At a glanceKey from adjacent plaintext · 98% of signs valued, five letters
- The letters
- Pedro Pacheco, cardinal of Sigüenza and viceroy of Naples, to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, then bishop of Arras (cardinal only from 1561). Five letters of 4 April, 9 May, 15 May, 24 May and 11 June 1554. The letter of 2 June 1554 has no cipher.
- Where
- Biblioteca Nacional de España, MSS/20214/61/1–6 (BNE Digital bdh0000172763). Catalogue item 855.
- The cipher
- A syllabary of the Spanish chancery type: consonant signs with a vowel mark (tail a, bar e, dot or front bar i, plain o, circle u), signs for syllables and short words, single letters with homophones, and code groups such as dinero, ducado(s) and su Mag.d.
- How it was deciphered
- Every cipher passage carries a decipherment written at the time, between the lines or in the margin. The key was rebuilt by aligning cipher and decipherment, 887 signs in 62 lines. It gives a value to 873 of 887 signs (98%); 85 print two values.
- What it says
- Money and troops in Naples in 1554: the donative and the lack of money, the need for foreign troops, annuities that find no buyers (only 2,500 ducats sold), the Prince of Salerno at Castro, 70,000 ducats a month for the war of Siena and for Naples, the Venetian ambassador’s news, and England.
- Still open
- Look-alike signs keep two values in 85 places, and some interlinear glosses are shorter than their cipher. Only one passage was checked against the image by a person; the rest were not. The images were not seen here.
- Credit
- Michael Brackx transcribed the signs, rebuilt the key and read the letters, with Claude Opus 5.5 under his direction. The decipherments of the time are the contemporary key.
01 The letters
The letters are Pacheco’s reports to Granvelle in the spring of 1554. The catalogue row said “no decipherment mentioned”, but every cipher passage has a decipherment of the time next to it. The address leaves of three of the letters read “el S.or obispo de Arras”, so the recipient was bishop of Arras then. The reading is the decipherments of the time, transcribed, with an English translation.
02 The key and the siblings
The key is in key_1554.md. The decode prints both values for a sign with two readings. Pacheco’s earlier letters of January–March 1554 in the Real Biblioteca, Madrid (II/2251) use the same key: four of thirteen carry cipher, 626 signs in 37 lines, transcribed in siblings/rb2251/. Before they were transcribed, the BNE key gave a value to 86% of the first 590 signs; with the values they add, 97% (608 of 626). They are siblings, not documents of this entry. Their decipherment column follows the H15Corpus transcriptions, which state no licence, so it is not covered by CC BY 4.0; see the folder’s README.
03 The reading
Five letters were deciphered; the notes grade how far the mechanical decode reproduces the decipherment’s syllables (full, most, in part). Those grades are not an independent proof, since the key was rebuilt from the same decipherments. The independent check is repetition: the same signs for the same words across letters and across the two archives. The reading review of each document is recorded in the profile as a model reading, labelled as such. The Spanish and an English translation of each are under Full texts.
04 What remains uncertain
- Look-alike signs (te/de/re, se/si, and others) keep two values: 85 tokens.
- Only one passage was checked against the image by a person without AI (Michael Brackx, d2 lines C1–C3).
- The statistical validation is recorded as not applicable: the syllabary has about 6 tokens per sign type.
- The transcription and the key were produced with AI; the images were not seen here.
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.
Naples, 4 Apr 1554 (MSS/20214/61/1)
The viceroy reports on the donative, on whether the enemy fleet will come and bring war, on the need for foreign troops because the people of the kingdom cannot be trusted, and that there is no money left for the demands made on him.
