NAME: TimB
#DATE OF TRANSCRIPTION: February 3, 2016
#TRANSCRIPTION TIME: 30+30?60 mins
#TRANSCRIPTION METHOD: speech recognition (Google Docs).

#IMAGE NAME: 117r.jpg
#COMMENTS: There are many underlined sequences of numbers that are not transcribed but might be helpful during decipherment. 
8 5 1 0 3 2 0 5 6 4 2 0 4 8 6 3 6 1 5^. 7 5 5 1 6 6 8 0 7 2 2 5 4 4 2 3 2 6 6 2 1 4^. 3 1 4 6 3 6
0 7 5 6 2 8 1 0 2 4 6 2 3 2 0 3 3 4 1 0 5 6 6 2 1 6 6 0 7 8 8 6 3 6 1  6 8 2 8 1 9 7 6^. 3 1 6 6 8
4 6 4 0 3 1 5^. 4 6 5 6 2 6 0 2 3 2 0 5 2 6 6 2 4 1 0 4 6 4 2 4 0 2 8 1 4 6 2 5 4 4 2 3 2 8 5 6
2 6 2 0 7 6 0 3 6 2 6 1 8 1 4^. 7 5^.? 7 1 5 6 2 5 8 4 6 6 3 8 2 8 3 2 1 6 8 2 8 1 4 6 8 0 3 0 7 4
6 8 2 1 8 7 1 9 7 5 6 2 0 5 9 6 2 6 6 6 4 1 5^. 7 0 5 8 6 8 0 2 8 1 5 2 8 4 2 1 0 9 0 7 4 6 2
8 6 8 1  6 8 4 4 2 1 5 2 8 4 2 1  6 8 2 4 2 1 5 5 1 5^. 3 1 2 5 2 4 6 4 6 8 3 2 0 2 8 1 2 6 2 1
4 6 8 0 3 8 6 4 1 2 2 4 2 1 0 5 0 6 3 6 1  6 8 2 6 6 4 5 4 6 2 6 1 5 2 8 1 5^. 7 1 5 2 8 6 2
6 8 3 8 0 3 2 8 1 4 2 8 6 2 0 5 8 5 8 1 6^. 3 1 2 6 2 8 6 4 6 2 6 8 2 4 0 3 1 4 2 8 6 2
3 2 5 2 6 0 8 1 9 8 2 6 6 3 6 5 4 6 2 6 1  6 8 2 1 2 9 1 5^. 7 7^. 3 1 8 0 2 4 0 4 8 1
6 6 4 5 2 4 6 0 3 4 1 6 8 4 0 7 6 1 4^. 3 0 4 6 4 2 4 0 2 8 1 5 2 8 6 2 5 8 2 8 0 3 1 8
1 8 7 1 1 5^. 7 1 8 6 8 4 6 6 6 1 6^. 3 4 6 0 3 6 0 4 2 4 6 8 4 0 3 1 8 4 2 4 1 5 8 6 0 5 4 1 6 8 2
6 6 2 3 4 6 2 8 1 4 4 8 5 6 2 3 8 1 5 8 2 8 4 2 8 0 3 1 2 6 2 1 4 6 2 3 4 5 2 6 6 2
0 7 4 1 5? 5 8 2 6 2 9^. 3 1 5 2 3 2 4 2 2 8 1 0 5 0 2 3 2 9 6 4 0 3 2 1 0 8 1 8 4 2
8 6 0 3 4 9^. 9 1 0 7 6 6 8 4 0 5 6^. 7 1 0 8 8 4 2 0 7 5 6 4 9^. 9 1 5 4 0 2 8 6 6 5 5? 6 6 2 3 2
0 8 1 8 6 5 6 4 5 5? 2 4  6 2 8 6 2 6 1  6 5 2 3 2  6 2 2 1  6 8 2 8 0 3 5 2 4 1 5^. 7 5 8 6 6 2
4^. 7 5^. 7 1 0 2 3 2 1 0 5 6 6 2 3 6 1  0 2 6 6 5 8 2 5 6 8 6 2 6 1  2 6 2 1  5 8 2 8 6 2 4 6 8
5 4 6 2 8 1 0 8 6 8 2 0 2 4 0 3 8 6 2 0 5 8 6 2 6 1 0 8 5^. 7 3^. 7 1 4 2 6 1 4 4 8 5 8 4
0 6 8 1  9^. 9 1 4 6 2 0 4 1 0 2 6 4 2 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 0 3 2 1 2^. 3 1 8 4 2 4 8 4 0 3 8 6
3 6 1 6 8 4 4 2 1 4 8 4 6 2 3 4 1 4 2 8 0 2 4 0 4 3 8 1 6 8 4 0 7 6 1 5^. 7 1 8 7
4 2 6 1 4 2 8 0 2 6 8 2 8 0 4 8 1 1 5 8 2 1 4 1 5 2 8 6 2 4 5 4 2 3 6 1 6 6 0 7 0 3 4
0 7 6 1 5 8 6 4 2 1 3 3 1 4^. 3 1 0 5 6 1 6 6 4 1 0 5 2 3 8 1 6^. 3 1 8 0 2 4 0 3 1 3^. 9 1 5 8 6 6 2
4 6 5 6 2 6 5 2 4 6 6 2 4 1 6 8 2 1 5 2 4 0 3 5 8 2 8 6 2 0 7 2 1 0 8 1 8 0 2 2 8 6 2 8 6
8 5 4 2 3 6 1 6 8 4 4 2 1 3 3 1 6 1 4 6 0 2 0 3 1 6^. 3 1 8^. 3 4 2 5^. 7 1 4 2 4 5 4 8 1 6 1 6^. 3
8 0 2 4 0 3 1 8 3 6 0 7 2 5 4 4 2 2 3 8 0 3 2 2 8 1 5 8 6 6 2 1 4 2 8 1 6 6 5 8 0 4 0 5 8?
5^. 7 1 8 1 0 2 0 5 8 0 7 8 1 2 3 1 8 1  6 6 2 3 4 6 2 8

