Lope de Soria to Charles V, Genoa, 1523

keyA_june.txt

# Lope de Soria, Genoa, June 1523, to Charles V -- cipher block (key A), three copies R9488 / R9489 / R9490.
# Base text: R9488 (f.248r = img P2 right page, then f.248v = img P1 left page). One line per R9488 MS line.
# Line numbers: L01-L09 = f.248r lines 1-9; L10-L28 = f.248v lines 1-19.
# Glyph names as keyA_r9492_f444.txt:
#  z = tailed z   Z = crossed z (ǂ)   O = circle with bar   o = plain o   T = tt-ligature   a = alpha  e = epsilon
#  c  2 3 7 9 as written (7 includes the '6-hanging-below' form, as in keyA 'ZeOo73zc')
#  f = phi   p = p with loop   P = p with double cross-bar   q = '2' with looped tail   Q = 9/q with crossed tail
#  d = partial-d   b = 6 with ascender bar   n = pi   L = L-hook   V = triangle
# New signs:
#  U = small circle with a cross-stroke on its right (o+): L02 zUo9, L28 end, R9489 opens "Z o+"
#  S = small closed 'S/5'-shaped sign sitting on the line, loop at the base (f.248r L1 only so far)
#  Y = T-like sign with a double bar on top (like ╤) (f.248r L2)
#  R = small circle on a short stem (like ♀), occurs before 9 or p: 7cR9cTz, cRp (maybe a 9 variant)
#  H = heavy '#' (double-crossed hatch, bigger than T) (f.248r L3)
# Lower-case three-letter code words (lod lih luc cap cip cae dus mos ...) kept as words. Spacing is the writer's.
# {x} = doubtful or variant reading; {?} = illegible.
L01: To{R9489: Z o+} p 9cn7d{oo?; R9489 7}eda zS{=e form; R9489 Ze}Oo77{R9489 73}Zc lod{R9489 cTZ} lih Oqda{R9489 Oadq} Tzc7pc{R9489 Tzc79c} c3{read T3; R9489 c3}
L02: zUo9{R9489 Z3p} cap Zo9{o read O; R9489 zo9} pY779{R9489 Y739} Ta{R9489 cTa} zc{R9489 Zc} 3zcZO79{R9489 cip (code word)} 3cnzOoZ{R9489 zcnzOoZ}
L03: T9o7a{R9489 To77q} cTHZ2{H superfluous: plain needs cTZ2 del; R9489 cTz2} luc lod lih z2 V392 937p To97 cTq{R9489 p379 To9f cTa}
L04: z2d9c cTpTa{R9489 cTpTq} cTZ27 cR9cTz{R9489 cTZ2 7cR9cTz} b9op OacO237o
L05: 29 27Pp Oac{R9489 Oqc} 2qe{R9489 2ae} cip cae f cap bqo{R9489 bao} zeTa Z2 luc
L06: lod lih 937p boqd ZTz{R9489 zT7; plain needs e t i} cTq{R9489 cTa} 92 cT7OQa 7cR9cTz{R9489 7cR9cTZ} cT7
L07: zLof aOQq d72{R9489 looks lim} cT3O9 cTae f cap Oac ZeTq Tz
L08: c79c bao O7ZoTq cap nz OqcO23fo79{q read d; R9489 OqcO237o79} 2p{R9489 29} cT7
L09: OQ9{R9489 OQp} 27Pp{7 read 2; R9489 27P9} fbao ZeTq nz b9oT7p Oqc{R9489 Oac} cT727
L10: PzcO79{R9489 PZcO79} z2 baoTqcaT 9o7q O9opOQq2a{R9489 O9op OQa2q}
L11: b9op 7op3Zcz O79{R9489 7o po cip} f 9cn7 d7eda zeOo73zc{R9489 ZeOo73Zc}
L12: lod lih Oadq 937Zc{R9489 937zc} cTqnz{R9489 cTanz} OadZc{R9489 OqdZc} O{mark below}9 cTq{R9489 cTa} lod pdaT7{R9489 9daT7; R9490 9daT7}
L13: c9o297cRp{R9489 c9o29 mos (code word); R9490 cpo nz 29 7cR9} cTZo79{R9490 cTZo7p} lod dus 2ze 937pc Zc379
L14: cTa{R9490 cTq} 3c9 b9Pp{read bpP9; R9489,R9490 b9Pp} f cap Oac zeTq{R9489 ZeTq} bZcn93pc{R9490 bzc..} lod nqnz{R9489 nqnZ; R9490 cTzna nz?}
L15: P9o2p{R9489 Pp9o2p; R9490 P9o2p} bao{R9489,R9490 bqo} 9Pqop{R9489 PPaop; R9490 9Paop} fbpoo9{doubtful; R9489 fb9o9; R9490 fb9op} ZeTq{R9489,R9490 omit} 9Op79o{R9489 pO93po; R9490 9Op79o} cTZb9{R9489 lod b9; R9490 cTz b9}
L16: Ppo2Ze{R9489 Ppo2ze} 2a{R9490 2q} cap nZ2ze{R9490 nz2Ze} cTZ3z{R9490 cTz3Z} 9c ZeOo7Tq{R9489 ZOo7Ta; R9490 ZeOo7Ta} Z2{R9490 z2} luc
L17: lod lih fz2{R9489 fZ2} nZc7ao{R9489 nZcfao} boaebzoq{R9489 baebZoq} 92 luc lod cop{sic, not cap} cap V37
L18: Zo9{R9489 zop} ZeRqo{R9489 ze Rao} O{mark below}9onz{R9489 O9onZ} lod 9f3cTpo Oac 92P3c9n3dp{R9489 p2P3c9 n3d9}
L19: lod cT7cZoae{R9489 cT7cZoqe} fZ2{R9489 f32?} Yzebqc{R9489 YZebqc} cTZ{R9489 cT7a} cap cq b3Z cTz cT9o cT7
L20: czoqebzoa{R9489 czoaebZoq} cap Tad9op V37c7ZcTae 7cR9cTZe
L21: cTz2ae{R9489 cTZ2ae} cTz2{R9489 cTZ2} ZmzoO7Ta{R9489 ZmZo O7Tq} b9op cap zeTZc9V37{R9489 ZeTzc 9V37}
L22: f2ae b9Pp o9{R9489 b9PPo9} bao3cdZe{R9489 bqo3cdZe} fb9oZOZ2z{R9489 f b9ozOZ2z} cap Oac
L23: zeTa{R9489 ZeTq} cTZeO9o Pp lod P9eTq{P read p; R9489 P9eTq} 92{R9489 po2} ZmzoO7Ta f
L24: P39o cT9 dz7qo{R9489 dZ7ao} ZeT9 O73 cT9 cT f{blotted} V37 T9 Z23ea
L25: 92qe{R9489 92ae} cap T7zcZc O9opq{R9489 O9oPq} bao{R9489 bqo} dus lod bzcT7o2z{R9489 bzcT7o2Z}
L26: cT7cZoae{R9489 cT7cZoa} f 9Z2 cTz{R9489 po zz, no cTz} cT9o2ae{R9489 cT9o2qe} lod d9czop cap
L27: c9{R9489 c9cT7} cT7 pT7zc{R9489 9T7Zc} cTZ n7cq{R9489 cTZn7 ca} . 9 .{R9489 po} n3 baob7q 7cTzoZ{R9489 7cTzoz}
L28: nz Z{written as ≠} U{R9489 ends 'nZ po To'}
# end of cipher block; clear follows 'Segun publican los franceses ...'