Transcription
# d1: MSS/20214/61/1, Pedro Pacheco, cardinal of Sigüenza, to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, bishop of Arras, Naples, 4 April 1554: cipher transcription Source: BNE Digital, record bdh0000172763, "high" PDF of MSS/20214/61/1, inner spread (image 1, 2028 x 1392 px). Blocks A1-A3 and P1-P2 and R1-R4 carry an interlinear decipherment; block B1-B3 a decipherment in the left margin. Read at about 4x. Each line: label, the decipherment written at the time (with clear words of the letter in parentheses), and the cipher signs separated by spaces. `.` is a dot written in the cipher. The sign names are conventional (see `../key_1554.md`); `[x]` marks a clear word written inside the cipher. ``` A1 en lo del donatiuo ° tt Ω q̊ c . 8̊ 8ſ ꝸ ∂ ɀ . o-o ∂̶ A2 si el armada viene o no si viene y hay ∃ ŧt 6 gua so r o-o . ∇ o-o , ─1 ꝗ r ─e 4 ꝯ x A3 guerra esto nos podria hazer la guerra troꝶ ŧt b ꝺ̨ ȯ-o b A̤ s ─a ꝸ ∇ꝶ ꝶ ꝶ̃ ∂ꝶ ŧt ꝗ M B1 la necessidad grande que hay de gente ∂ꝶ oo . u . ─ı ɀꝶ 5 . ⁊ Ω q . c . ꝯ 4 q . σ r a B2 estrangera porque aqui hay muy pocos amigos y delos tt b . ◻ oʒ z r aꝶ A̤ h c . de M x d° x A̤ ụ b si , x q . ∂ t B3 de la tierra no nos podemos assegurar ─x─ ∂ꝶ ─ꝺ r ƶ M o-o ꝗ b f̶ q . h̤ b M ─1 . n° aꝶ h R1 acabado M 8ſ 5ſ ɀ R2 eso yo no veo de donde se le pueda dar tt b ꝗ̊ ʒ o-o ꝗ̶ ∘ q . ɀ Ω ꝺ̶ ─1 . ∂̶ f° z ꝶ . q h R3 un real o Ω ꝸ ʳ ɛ 6 R4 que no hay de donde sacallo c . o-o ꝯ x q . ɀ Ω ꝺ̶ ɤ̶ ꝶ o aꝶ̶ ∘ P1 (clear: V. S. considere) quanto importa lo de aqui y el tiempo quan rebuelto anda ꝗſ Ω ꝺꝶ ┼ ꝺ A h aꝶ ꝗ q . de , x tt ꝺ ─ꝺ r Ω A̤ ꝗſ Ω ʒ̵ r 5° r 6 ꝺꝶ ꝯ oʒ ꝶ P2 de proveer lo proprio por proveer a lo ageno q . ꝗ̣ ꝗ̶ r h ∂ ꝗ̣ f̶ ∘ ʃ ꝗ ꝗ̣ so . r h ꝯ ∂ M z tt o-o ```
Decryption
A1 en lo del donatiuo
[°] e n lo que to ca re/co lo do no le
A2 si el armada viene o no si viene y hay
si e l armada ve/vi e no o no se que/vo e ne y (h)a y
A3 guerra esto nos podria hazer la guerra
guerra e s to ni s po dri a re/co ha a [ꝶ̃] la e que/vo a
B1 la necessidad grande que hay de gente
la ne co ssi da d gra n de que (h)a y de gen e re/ri
B2 estrangera porque aqui hay muy pocos amigos y delos
e s tra n ge e ra po r que aqui a y mu y po co/ci s amigos y de lo s
B3 de la tierra no nos podemos assegurar
de la ti e rr a no que/vo s po de mo s a se gu ra r
R1 acabado
a ca va do
R2 eso yo no veo de donde se le pueda dar
e s o yo/do no ve o de do n te/de se le pu ge a de r
R3 un real
u n re/co [ʳ] a l
R4 que no hay de donde sacallo
que no (h)a y de do n te/de sa a u ll o
P1 (clear: V. S. considere) quanto importa lo de aqui y el tiempo quan rebuelto anda
qua n ta im l po r ra que/vo de aqui y e l ti e n po qua n re e bu e l ta (h)a n a
P2 de proveer lo proprio por proveer a lo ageno
de pro ve e r lo pro po o pe que/vo pro ve/vi e r (h)a lo a ge e noReading
En lo del donativo …. … si el armada viene o no; si viene y hay guerra, esto nos podria hazer la guerra …. … la necessidad grande que hay de gente estrangera, porque aqui hay muy pocos amigos, y de los de la tierra no nos podemos assegurar. (acaban los cient mil ducados de los otros) acabado. Eso yo no veo de donde se le pueda dar … un real …. (Resoluta) que no hay de donde sacallo. (V. S. considere) quanto importa lo de aqui y el tiempo quan rebuelto anda … de proveer lo proprio por proveer a lo ageno.