#IMAGE NAME: 117v.jpg
4 4 2 4 5 8 2 1 4 4 8 0 3 1 6 8 4 6 6 8 6 0 3 8 5 2 4 6 2 0 7 4 1  6 4 4 2 9 6 2 6 1
6 6 4 1 5 2 3 2 0 3 8 4 6 3 6 3 2 6 6 1 5 2 6 0 3 3 2 6 6 4 1 6^. 3 2 5 1 5 8 6 6 2
4 8 6 6 2 1 5 2 6 6 8 3 6 1 0 8 4^. 3 1 4 2 8 0 5 2 8 6 2 6 8 3 6 1 6 8 2 1 4 4 8 0 3 1
6 6 8 4 6 4 0 3 1 4^. 7 5^. 7 5 2 3 2 1 4 6 8 0 3 0 2 4 1 6 2 4 5 8 2 4 6 6 8 5 6 2 3 6 1
8 6 0 3 6 0 2 3 6 1 4 8 6 6 2 3 2 6 6 2 5 2 8 1 6 8 2 6 6 4 6 3 6 0 5 2 9 6 2 2 6 6 2 4
0 8 1  6 6 3 6 1 5^. 7 1 6 8 2 8 4 6 3 6 2 1 5 8 4 0 3 0 7 2 1 8 6 2 6 1 6 8 6 5 2 8 6 2
6 8 3 8 8 6 2 1 2 1 6 6 3 6 2 1 4 8 4 6 2 2 4 4 4 2 8 6 2 2 1 5^. 7 9 7 1  8 1 0 3 2
6 6 4 6 2? 6 0 5 0 7 6 1 5^. 7 4^. 3 1 0 2 6 4 2 4 0 4 8 1 6 8 3 8 0 3 1 5 8 6 0 5 8
6 8 2 1 4^. 7 5^. 7 1 0 2 8 5 8 2 8 0 3 2 3 8 6 2 6 1 6 8 3 8 1 6 0 3 8 1 2 6 2 8 6 2
9 6 2 1 4 4 3 2 6 2 5^. 7 1 4^. 3 1 4 4 6 0 5 4 1 4 6 0 3 6 0 2 3 2 6 6 0 7 6 1 8 1
2 5 1 0 8 1 8 4 2 1 5 5 1 6 8 2 5 2 6 4 2 8 1 <CLEARTEXT IT Chi sia piv? anniso? et guan.
to manco si mostrava di sapirlo et di sperarlo, ?
sirza? tanio? miglio? .>
Decryption