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Collation notes
# R9489 f.250r-f.251v: collated line by line against all of L01-L28 (the line breaks differ; variants shown in {}).
# R9490 f.252r?-253v: collated only in spot checks (f.253v lines 1-4 = L12-L16). Not a full collation.
# R9488 L01 opens 'To p'; R9489 opens 'Z(≠) o+'; R9488 ends 'nz ≠ o+', R9489 ends 'nZ po To'.
#
# Systematic differences between copies (homophones)
#  a ~ q  the commonest swap, dozens of cases: Oac/Oqc, 2qe/2ae, bao/bqo, cTa/cTq, Ta/Tq, OQq2a/OQa2q,
#         cT7cZoae/cT7cZoqe, czoqebzoa/czoaebZoq. Both = o in the key.
#  z ~ Z  very frequent: zeTq/ZeTq, cTz2/cTZ2, bzc/bZc, Pzc/PZc, 937Zc/937zc, zeOo73zc/ZeOo73Zc. Both = e.
#  9 ~ p  frequent: Tzc7pc/Tzc79c, 2p/29, OQ9/OQp, pdaT7/9daT7, 27Pp/27P9, Zo9/zop, 7cRp/7cR9, c9o/cpo. Both = a.
#  p ~ P  occasional: O9opq/O9oPq, 9Pp/9PP (P = g, so these may be errors rather than homophones).
#  f ~ 7  in 'concluyria' (R9488 23fo79 vs R9489 237o79) and nZc7ao/nZcfao: y/i.
#  3 ~ 7  in 'arriuado' (R9488 pY779, R9489 Y739), 'escriuen' (L01), 'acauar' (L15: R9488 and R9490 7, R9489 3).
#  code word vs spelled-out: R9489 'cip' where R9488 spells 3zcZO79 (L02, 'uenecia') and '7op3Zcz O79' (L11);
#         R9489 'mos' where R9488 has '7cRp cTZo79' (L13, 'infanteria'). R9489 'lim' where R9488 has d72 (L07, 'mil').
#
# New signs: R (= f in the plaintext check), Y (= r/rr), U (o+), S (e form, once), H (superfluous, once), m (as keyA).