Translation
As to the donative …. … whether the fleet comes or not; if it comes and there is war, this could bring the war upon us …. … the great need there is of foreign troops, because here there are very few friends, and of those of the country we cannot be sure. (the hundred thousand ducats of the others are spent) finished. That, I do not see where it could be given from … a single real …. (Resolved) that there is nowhere to take it from. (Your Lordship should consider) how much the affairs here matter, and how unsettled the times are … to provide for one's own *rather than* provide for others'.
Naples, 9 May 1554 (MSS/20214/61/2)
He is at a loss, so short of money, and above all without foreign troops.
Transcription
# d2: MSS/20214/61/2, Pedro Pacheco, cardinal of Sigüenza, to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, bishop of Arras, Naples, 9 May 1554: cipher transcription Source: BNE Digital, record bdh0000172763, "high" PDF of MSS/20214/61/2, page with the cipher (image 3, 1043 x 1380 px). Decipherment in the left margin. Read on slope-following line strips at about 3x. Each line: label, the decipherment written at the time (with clear words of the letter in parentheses), and the cipher signs separated by spaces. `.` is a dot written in the cipher. The sign names are conventional (see `../key_1554.md`); `[x]` marks a clear word written inside the cipher. ``` C1 yo me hallo ʒ ꝺ+ ∇ꝶ aꝶ̶ ∘ C2 confuso en hallarme en este tiempo 8 oʒ b° ʔ tt oʒ ∇ꝶ aꝶ̶ ɛ h ꝺ+ tt oʒ r b ꝺ̶ ─ꝺ tt oʒ A C3 tan falto de dinero ꝺꝶ oʒ bꝶ ϑ ꝺ̨ q· 3z C4 no tener o-o ꝺ ꝯ h C5 gente estrangera ova tt ȯ . ◻ oʒ ∂ aꝶ ```
Decryption
C1 yo me hallo
yo/do me ha ll o
C2 confuso en hallarme en este tiempo
co n fu so e n ha ll a r me e n e s te/de ti e n po
C3 tan falto de dinero
ta n fa l to de dinero
C4 no tener
no l (h)a r
C5 gente estrangera
[ova] e s tra n lo raReading
Yo me hallo confuso en hallarme en este tiempo tan falto de dinero; (y lo que mas siento es) no tener gente estrangera.
Translation
I find myself at a loss, being at this time so short of money; (and what I regret most is) not having foreign troops.
Naples, 15 May 1554 (MSS/20214/61/3)
The Prince of Salerno is still at Castro and wants to come to Sermoneta to pursue his plots. Only 2,500 ducats of annuities on the fiscal revenues have been sold at ten per cent redeemable; he would sell up to 25,000 at that price if buyers could be found, but sees no way to raise the money.