R6_decryption.md

# R6: Santa Croce to Cardinal del Monte, no. 67, Poissy, 26 Mar 1553: decryption with Lasry's key

Output of `python targets/santacroce1552/decode.py targets/santacroce1552/decode/DOC_R6_D1624_1624.txt`, saved 22 Oct 2026: Lasry's reconstructed key (DOC_*_D320x) applied to the 2016 DECODE volunteer transcription, the 1-/2-digit split chosen by beam search under the it-cinquecento model; [n] = nomenclator code not valued, {d} = digit left over. Errors of the volunteer transcription show as garbled stretches. The full text, deciphered at the time, is printed in Lestocquoy, Acta Nuntiaturae Gallicae 9 (1972); that modern edition is not copied here.

```
== DOC_R6_D1624_1624.txt
117r.jpg-117v.jpg

117r.jpg
a{5} risoluto [5755] ooatiglion [43] potria uenire ssi stato oaia {9}{7}[63] saper [546562602320526624] uoleua pigliarintorno a [57] ricpoaai oaia partedi a{7} {9}{7}riszose [5705868028] mal {0}{9}tpad oafi mal oail {5}{5} [53] impediua oi parte il suo disegno ma [57] mandaria eansac [63] intender lanimou {9}aisogno oai i{9} [73] aueua sempre deto [43046424028] mancar a a{7} [57] taps [6346036042468403] ale cose doneoia faria calar oi piemonte {5}coi[93] mila suizeri u altre[99] todes[67] ualtre[99] guto{5}rniu tre{5}mpito omini darme [57] ui ssio uscirano oi canpagna udiueransano u[37] lo faceua [99] piu uolentieri [23] alberto oafi bpie eiaueua deto [57] a{7}lo laudaua ci e manegio streto col {3}{3} [43] so se sia [63] auer [39] conpromeone oai mercanti u auantagio oafi {3}{3} o pur [63] [57] lega o [63802403] aotigliaria csi la scusa[57] a usata i{3} a siena
117v.jpg
feci far destramente hlzo se miraeoois morise [6325] conbon msao u[43] easando oai far saper [575232] parue necesario trouo bonisima disposizioneu so [57] dapoi certi to domandati i soi benefiti [5797] a risposto [43] uoleua oaar costai [57] uacariano oaa ora inanzi fioi[57] [43] fose prouisto a i{5} u al {5}{5} dimha
```

R7, no. 71, Poissy, 5 Apr 1553 decoded, not read

Prospero Santa Croce, nuncio in France, to Cardinal Innocenzo del Monte. The cipher passage printed by Lestocquoy pp. 162-163, on a supreme general for Italy with twenty thousand scudi.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

DOC_R7_D1625_1625.txt

#CATALOG NAME: Segr. Stato Di Francia 3:2
#IMAGE NAME: 128r.jpg-128v.jpg
#TRANSCRIBER NAME: OLINI
#DATE OF TRANSCRIPTION: April 5, 2016
#TRANSCRIPTION TIME: 70+100=170 mins

#IMAGE NAME: 128r.jpg
#COMMENTS: many lines with underscore, the underscores are not transcribed.
<CLEARTEXT IT RX . mo? et ? . mo? Prone? .
Come chi ogni di si uidi? pi� lume? et snitonde? meglio glebi? parti -
colare , cos� mi � forza di scrivere? spitso? et dar nous fastidio
� v . s . RX . ma et ? . ma di legger? mie h? . >
6 6 5 8 0 3 2 0 5 3 2 1 7^. 3 1 0 5 2 1 0 7 5 6 8 8 6 2 8 0 2 3 8 1 5^. 7 4 2 1 3 3 1 0 4 2 4 6 2 3 2 6 6 4 1 8 4 2
0 5 4 0 3 0 6 2 9 6 3 2 6 1 6 8 2 1 4 9 1 6 0 3 8 1 6 6 4 1 4 8 4 6 2 1 3^. 7 8^. 9 4^. 3 1 0 5 2 1 4 6 3 6
6 8 2 0 3 1 5 6 2 8? 5 6 4 2 0 6 0 7 3 6 1 4 1 9^. 9 1 8 0 2 2 8 6 2 0 7 2 1 5^. 7 0 7 4 6 2 5 4 6 1 6^. 3
4 4 3 4 0 3 5 2 6 1 5^. 7 0 5 2 1 5 8 6 6 2 5 8 4 2 0 4 6 8 4 5 6 8 1 9 6 0 3 4 6 6 0 7 6 1 8 5 0 5 2 1
8 5 8 4 0 7 8 8 6 3 6 1 6 8 3 8 1 4 9 1 9^. 9 2^. 3 1 2 4 2 1 3 3 1 6 8 6 5 2 8 6 2 6 8 2 8 0 2 8 1
5^. 7 1 4 1 3^. 7 1 6^. 3 1 2^. 3 1 6 1 4 6 3 6 0 5 0 6 0 7 6 1 7 5 6^. 9 1 1 7 5 1 5 4 2 4 6 2 4 0 3 8 4 2 4
0 5 0 2 4 6 0 3 4 5 2 6 1 2 6 2 1 2 0 7 8 4 2 3 2 8 1 5 8 6 6 2 1 0 4 2 6 2 0 7 3 2 8^. 3 0 7
5 6 3 6 1 5 2 3 2 4 2 2 8 1 6 6 5 8 0 2 6 8 2 1 6 8 2 1 4 6 2 3 8 0 7 6 1 4 8 6^. 3 1 5 4 0 2 8
5 6 6 3 8 0 3 1 4 2 4 1 0 5 0 2 4 1 8 6 4 0 3 3 4 1 0 8 8 4 2 0 7 0 3 4 1 5 8 6 0 5 4 1 9^. 9 5 7
5 2 6 6 2 0 7 8 1 0 5 4 6 6 8 6 2 0 7 8 1 5 2 3 2 4 2 2 8 1 1 0 3 2 5 8 4 5 6 5 8 3 8 1 5^. 7 4 2
6 6 1 2 5 4 6 2 6 0 3 1 5 8 2 8 5 2 3 2 4 2 6 1 2 6 0 3 0 5 2 6 2 6 1 0 5 2 3 8 1 5 4 6 0 6 4
5 6 6 2 8 0 7 6 0 3 1 5 4 3 4 6 2 4 0 3 8 4 2 4 1 5^. 7 6 8 2 1 8^. 3 1 6 6 8 5 8 4 0 7 8 1 1
0 6 3 6 4 2 4 1 5^. 7 1 6 6 2 1 4 4 8 5 8 2 3 8 1 6 8 4 4 6 3 6 0 5 2 0 7 6 1 2 6 2 1 2 0 7 8
4 2 2 2 8 1 6 8 2 1 8^. 3 0 7 0 3 6 5 8 4 6 2 8 6 3 6 1 5 2 2 2 4 2 3 2 3 8 1 0 5 5 8 0 2 6 8 2
6^. 3 1 4 6 2 6 0 7 4 0 3 0 5 4 6 2 4 1 0 2 8 4 2 4 0 3 1 2 6 2 1 6 5 4 6 2 3 2 1 5 8 2 8
0 5 6 1 6^. 3 1 9 7 1 7^. 3 1 6^. 3 6 8 2 4 4 3 4 0 5 8 1 6 8 4 4 2 1 0 5 0 2 6 1 6 6 0 7 8 8 6 6
4 8 2 0 5 6 5 4 6 2 8 6 2 6 8 6 1 0 8 1 6 8 2 3^. 7 1 4 6 4 6 2 0 5 6 1 5^. 7 1 0 5 4 0 3 8
5 8 6 6 2 0 7 4 6 2 8 6 8 0 7 6 1 ? 5 8 2 1 6 8 4 0 2 4 6 2 6 1 7 5 1 8 4 2 0 7 5 6 2
4 6 8 0 3 0 7 2 5 8 6 4 2 8 0 3 2 1 5^. 7 4^. 3 1 6 1 4 6 3 6 0 5 0 6 8 6 3 6 1 4 6 4 6 2 4
8 6 0 3 8 5 6 4 1 1 6 8 2 5 8 6 1 4 8 4 6 2 1 6 8 2 1 5 8 4 0 3 0 7 6 1 5^. 7 4 2 1 2 3 1 1