read_r9488.md

# R9488 / R9489 / R9490 (9/28 ff. 248-253), Soria to Charles V, Genoa, June 1523 — key A, reading

One letter in three copies. Cipher block f. 248r-248v (R9488), 28 lines, transcribed and collated with R9489
(full) and R9490 (spot checks) in keyA_june.txt. Decoded with the key-A alphabet (keyA.md) plus R = f, Y = r.
Code words fixed here: cap = que, lod = de, luc = duque, lih = Milan, cip = Venecia (R9489 writes cip where
R9488 spells 'uenecia'), mos = infanteria (same), lim = mil (same). Open: dus (2x), cop (1x), nra (L17).

## Reading (normalised spelling kept close to the letter; [ ] = tentative)

[... y ansi mismo] escriven de Milan como tenian nueva que era arrivado en Venecia un secretario del duque de
Milan, el qual avia traido el mandado del Infante para concluir la liga con los venecianos, y que por esto el
duque de Milan avia prometido al dicho Infante diez y ocho mil ducados, y que con esto tenian por cierto que se
concluiria la dicha liga, y por esto se partia con diligencia el protonotario Caracciolo para ir a Venecia.

Y ansi mismo escriven de Milan como aviendose [comen]çado de amotinar la infanteria de [dus], les avian enviado
una paga, y que con esto pensavan de sosegarla por agora; y para esto, y acabar de pagarles lo que se les deve,
an escrito el duque de Milan y el señor Prospero al duque de [Genova] que quiera esforçarse de ayudar con alguna
suma de dineros, y el respondio que no puede dar dineros, pero que tomara quinientos infantes de los del exercito
para que esten aqui y los pagara por un mes; y pareceles que con esto descarga de gasto al exercito y guarda
mejor esta ciudad, y quita el uso a los que tienen cargo por [dus] de pedirle dineros, y a el de darlos; de
manera que nadie atiende sino a su propio interese.

## English

They write from Milan that news had come that a secretary of the Duke of Milan had arrived in Venice with the
Infante's mandate to conclude the league with the Venetians; for this the Duke of Milan had promised the Infante
18,000 ducats, and so they took the league as certain, and the protonotary Caracciolo was leaving in haste for
Venice. They also write that the infantry having begun to mutiny, a pay had been sent them, with which they hoped
to quiet it for now; and to finish paying what is owed, the Duke of Milan and Signor Prospero [Colonna] have
written to the Doge [of Genoa] to make an effort to help with some sum of money. He answered that he cannot give
money, but will take five hundred infantry of the army to be here and pay them for a month; they think this
relieves the army of cost, guards this city better, and ends the habit of those in charge of [..] asking him for
money and his of giving it: so that no one looks to anything but his own interest.

Context: the Venetian league with the Emperor was concluded on 29 July 1523 and published 15 August (CSP Spain
vol. 2 no. 587); Marino Caracciolo was the imperial protonotary sent to Venice. 'El Infante' = Archduke Ferdinand.