Transcription
# d3: MSS/20214/61/3, Pedro Pacheco, cardinal of Sigüenza, to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, bishop of Arras, Naples, 15 May 1554: cipher transcription Source: BNE Digital, record bdh0000172763, "high" PDF of MSS/20214/61/3, f. 1r (image 1, 1046 x 1402 px, and image 2, 1256 x 1402 px, a second photograph with the margin legible) for D1-D6; inner spread (image 3, 2041 x 1395 px) for E-H. Decipherments in the margin, in dark ink (f. 1r legible on image 2). Read at 2.5-4.5x. Each line: label, the decipherment written at the time (with clear words of the letter in parentheses), and the cipher signs separated by spaces. `.` is a dot written in the cipher. The sign names are conventional (see `../key_1554.md`); `[x]` marks a clear word written inside the cipher. ``` D1 es verdad tt b ꝗ̶ h ꝓ 5 D2 que no tener dinero ny de donde havello es lo que c . o-o ŧt ─ℓ ꝗ 3z ȯ-o q . ϟ Ω q . ∇ꝶ ꝗ̶ aꝶ ∘ tt t ꝺ̶ ꝗ̶ D3 da mas travajo (then clear: presto se sabra si viene, o no) ꝶ ꝺꝶ b . ◻ 5ſ ꝺ̨ D4 el p[rincip]e de Salerno se esta toda via en Castro ─1 tt ꝺ [quime] 5ſ ─1 . r t ꝺꝶ ꝗ̊ ꝶ ꝺ̶ ꝗ M tt Ω 8ſ b ◻̇ D5 dizese que quiere venir a Salmoneta (then clear: para entender desde ally) ꝗ̇ ꝶ ꝺ̇ tt c . g r a ꝗ ȯ-o ꝗ M ⊐ſ ꝺ h̤ oo . ꝺꝶ D6 con mas comodidad en sus tramas y intelligencias (then clear: en las quales ...) ụ oʒ . h b̄ 8 Ω ḥ ꝗ ꝶ 5 tt ꝺ ɔ° b . ◻ ꝺꝶ t 4 x oʒ ꝺ̶ ∂ ꝸ r Ω ụ M b E1 el poco remedio que hay de tt ꝺ A̤ ụ . ꝸ ꝙ̇ tt ꝺ̶ q ∘ c . M x E2 podello cumplir y el travajo es que no se ŧ A q . aꝶ̶ ∘ ụ Ω ẋ h , 4 tt ꝺ . ◻ 5ſ ꝺ̨ tt t c . o-o ꝺ̵ E3 halla quien quiera comprar nada ∇ꝶ aꝶ̶ ɛ ċ tt Ω g r aꝶ ụ Ω . ꝗ̣ ꝗ̣ . o-o ꝶ F1 no se han o-o ─1 . ∇ꝶ oʒ F2 vendido mas de dos mil y quinientos ducados a ꝗ̶ Ω q ꝶ ꝺꝶ b q . ϟ t ─ꝺ ꝺ 4 ċ ȯ-o tt oʒ ꝺꝶ b 43b M F3 diez por ciento al quitar en pagamentos a q tt ẋ A h ụ r oʒ ꝺꝶ ɛ ꝺ ċ aꝶ g tt oʒ . A n ꝶ h . oʒ ꝺꝶ b F4 fiscales (then clear: y en otras cosas de poca importancia que) b b . u ꝶ b G1 sera hasta la suma de veinte y cinco mil ─1 . aꝶ oʒ ∇ꝶ b . 8 ∂ꝶ ɔ° ꝺꝶ q . ꝗ̶ x oʒ ꝺ̶ x ụ Ω ꝸ ꝺ ꝺ G2 ducados y a este precio me holgaria de hallar 43b 4 M tt b ꝺ̶ ꝗ̣ . ụ ∘ h . ∇ ꝺ n ꝶ a ꝶ q . ∇ꝶ aꝶ̶ M ꝗ G3 a quien poder vender (then clear: aunque a la verdad soy muy enemigo de hazello ...) M g r oʒ A̤ q . h ꝗ Ω q . ꝗ H1 queria yo poderlo cumplir porque no me falta di- ꝙ x M ʒ̇ A̤ q . h ꝺ 8° Ω ẋ h , A̤ h c . o-o ꝺ̶ bꝶ ꝺ ꝺꝶ ꝗ̇ H2 ligencia de buscar expedientes ni volun- ꝺ z tt Ω ụ ꝶ q . 5° b . u g tt b ʃ q̇ r Ω . ꝺ̶ t o-o ꝗ ∂° Ω H3 tad (clear: pero en effecto) no veo orden ny manera ꝺꝶ 5 o-o ꝗ̶ ∘ A̤ ꝗ q . Ω o-o ꝺꝶ oo . aꝶ H4 de que poderlo haver agora (clear: V. S. me) q . c . A̤ q . ꝗ ꝺ ∇ꝶ h ∇ꝶ r ∇ꝶ t ꝺꝶ M ∘ aꝶ H5 (clear: hara merced) pues sabe la necessidad que aca f° tt b ∇ꝶ ʒ ∂ꝶ oo . u . ꝺ̵ x ꝶ r . c . M 8ſ H6 hay M x ```
Decryption
D1 es verdad
e s ve r da d
D2 que no tener dinero ny de donde havello es lo que
que no e ne que/vo dinero ni de do n de ha ve ra o e s te/de ve