#IMAGE NAME: 128v.jpg
8 6 2 5 8 6 0 3 8 1 0 7 5 6 3 6 0 4 8 5 6 8 1 4 2 6 5 8 3 6 1 6 2 4 4 2 5? 6 1 5 4 0 3 8 9 6 2 3 8 1 6 8
2 4 9 1 0 5 4 1 0 2 6 5 6 8 1 5 6 2 5 8 4 5 6 5 8 2 8 0 3 4 2 8 1 0 8 1 6 4 6 4 5 6 8 0 3 1 2 6 2
5 8 6 6 2 4 4 6 0 3 5 2 3 2 0 7 8 1 0 8 1 2 6 2 3 7 5 8 2 8 0 5 6 1 6 6 8 0 7 4 6 2 6 8 4 0 3 8
8 4 2 8 1 2 5 2 4 6 0 3 4 0 5 8 1 6 8 2 1 6 2 8 4 6 3 6 4 2 3 2 1 8 4 2 0 7 5 6 8 5 2 4 6 2
0 7 4 1 4 1 6 8 0 2 4 8 2 8 6 3 6 1 5^. 7 3^. 7 1 4 6 2 2 4 6 2 8 1 0 5 2 1 0 2 6 4 2 0 7 8 0 3 8
0 5 6 4 6 0 3 8 1 2 4 2 1 0 5 0 4 6 1 6 6 0 7 8 8 6 3 6 1 <CLEARTEXT IT sia per anni fo? .
Con h? pass ' di s? b? er poi di 3? di questo ferissi? longam k? circa
lizsorcito? di q ? m ? ? cala mi Peimonti? per passar ?
mi Dofcana? ? non possa solo con l'aiuto d'un? ? l'ho issirato?
di gonni Italiana  ? si farra mi qlesi? Iocso? d'Italia ch?
soccorsa ? haniranno? seina? per mio cuder? passeranno m? ?
?gno di Napoli . Chi � quanto m�ccor�? per hora di fu?
uiri�? � v? . s . ? . ma et? ? ma chi nd? hawndo? ani ? possuto?
hauir? Succier? mi parlar ? fuj? non voglio dir altro nulla?
materia alli? industri et? di utfo? ? toccsa l'ospidition? ?
fuj? port� riservandomi? � formirti? pi� risoluto un'altra
volta . In Dano? li baso li mani ? mi raci? ? bumil? ?
alla sua bona ? di Poisi alli . v . di Aprili 1553 . >
6 6 4 1 6 7 1 5 2 6 0 3 4 1 7^. 3 1 6 8^. 2 1 8 3 0 5 2 1 5 8 0 3 4 6 8 3 4 1 0 5 6 6 2 1 6 6 2 5 8 0 2
0 3 6 1 5^. 7 2 5 1 6 6 2 3 5? 1 6^. 3 9 5 1 6^. 3 1 2 4 2 5 2 8 6 2 5 8 6 1 2 4 2 1 0 4 3 4 0 5 5 8
6 0 4 8 0 7 6 1 <CLEARTEXT IT cr? questo mi par di porterlo? frinur? per costo .
Di V . S . ? . ma ? ? . ma
Humiliss? ? obliganiss? ser . tor Prosqiro S . Cucr? >
Decryption