r_june.txt

# Reading of the key-A block of the June letter (R9488, collated R9489/R9490), one line per cipher line of keyA_june.txt.
# {x} = declared opener/closer/null mark (not counted); [x] = unread or context-only guess (counted as unread);
# a word split over two lines is written 'pa-' / '-sado'.
L01: {To} [p] ansimismo escriuen de Milan como tenian nu-
L02: -eua que era arriuado en Uenecia un secre-
L03: -tario del duque de Milan el qual auia traido el
L04: mandado del infante para concluir
L05: la liga con los uenecianos y que por esto el duque
L06: de Milan auia prometido al dicho infante di-
L07: -ez y ocho mil ducados y que con esto te-
L08: -nian por cierto que se concluiria la di-
L09: -cha liga y por esto se partia con dili-
L10: -gencia el protonotario Caracciolo
L11: para ir a Uenecia y ansi mismo escriuen
L12: de Milan como auiendose comencado de amoti-
L13: -nar la infanteria de [dus] les auian enuia-
L14: -do una paga y que con esto pensauan de sose-
L15: -garla por agora y para esto acabar de pa-
L16: -garles lo que se les deue an escrito el duque
L17: de Milan y el senor Prospero al duque de [cop] que qui-
L18: -era esforcarse de ayudar con alguna suma
L19: de dineros y el respondio que no puede dar di-
L20: -neros pero que tomara quinientos infantes
L21: de los del exercito para que esten aqui
L22: y los pagara por un mes y pareceles que con
L23: esto descarga de gasto al exercito y
L24: guarda mejor esta ciudad y quita el uso
L25: a los que tienen cargo por [dus] de pedirle
L26: dineros y a el de darlos de manera que
L27: nadie atiende sino {.} a {.} su propio interese
L28: se {Z} {U}

R9488_reading.md

<!-- Reading of R9488 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), from measure/r_june.txt (the 5 Oct 2026 re-read of the key-A block of R9488, collated with the copies R9489 and R9490), joined into words and sentences. Letters as the decode gives them (u for v, no accents); word division across line ends, capitals and punctuation added. An unread group of signs is […]; a nomenclature group with no value is kept as written ([dus], [cop], [qed], [rip], [pur], [taf] ...); a word that the 5 Oct re-read gives only from context is [?word]. Openers, closers and nulls ({x}) are left out, as there. Cipher throughout. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, June 1523 (R9488-R9490, key A): reading

## Reading

[p] Ansimismo escriuen de Milan como tenian nueua que era arriuado en Uenecia un secretario del duque de Milan, el qual auia traido el mandado del infante para concluir la liga con los uenecianos, y que por esto el duque de Milan auia prometido al dicho infante diez y ocho mil ducados, y que con esto tenian por cierto que se concluiria la dicha liga; y por esto se partia con diligencia el protonotario Caracciolo para ir a Uenecia. Y ansi mismo escriuen de Milan como, auiendose comencado de amotinar la infanteria, de [dus] les auian enuiado una paga, y que con esto pensauan de sosegarla por agora; y para esto acabar de pagarles lo que se les deue, an escrito el duque de Milan y el senor Prospero al duque de [cop] que quiera esforcarse de ayudar con alguna suma de dineros; y el respondio que no puede dar dineros, pero que tomara quinientos infantes de los del exercito para que esten aqui, y los pagara por un mes; y pareceles que con esto descarga de gasto al exercito, y guarda mejor esta ciudad, y quita el uso a los que tienen cargo por [dus] de pedirle dineros, y a el de darlos; de manera que nadie atiende sino a su propio interese se …

R9488_en.md

<!-- English translation of R9488_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). Same holes: […] unread signs, [dus] etc. nomenclature groups with no value, [?word] context only. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, June 1523 (R9488-R9490, key A): English translation

[p] Likewise they write from Milan that they had news that a secretary of the Duke of Milan had arrived in Venice, who had brought the Infante's mandate to conclude the league with the Venetians, and that for this the Duke of Milan had promised the said Infante eighteen thousand ducats, and that with this they held it certain that the said league would be concluded; and for this the protonotary Caracciolo was leaving with diligence to go to Venice. And likewise they write from Milan that, the infantry having begun to mutiny, from [dus] they had been sent a pay, and that with this they thought to quiet them for now; and to finish paying them what is owed them, the Duke of Milan and the lord Prospero have written to the Duke of [cop] asking him to make an effort to help with some sum of money; and he answered that he cannot give money, but that he will take five hundred infantry of those of the army to be here, and will pay them for a month; and it seems to them that with this he relieves the army of expense, and guards this city better, and takes away the habit, from those who have charge on behalf of [dus], of asking him for money, and from him of giving it; so that no one attends to anything but his own interest …

read_r9491_b.md

# R9491 f. 441r cipher block, second pass (Soria to Gattinara, Genoa 20 July 1523)

Crops: scratchpad r91b_N{n}a/b.jpg (the lines slope, so the left half of line n sits about 0.019 lower than the
right half). There are 19 cipher lines. The clear text before the block is "no se en que terminos esta la negociacion de
Sena porque agora anda alli la peste muy rezia y porque entendido". The clear text after it: "El señor de Ponblin anda
por casarse / bien seria que fuese de mano de su Mag. la muger que ha de tomar porque es un buen pie en Ytalia aquel
estado / digolo a V. S.a porque pueda pensar en ello".