D3 da mas travajo (then clear: presto se sabra si viene, o no)
a ta s tra va to
D4 el p[rincip]e de Salerno se esta toda via en Castro
se e l (quime) va se e s ta o a te/de que/vo a e n ca s tro
D5 dizese que quiere venir a Salmoneta (then clear: para entender desde ally)
di a se e que qui e re/ri que/vo ni que/vo a sa l mo ne ta
D6 con mas comodidad en sus tramas y intelligencias (then clear: en las quales ...)
co/ci n r s co n o que/vo a d e l su s tra ta s y y n te/de lo re/co e n co/ci a s
E1 el poco remedio que hay de
e l po co/ci re/co me e te/de de o que a y
E2 podello cumplir y el travajo es que no se
[ŧ] po de ll o co/ci n pli r y e l tra va to e s que no se/si
E3 halla quien quiera comprar nada
ha ll a qui e n qui e ra co/ci n pro pro no a
F1 no se han
no se ha n
F2 vendido mas de dos mil y quinientos ducados a
ve n de a ta s de do s ti l y qui ni e n ta s ducados a
F3 diez por ciento al quitar en pagamentos
re/ri de e pli po r co/ci e n ta a l qui ra qui e n po g a r n ta s
F4 fiscales (then clear: y en otras cosas de poca importancia que)
s s co a s
G1 sera hasta la suma de veinte y cinco mil
se ra n ha s co la su ta de ve y n te/de y co/ci n re/co l l
G2 ducados y a este precio me holgaria de hallar
ducados y a e s te/de pro co/ci o r o l g a re/ri a de ha ll a que/vo
G3 a quien poder vender (then clear: aunque a la verdad soy muy enemigo de hazello ...)
a qui e n po de r que/vo n de que/vo
H1 queria yo poderlo cumplir porque no me falta di-
que y a yo po de r l cu n pli r po r que no te/de fa l ta di
H2 ligencia de buscar expedientes ni volun-
l ge e n co/ci a de bu s co qui e s pe di e n te/de s no que/vo lu n
H3 tad (clear: pero en effecto) no veo orden ny manera
ta d no ve o po que/vo de n no ta ne ra
H4 de que poderlo haver agora (clear: V. S. me)
de que po de que/vo l ha r ha e ha s ta a o ra
H5 (clear: hara merced) pues sabe la necessidad que aca
pu e s ha yo/do la ne co se/si y a e que a ca
H6 hay
a yReading
Es verdad que no tener dinero ny de donde havello es lo que da mas travajo. (Presto se sabra si viene o no.) El principe de Salerno se esta toda via en Castro; dizese que quiere venir a Salmoneta (para entender desde alli) con mas comodidad en sus tramas y intelligencias, (en las quales tiene toda su confiança y gasta su tiempo. Espero en Nuestro Señor que, pues el tiene tan poco fundamento, que todo le aprovechara poco.) El poco remedio que hay de podello cumplir, y el travajo es que no se halla quien quiera comprar nada. No se han vendido mas de dos mil y quinientos ducados a diez por ciento al quitar en pagamentos fiscales, (y en otras cosas de poca importancia) que sera hasta la suma de veinte y cinco mil ducados, y a este precio me holgaria de hallar a quien poder vender. Queria yo poderlo cumplir, porque no me falta diligencia de buscar expedientes ny voluntad; (pero en effecto) no veo orden ny manera de que poderlo haver agora. (V. S. me hara merced,) pues sabe la necessidad que aca hay.