R7_decryption.md

# R7: Santa Croce to Cardinal del Monte, no. 71, Poissy, 5 Apr 1553: decryption with Lasry's key

Output of `python targets/santacroce1552/decode.py targets/santacroce1552/decode/DOC_R7_D1625_1625.txt`, saved 22 Oct 2026: Lasry's reconstructed key (DOC_*_D320x) applied to the 2016 DECODE volunteer transcription, the 1-/2-digit split chosen by beam search under the it-cinquecento model; [n] = nomenclator code not valued, {d} = digit left over. Errors of the volunteer transcription show as garbled stretches. The full text, deciphered at the time, is printed in Lestocquoy, Acta Nuntiaturae Gallicae 9 (1972); that modern edition is not copied here.

```
== DOC_R7_D1625_1625.txt
128r.jpg-128v.jpg

128r.jpg
oocrisi [73] si tratiaua [5742] {3}{3} uipiise alseruizio oai e{9} ora se eapi [43] si podir riareiuto e [99] auanti [5707462546] [63443403526] [57052] concludera zresto a{5}si acetato oaa e{9} [23] il {3}{3} domandaua [57] e [37] [63] [23] o eoosuto {7}{5}[69] {7}{5} generalesupremo oi italia csi uinti[83075636] mila scudi oai enato ea[63] guaroar le sue tere ualtre cose [995752662078] spdnta mila ricerca [574266] ignor camilo iorsino sia gouernator generale [57682] [83] odceta uole [57] si ebcia deposito oi italia oai [8307036584628636] milia scudi[63] potersene uaeer oi ogni caso [63] {9}{7} [73] [636824434058] oafi suo statobisognando u oai[37] penso [57] seracontentato ci deupo {7}{5} altriparticolari [43] o eoosuto penetrare dico eapi oai certo [5742] i{3}
128v.jpg
ancora trouara loco oelr grazia oaie{9} se uora ricercarla u operar inconformita u oi{3}{7}caso odtenderaala impresa oai napoli altramente e dubito [37] pipa si uoltarasopra il suo stato se o{7} more [73] o[82] a{3}si crede ssi sicuro [5725] si{3}{5} [6395] [63] ilmanco il uescouato
```

R8, no. 112, Abbaye d'Ourscamp, 28 Sept 1553 decoded, not read

Prospero Santa Croce, nuncio in France, to Cardinal Innocenzo del Monte. The Most Christian King is displeased with the Corsica enterprise but resolves to maintain it, partly with provision of forty thousand scudi for the affairs of Parma.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

DOC_R8_D1626_1626.txt

#CATALOG NAME: \Segr. Stato Francia 3\3\
#IMAGE NAME: 230.r
#TRANSCRIBER NAME: Midas
#DATE OF TRANSCRIPTION: April 17, 2016
#TRANSCRIPTION TIME: 30 mins 