Same sign names as read_r9491.md. New distinctions made in this pass:
- n4 (p-hook with 4) = p is a different sign from r4 = i.
- ƍ (open-topped g) = c is a different sign from 9 = d.
- t# has two forms: t# = v/b (republica, libertad, avra, aprovechar, govierno) and t# = t (contento, proposito).

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | fH. sub yoc yac zog pu ∞∞ | [opener] que el [yac] de se [∞∞] → "que el [yac] desea(?)" |
| 2 | fob 8 sub pu V r T q 7 c y H si xin 6 8 K ♀ t# t r4 h m# ▽ sub tef | [fob]e **que se govierne por la republica y que no** (V=g, 6=r, K=p, ♀=u, t#=b, t=l) |
| 3 | K ∞∞ taf lb sub pu m# f∞ t 7 h α tef pu pob zog yof tu pud m# zo r4 c ꝑ̄ | a[∞∞] [taf]o que se a c a ? e c a (?), **no se si desto** [tu] [pud]a al p r o… |
| 4 | 4 r ƀ ∞ t# ꝑ̄ zog ʋ peb ƍ q lb zog pic tab si sub c 8 7 r4 ∞ f r ƀ m# yef | …p o s i t o → **al proposito del servicio de su Magestad, porque rezia(?) cosa es** (ʋ=l, lb=o, 7 here Ƶ=z?) |
| 5 | α pel zog xod K7c pu seb sob∞ h r ƀ m# si T ꝑ̄ L ȶ zog tuc ƀ 2 ∞ ʒ q 4 7 | a [pel] **de hazerse** [seb sob∞] **cosa por voto de muchos maxime** (xod=ha, ʒ=x, 4=m) |
| 6 | m# yic y zog ∞ ▽ zog pug c r4 α ƀ r n4 q y ∞∞ ꝑ̄ δ 7 ƀ zuf ∞ ▽ zib ∞ sib | **adonde ay** de[pug]r?as (= diversas?) **opiniones, como ay** [zib]a [sib] (δ=n, ∞∞=i) |
| 7 | yic r T ∞ 8 pu p p L ꝑ̄ zog 2 m# y r zog pic tab seb sob∞ h ꝑ̄ ƀ m# pu c q ∞ | [yic]o v a e se [ppto: puesto?] **de mano de su Magestad** [seb sob∞] **cosa seria** |
| 8 | to m ∞ h q l zog xe c pu si sub ∞ sub ʋ L 7 y 9 c m# si zed zog pud ♂ zof L 7 y | [to] **facil de hazerse, porque aquel tendra por bien de** [pud] **con-ten-** (m=f, zed=bien) |
| 9 | t# ꝑ̄ α pic tab si pic 4 6 ȶ# q r r4 δ φ 8 c 7 pu ▽ tadƀ T H 7 8 ƀ pu | **-to a su Magestad por su propio(?) interese, y** [tad]s **vezes se** |
| 10 | K lb 9 c q m# 4 ∞ y 9 m# c xip sub tef pu sab ∞ pep m# c 7 K T t# ƀ q h m# ▽ | **podria mandar lo que no se** [sab] **a una republica, y** (pep=un, K=p, t#ƀ=bl) |
| 11 | pob tef xub ω 7 sub 4 m# c 8 ƍ 7 zed sub pic tab pud yed sob t# 7 c L ∞ 9 | **si no fuese que parece bien que su Magestad** [pud: ponga] **en libertad** (xub=fue, sob=li, ƍ=c; 4=p here?) |
| 12 | yufƀ f r 2 T y r4 9 m# 6 7 ƀ ▽ tef pic V H φ ∞ ƀ m# L q c ∞ y r ƀ sib t# ꝑ̄ α | **estas comunidades y no sujetas a tiranos** [sib] [t#ꝑ̄] a (yuf=esta, V=j) |
| 13 | xip sub φ r ƍ ∞ m# pic peb f∞ ȶ tuc tac pu n4 r 9 c q m# ∞ K c r t# 7 ʒ z ∞ c | **lo que toca a su servicio, mucho** [tac: mas] **se podria aprovechar** (n4=p, t#=v, ʒ=c, z=h) |
| 14 | yuf y 9 r pep r zog 2 m# y r zog pic tab sub E r T 8 c y ∞ ω 7 ▽ ∞ ƀ h m# | **estando uno de mano de su Magestad que governase, y al ca-** (ƀ=l here) |
| 15 | t# r f c 7 r sub ∞ t# c m# zog T H y q c m# yof si pic xipƀ ω 8 y 7 ƀ H ƀ | **-bo creo que avra de venir a esto por** [pic] **los seneses** |
| 16 | zog xin zof 9 ∞ ƍ q r y sub ω r y sub f ∞ 9 m# seb sub X m# pu c ω 8 y q r c | **de la condicion que son, que cada qual querra ser señor** (∞=i, seb=qual, X=rr) |
| 17 | ▽ xipƀ to ya ƀ tef K ∞∞ 7 y ω m# y pob tef ω r xip yed pic ɑ4 c r n4 q r | **y los** [to ya]s **no piensan sino solo en su propio** |
| 18 | r4 y L 8 c 7 ω H n4 ∞∞ 8 y ω 7 yed ync pup ω 8 y q r c q ∞ si sub xif q y | **interese. Piense en ello V. Señoria, porque** [xif] in- (ync=ello, n4=p) |
| 19 | ? r c ꝑ m# ∞ pic tab yoc zid g# r t# 4 8 c y r zog α sub Q m# f q T 9 ∞ 9 / ∂ | -[c]or[p]a(?) **a su Magestad el** [zid] **govierno de aquella ciudad** (Q=ll) (end) |