Translation
It is true that having no money, nor anywhere to get it from, is what gives the most trouble. (It will soon be known whether it comes or not.) The Prince of Salerno is still at Castro; it is said that he wants to come to Sermoneta (to follow) more conveniently from there his plots and intrigues, (in which he puts all his trust and spends his time. I hope in Our Lord that, since he has so little foundation, all of it will do him little good.) The little remedy there is for fulfilling it; and the trouble is that nobody is to be found who will buy anything. No more than two thousand five hundred ducats have been sold, at ten per cent redeemable, in payments on the fiscal revenues, (and in other things of small importance), which will come to the sum of twenty-five thousand ducats; and at this price I should be glad to find someone to sell to. I would like to be able to fulfil it, for I lack neither diligence in seeking expedients nor goodwill; (but in fact) I see no order nor way of being able to get it now. (Your Lordship will do me the favour,) since you know the need there is here.
Naples, 24 May 1554 (MSS/20214/61/4)
Things in Naples are getting tighter if the Venetian ambassador's news is true; 70,000 ducats a month will now go on the war of Siena and the kingdom; the excesses of the troops should be reduced; the matter of England.
Transcription
# d4: MSS/20214/61/4, Pedro Pacheco, cardinal of Sigüenza, to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, bishop of Arras, Naples, 24 May 1554: cipher transcription Source: BNE Digital, record bdh0000172763, "high" PDF of MSS/20214/61/4, f. 1r (image 1, 1039 x 1399 px) for I and N; inner spread (image 2, 2038 x 1399 px) for J, K, L. Margin decipherments (I, J, K, L) and interlinear notes (N). J and K read at 2-2.6x only: single signs uncertain. Each line: label, the decipherment written at the time (with clear words of the letter in parentheses), and the cipher signs separated by spaces. `.` is a dot written in the cipher. The sign names are conventional (see `../key_1554.md`); `[x]` marks a clear word written inside the cipher. ``` I1 lo de aca se va apretando (clear before: a su Mag escrivo; after: a lo menos si sale lo que) ∂ q . M 8ſ ꝺ gſ ꝸ ɛ ꞃ̇ A ꝶ oʒ ꝗ I2 el embaxador de vene- tt ꝺ r oʒ 5ſ . 