#IMAGE NAME: 230r.jpg
4 9 0 3 4 0 5 0 7 8 1 5 2 2 8 4 2 1 5 8 3 6 6 2 8 6 2 4 6 2 0 7 6 1 6 8 4 4 2 8 
2 5 2 4 6 0 3 4 6 6 8 1 6 8 2 1 5 8 2 6 0 3 0 5 2 2 5 8__ 3__ 8__ 1 4 6 8 5 6 4 6 2 6 8 
3 6 4 2 2 4 1'__ 5__ 7__ 6 6 2 2 8 1 0 5 0 7 8 8 6 2 8 1 2 5 2 4 6 4 0 3 0 7 2 6 2 2 4 
6__ 2__ 0__ 7__ 3__ 4__ 1?__ 2 6 2 1 3^. 7 0 7 4 5 2 4 6 3 6__ 1__ 0__ 8 '__ 6__ 3 4^' 3 6 2 4 1 4 2 8 0 2 
6 8 2 8 1 5 2 6 4 2 0 7 3 6 1__ 5__ 5__ 1__ 3 3 1 4 6 0 4 0 3 1 4 6 3 6 2 1 5^' 7__ 1__ 4__ 1
6 6 4 2¥ 7 0 7 8 1 5 8 0 3 4 6 8 6 1 5^' 7 1 6 6 2__ 1__ 5__ 6__ 2__ 2__ 6__ 6 2 6 4 2 0 4 4__ 0__ 3__ 8__
6 8 2 1 5 2 8 6 2 8 6 4 6 2 2 4 5 6 4__ 2__ 8__ 1__ 1 6 2 2 5^' 7 0 7 6 1 4 6 8 0 3 0 7__ 2__ 1__
5 8 6 6 2 1 4 6 0 3 3 6 0 6 3 2 0 5 2 2 6 6 2 4 1 6 8 2__ 1__ 8^'__ 3__ 0__ 3__ 8__ 6__ 2__ 0__ 7__ 8__ 
5 2 2 2 4 2 2 8 1 6 6 5 8 0 2 6 8 2 1__ 6^'__ 3__ 1 4 2 4 1 5 8 2 6 0 5 4 1 6 8 2
4^' 5 0 8 1 6 8 2 1 0 5 2 2 4 6 2 8. 
<CLEARTEXT IT Il Re chr:mo? resta mal contento della impresa
di Corsica, parendole &? sia stata impertinente 
in questo tempo, et peró? non ne lauda molto il
Car:le di Jerrara; pur poi &?, é, seguista,
credo &? se risoluera di mantenerla.
Hic Setto parte con prottá?gione? di
quaranta milia scudi per le core di Parma,
al? di Siena>
Decryption

R8_decryption.md

# R8: Santa Croce to Cardinal del Monte, no. 112, Abbaye d'Ourscamp, 28 Sept 1553: decryption with Lasry's key

Output of `python targets/santacroce1552/decode.py targets/santacroce1552/decode/DOC_R8_D1626_1626.txt`, saved 22 Oct 2026: Lasry's reconstructed key (DOC_*_D320x) applied to the 2016 DECODE volunteer transcription, the 1-/2-digit split chosen by beam search under the it-cinquecento model; [n] = nomenclator code not valued, {d} = digit left over. Errors of the volunteer transcription show as garbled stretches. The full text, deciphered at the time, is printed in Lestocquoy, Acta Nuntiaturae Gallicae 9 (1972); that modern edition is not copied here.

```
== DOC_R8_D1626_1626.txt
230.r

230r.jpg
e{9}resta mial contento deeaimpresa oai corsica parendole {5}toia stata impertinente oi [37074524636] uo{3}[43624] lauda molto {5}{5} {3}{3} pur poi [57] e se[27078] crpt [57] si risolueradi mantenerla oii[57076] parti csi prouisione oai [830386207852224228] scudi [63] le cose oai[4508] oai sipa
```

R10, second letter of 23 Dec 1553 decoded, not read

Prospero Santa Croce, nuncio in France, to Cardinal Innocenzo del Monte. Many urge His Majesty to make war in Italy.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

DOC_R10_D1627_1627.txt

#CATALOG NAME: \Segr. Stato Francia 3\5\
#IMAGE NAME: 263r.jpg
#TRANSCRIBER NAME: Midas
#DATE OF TRANSCRIPTION: May 17, 2016
#TRANSCRIPTION TIME: 30 mins