4 ʒ h q . ꝗ̶ o-o . I3 cia escrive (clear?: Tiquo) yo no se como podran venir ụ ꝶ tt ꝺ ─ı ꝗ ʒ o-o ꝺ ụ h ʃ 5 aꝶ Ω ꝗ̶ ȯ-o ꝗ I4 sin exercito formado en este (clear: reyno, aunque) ꝺ ŧt tt 4 . h ụ ꝶ q . ꝺꝶ q r Ω tt b ŧt J1 porque se gastara ca- ʃ h c . ─1 . n̄ꝶ b ∂ꝶ aꝶ Ω 8ſ J2 da mes agora setenta mil ducados proveyendose ꝶ h . b ꝸ ∘ aꝶ ꝺ ─1 . Ω ꝺꝶ ─ꝺ ∂ tt b 8° ɀ b A ꝗ̶ x r J3 lo de Sena y lo de aqui no haviendo ʒ q ∂ ∂ q . ụʒ 4 ∂ q . de o-o ꝗ ɀ r Ω ɀ ∂ q ꝺ̶ J4 forma que poder consignar un solo ducado ya (clear: pero) ꝸ . f q . h 8 Ω ∂ z ffoꝶ h o oʒ ∂ ∂ 43 5ſ J5 (clear: toda via) me esforçare todo lo que pudiere para h . tt b ɓ h 8ſ ꝺ̶ ꝶ ꝶ ꝺ c . f° q r ꝺ̶ J6 cumplillo 8° Ω ẋ aꝶ̶ ∘ K1 si estos excesos se pudiessen reduzir ─1 ∂ tt b ∂ꝶ b m . oo . ∂ t ─1 . f° q r ꝺ̶ tt Ω ʒ ŧt r° K2 seria muy bueno y su Md no deveria de ꝸ h ─1 . aꝶ d° x 5° r ∘ 4 ιos o-o q . ∘ a M q . d K3 mirar lo que ellos merecen sino lo que podria ꝶ h q c . ŧt ꝶ ꝶ t h . ŧt b u . Ω ─ı o-o ꝗ̈ f̈ b . aꝶ K4 importar su reducion (clear: y mio que hizo a los hombres ...) x ꝺ A h ꝶ ꝗ ɔ° ꝸ tt r° ụ ꝺ oʒ L1 que tenga necessidad de otro (clear after: El solo no) c . ŧt oʒ n̄ꝶ oʒ oo . u . ꝺ̵ x ꝶ ɼ ┼ x ꝺ ∘ ŧ L2 tiene necessidad de nadie ꝗ̇ r oo . ŧ u . ꝺ̵ x ꝶ 5 q . o-o q tt N1 a la paz no hay (clear before: lo que V. S. me dize de lo que toca) ─1 M ∂ꝶ ʃ ꝶ̶ o-o ꝺ̶ 4 N2 que dezir c . q . z̄ g N3 es verdad (clear before: sino encomendallo a dios) tt b ꝗ̶ h ꝓ 5 N4 establecer lo de Ingalaterra (clear before: mente para) tt ∂ꝶ q ∂ u . ∘ ∂ q . x oʒ n̄ꝶ ꝺ̶ ꝺ̶ N5 y lo que mas se ha de temer es las ven- ʒ M 4 ꝺ c . aꝶ t ꝺ ꝗ 4 ꝺ h . h tt b ꝺ ꝶ t ꝗ ```
Decryption
I1 lo de aca se va apretando (clear before: a su Mag escrivo; after: a lo menos si sale lo que)
lo de a ca l va re/co a pre po a n que/vo
I2 el embaxador de vene-
e l e n va y yo/do r de ve no
I3 cia escrive (clear?: Tiquo) yo no se como podran venir
co/ci a e l ssi que/vo yo/do no l co/ci r pe d ra n ve ni que/vo
I4 sin exercito formado en este (clear: reyno, aunque)
l e e y r co/ci a de ta de e n e s e
J1 porque se gastara ca-
pe r que se ga s la ra n ca
J2 da mes agora setenta mil ducados proveyendose
a r s re/co o ra l se n ta ti lo e s cu do s po ve y e
J3 lo de Sena y lo de aqui no haviendo
yo/do de lo lo de Sena y lo de aqui no que/vo do e n do lo de te/de
J4 forma que poder consignar un solo ducado ya (clear: pero)
re/co [f] de r co n lo ge [ffoꝶ] r u n lo lo ducado va
J5 (clear: toda via) me esforçare todo lo que pudiere para
r e s fo r ca te/de a a l que pu de e te/de
J6 cumplillo
cu n pli ll o
K1 si estos excesos se pudiessen reduzir
se lo e s la s [m] ne lo s se pu de e te/de e n yo/do e du
K2 seria muy bueno y su Md no deveria de
re/co r se ra mu y bu e o y su_Md no de o re/ri a de mi
K3 mirar lo que ellos merecen sino lo que podria
a r de que e a a s r e s co n ssi no [ꝗ̈] [f̈] s ra
K4 importar su reducion (clear: y mio que hizo a los hombres ...)
y l po r a que/vo su re/co e du co/ci l n
L1 que tenga necessidad de otro (clear after: El solo no)
que e n ga n ne co se/si y a d im y l o [ŧ]
L2 tiene necessidad de nadie
di e ne [ŧ] co se/si y a d de no de e
N1 a la paz no hay (clear before: lo que V. S. me dize de lo que toca)
se a la pe z no te/de y
N2 que dezir
que de zi qui
N3 es verdad (clear before: sino encomendallo a dios)
e s ve r da d
N4 establecer lo de Ingalaterra (clear before: mente para)
e la de lo co o lo de y n ga te/de te/de
N5 y lo que mas se ha de temer es las ven-
yo/do a y l que ra s l que/vo y l r r e s l a s que/voReading
Lo de aca se va apretando, y al menos si sale lo que el embaxador de Venecia escrive; pero yo no se como podran venir sin exercito formado en este reyno. (Lo que V. S. me dize de lo que toca) a la paz, no hay que dezir. … Es verdad. … (mente para) establecer lo de Ingalaterra, y lo que mas se ha de temer es las ven[…]. Porque se gastara cada mes aora setenta mil ducados proveyendose lo de Sena y lo de aqui, no haviendo forma que poder consignar un solo ducado ya; (pero toda via) me esforçare todo lo que pudiere para cumplillo. Si estos excesos se pudiessen reduzir seria muy bueno, y su Magestad no deveria de mirar lo que ellos merecen sino lo que podria importar su reducion. Que tenga necessidad de otro[…]; el solo no tiene necessidad de nadie.
Translation
Things here are getting tighter, at least if what the Venetian ambassador writes comes true; but I do not know how they could come without a formed army in this kingdom. (As for what Your Lordship tells me concerning) peace, there is nothing to say. … It is true. … to settle the matter of England; and what is most to be feared is the arriv[…]. For seventy thousand ducats a month will now be spent providing for Siena and for here, there being no way to assign a single ducat any more; (but nevertheless) I shall strive as much as I can to fulfil it. If these excesses could be reduced it would be very good, and His Majesty ought not to look at what they deserve but at what their reduction could matter. That he should need anoth[…]; he alone needs nobody.
Naples, 11 June 1554 (MSS/20214/61/6)
It is an impossible thing to bear unless the emperor provides.
Transcription
# d6: MSS/20214/61/6, Pedro Pacheco, cardinal of Sigüenza, to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, bishop of Arras, Naples, 11 June 1554: cipher transcription Source: BNE Digital, record bdh0000172763, "high" PDF of MSS/20214/61/6, two lines. Interlinear decipherment. Read at about 2.5x. Each line: label, the decipherment written at the time (with clear words of the letter in parentheses), and the cipher signs separated by spaces. `.` is a dot written in the cipher. The sign names are conventional (see `../key_1554.md`); `[x]` marks a clear word written inside the cipher. ``` X1 que es cosa impossible c . tt ȯ u ∃ꝶ x D A X2 podello sufrir si su mag no lo provee A q . aꝶ ⊳ ∂° m h ∃ ros o-o ∂ ꝗ̣ ─ꝗ─ x ```
Decryption
X1 que es cosa impossible
que e s co sa y m po
X2 podello sufrir si su mag no lo provee
po de ra [⊳] lu [m] r si su_Md no lo pro ve yReading
(fuesse a mi costa, pero si veo) que es cosa impossible podello sufrir si su Magestad no lo provee.
Translation
(were it at my own cost, but I see) that it is an impossible thing to bear it unless His Majesty provides for it.
Key: key_1554.md
05 Sources
- BNE, MSS/20214/61/1–6 (BNE Digital bdh0000172763; not reproduced); Real Biblioteca, Madrid, II/2251, via the library’s IIIF server.
- Bucuré (Estudios Románicos 34, 2025) on the Neapolitan letters of 1547 is a related study; the H15Corpus (dirs. L. Pons Rodríguez and E. Bravo García) transcribes the Real Biblioteca letters and their decipherments, but not the cipher.
Working files: targets/siguenza1554/ in the repository.