#IMAGE NAME: 263r.jpg
#COMMENTS: "e", "i" och "c" are very similar är in the handwriting. "t" looks like "s". 
#".A." is wrriiten in the margin, where the ciphertext begins, not transcribed. 
<CLEARTEXT IT R.mo? et ?.mo Prone?
Dapoi scriita? l'alligata e^' unuta? noua?' a^' S.M.? X.ma? com' il Sig.or?
Don Firranti? ha cominciato ni Liemonti? a^' far come si é fatto
ni Piccardia, cio^'ce? di abbrusciar il paczi?, chi e^' dizpiarúcto?
grandem.h'? a^' S.M.? per molti rispetti, ma x^r.? dapoi ? per 
Sua bonta non uolle che Verulli? fossi abbrusato pi? fu
puro que? ? di pass'. Ma come si Sia^'? dalla banda di gua
si farra il med.o? et? m l Piemonti? et? forsi? ml Genouizi?
et? si e^' cominciato? un giocho che? serra la Ruina d'lla? po-
nera? Italia.>
5 2 6 4 2 0 7 2 1 6^' 3 0 5 0 6 8 6 8 4 6 2 3 6 1 4 9 1 6 8 9 5 1 8 1 4 4 8 0 3 1 4^' 9 2 6 2 1 2 2 8 6 8 4 2 
2__ 2__ 8__ 1__ 3^'__ 7__ 8__ 6 2 6 1 4 6 0 3 2 5 2 8 1 5^' 7 4 2 4 1 5 8 6 0 5 2 4 1 6 8 6 9 1 6 6 2 3 8 6 2 6 1 4 4
2 4 5 6 5 2__ 8__ 0__ 7__ 4__ 1__ 4^'__ 3__ 4__ 6 8 0 3 4 6 2 6 8 2 6 1 4 8 2 4 6 2 4 1 6 8 2 1 4 2 8 6 6 2 8 5 6 1 4 6
8 6 6 3 8 0 3 1 4 6 2 0 2 1 0 7 4 5 2 4 6 3 6 1 6 2 4 1 8 6 6 4 6 4 0 7 2 8 0 3^' 5^' 7 1 3^' 7 5 8 2 8 
0 5 8 1 6 8 3 8 0 2 0 5 8 6 5 6 2 2 8 1 0 5 2 1 4 4 8 5 8 2 3 8 1 5 8 6 0 5 2 1 5 4 0 3 8 6 2 6__ 8__ 4^'__ 1__ 8__ 
4 2 8 6 0 3 2 1 0 3 4 4 6 4 2 3 2 5 8 3 8 6 2 6 1 5^' 7 4^' 3 1 6 6 2 1 6__ 8__ 4__ 0 6 2 4__ 1__ 3 4 0 5 8 0 4 
0 3 2 5 6 1 2 4 2 1 5 6 4 5 4 6 2 6 1 0 8 5 8 6 6 2 0 5 0 2 5 2__ 8__ 0__ 3__ 1__ 4 2 4 1 4 4 6 0 3 9 6 4
6^' 3 6 8 2 6 0 4 3 4 5 6 6 6 2 1 4 6__ 2__ 6__ 2 1 0 7 5 6 2 6 0 2 8 0 3 1 8 4 2 1 6 6 5 8 6 4 6 4 0 3
5?__ 6__ 2__ 6 1 3^' 3 4 4 0 3 8 1 0 6 6 2 1 2 6 1 6 8 3 6 2 1 8 6 2 2 2 1__ 6__ 9__ 5__ 4__ 4 2 3 2 1 4 6 3 6 0 7 
4 6 6 4 1 4 4 8 0 3__ 1__ 4^'__ 9__ 4^'__ 3 1 0 5 6 1 4^' 7 5^' 7 1 0 3 2 0 5 6 4 2 0 4 2 4 5 6 8 6 2 6 1 4 6
8__ 0__ 7?__ 5__ 2__ 3__ 2__ 1__ 5^'__ 7__ 1__ 2 6 2 5 8 4 2 3 2 6 2 3 2 6 2 6 1 6 2 4 4 2 8 1 4 6 0 3 2 5 2 8 1 4 6 8 5 6 
0__ 7__ 4__ 1__ 5 8 6 6 2 1 4 2 2 6 5 8 2 8 0 5 3 2 3 6 6 2 4 1 6 8 2 4 9? 2 1 0 7 3 4 5 2 4 6 3 6 5^' 7 5 8 6 0 3 
5__ 6__ 4__ 1 2^' 7 1 5 8 4 0 3 5 8 3 8 6 2 6 1 6 8 2 1 8 6 4 6 2 2 4 0 3 1 4 6 2 0 2 1 5 8 6 6 2 0 7 4 6 2 0 7 8 
8 7 5^' 7 1 4 6 3 6 0 5 6 6__ 2__2__ 6__ 1 0 8 1 3 8 1 5 2 4 1 4 4 8 6 2 6 1 5 4 0 3 8 6 2 1 5 8 4 5 6 8 1 0 8
Decryption

R10_decryption.md

# R10: Santa Croce to Cardinal del Monte, second letter of 23 Dec 1553: decryption with Lasry's key

Output of `python targets/santacroce1552/decode.py targets/santacroce1552/decode/DOC_R10_D1627_1627.txt`, saved 22 Oct 2026: Lasry's reconstructed key (DOC_*_D320x) applied to the 2016 DECODE volunteer transcription, the 1-/2-digit split chosen by beam search under the it-cinquecento model; [n] = nomenclator code not valued, {d} = digit left over. Errors of the volunteer transcription show as garbled stretches. The full text, deciphered at the time, is printed in Lestocquoy, Acta Nuntiaturae Gallicae 9 (1972); that modern edition is not copied here.

```
== DOC_R10_D1627_1627.txt
263r.jpg

263r.jpg
mhiti [63050686846236] e{9} oa{9}{5} a far [49262] italia [378626] prima [57424] cose ot{9} siano fermate [43468034626826] bipe oai ltoar edsar piu tempo oie aspetia{0}[57] [375828058] daustria si ebcia cosi grand[4] altri replicano [43] si deue esaurir il regno uconsumar le eprze[636826043456662] poi trouar al scoperro [3344038] uoi o oaoi tiii o{9}gli potph far [43] so [57] risoluerano edtmi [57] inclinino oifa prima parte csi locasione oaie{9}i tempo[5758603564] [27] cercano oai tener piu contentaa{7}[57] posono u a me fto grti cera u
```

R9, no. 124, Paris, 14 Dec 1553: the three cancelled lines decoded, not read

Santa Croce to del Monte, 14 Dec 1553. Three struck-through cipher lines, not printed by Lestocquoy, which correspond to the clear postscript written below them: the royal fleet that left for Corsica has met a storm, no one knows where it is, and there is no news of Strozzi.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

r9_cancelled.txt

#IMAGE NAME: R9 fol.248 (14 Dec 1553), three cancelled cipher lines, read through the strokes 21 Sept 2026; uncertain throughout
#IMAGE NAME: line1
4 2 8 0 3 2 2 2 8 6 1 3 8 1 6 8 2 1 4 9 5 7 4 6 6 0 3 8 6 1 2 1 6 2 1 5 8 6 5 0 5 2 5 2 5 2 8 1 3 8 1 5 0 2 8 7 2 8
#IMAGE NAME: line2
4 4 2 6 0 3 6 0 0 2 6 2 8 1 0 8 1 4 3 1 0 4 2 1 6 6 8 6 6 8 1 3 0 6 0 6 4 6 6 4 2 4 2 1 4 8 6 1 2 3 0 8 1 4 8 6 0 2 3 4 4 8 6
#IMAGE NAME: line3
5 7 5 8 0 2 0 5 1 2 2 8 1 2 8 0 6 2 6 6 3 6 1 6 4 4 4 1 0 5 0 7 0 5 4 6 8 0

# Full-resolution re-reading, 21 Sept 2026. Stretches aligned with Lasry's key (digits -> letters):
#  line 1: 46 6 03 86 = p o r t ; 58 6 56 05 2 .. 58 28 = c o r s i .. c a  (Corsica)
#  line 2: 44 26 03 [07] 02 62 8 = f o r t u n a ; 58 6 52 4 62 4 = c o m e n e ; 68 6 02 4 = d o u e
#  line 3: 28 06 2 66 36 = a u i s o ; 68 4 42 = d e l ; 05 07 03 6 96 96 2 = s t r o z z i
# Reading: "[l'armata regia che] part[i per] Corsica [ha havuto] fortuna et non si sa come ne dove sia
#          [et non credo] che ci sia aviso del Strozzi" = the clear P.S. written under the cancelled lines.
Decryption

r9_cancelled.txt

#IMAGE NAME: R9 fol.248 (14 Dec 1553), three cancelled cipher lines, read through the strokes 21 Sept 2026; uncertain throughout
#IMAGE NAME: line1
4 2 8 0 3 2 2 2 8 6 1 3 8 1 6 8 2 1 4 9 5 7 4 6 6 0 3 8 6 1 2 1 6 2 1 5 8 6 5 0 5 2 5 2 5 2 8 1 3 8 1 5 0 2 8 7 2 8
#IMAGE NAME: line2
4 4 2 6 0 3 6 0 0 2 6 2 8 1 0 8 1 4 3 1 0 4 2 1 6 6 8 6 6 8 1 3 0 6 0 6 4 6 6 4 2 4 2 1 4 8 6 1 2 3 0 8 1 4 8 6 0 2 3 4 4 8 6
#IMAGE NAME: line3
5 7 5 8 0 2 0 5 1 2 2 8 1 2 8 0 6 2 6 6 3 6 1 6 4 4 4 1 0 5 0 7 0 5 4 6 8 0

# Full-resolution re-reading, 21 Sept 2026. Stretches aligned with Lasry's key (digits -> letters):
#  line 1: 46 6 03 86 = p o r t ; 58 6 56 05 2 .. 58 28 = c o r s i .. c a  (Corsica)
#  line 2: 44 26 03 [07] 02 62 8 = f o r t u n a ; 58 6 52 4 62 4 = c o m e n e ; 68 6 02 4 = d o u e
#  line 3: 28 06 2 66 36 = a u i s o ; 68 4 42 = d e l ; 05 07 03 6 96 96 2 = s t r o z z i
# Reading: "[l'armata regia che] part[i per] Corsica [ha havuto] fortuna et non si sa come ne dove sia
#          [et non credo] che ci sia aviso del Strozzi" = the clear P.S. written under the cancelled lines.

06 Sources

Notes, decoder and the R9 decryption: targets/santacroce1552/.