## New key values

| sign / code | value | proof word |
|---|---|---|
| V (in this letter) | g / j | govierne (l.2); sujetas (l.12) |
| 6 | r (not d) | republica (l.2), propio (l.9) |
| K (crossed alpha) | p | publica (l.2), podria (l.10), piensan (l.17), aprovechar (l.13) |
| ♀ | u | publica (l.2) |
| t# (b-form) | b / v | publica, libertad, avra, aprovechar, govierno |
| t# (t-form) | t | contento (l.8-9), proposito (l.3-4) |
| t | l | publica (l.2) |
| n4 | p (distinct from r4 = i) | podria (l.13), piense (l.18), propio (l.17) |
| ƍ | c (distinct from 9 = d) | toca (l.13), parece (l.11), servicio (l.4) |
| ∞∞ | i | piensan (l.17), piense (l.18), opiniones (l.6) |
| ∞ | i sometimes (otherwise a) | condicion (l.16), proposito (l.4) |
| δ | n | opiniones (l.6), interese (l.9) |
| ʒ | x (l.5) / c (l.13) | maxime; aprovechar |
| 4 | m (l.5); p (l.11, doubtful) | maxime; parece |
| ƀ | l in some places (otherwise s) | republica (t#ƀ = bl), al cabo |
| ʋ (small v) | l | del (zog ʋ), aquel (l.8) |
| lb | o | servicio (l.4), podria (l.10) |
| Q | ll | aquella (l.19) |
| xod | ha | hazerse (l.5) |
| xub | fue | fuese (l.11) |
| sob | li | libertad (l.11) |
| yuf | esta | estas comunidades (l.12), estando (l.14) |
| zed | bien | tendra por bien (l.8), parece bien (l.11) |
| seb | qual | cada qual (l.16) |
| pep | un | una republica (l.10), uno (l.14) |
| ync | ello | piense en ello (l.18; the clear postscript has "pensar en ello") |
| tac | mas (?) | mucho mas se podria (l.13) |
| pud | pon- (?) | que su Magestad ponga en libertad (l.11) |
| zid | buen (?) | el buen govierno (l.19) |
| tad(ƀ) | a la(s) (?) | a las vezes (l.9) |

## Running text

... que el [yac] desea[?] [fob]e que se govierne por la republica, y que no a[ya] [taf]o que se [acabe?],
no se si desto [tu] [pon]ga al proposito del servicio de su Magestad, porque [rezia] cosa es a[pel] de hazerse
[semejante?] cosa por voto de muchos, maxime adonde ay [diversas] opiniones, como ay [zib]a [sib] [..] [puesto?]
de mano de su Magestad. [Semejante?] cosa seria [muy] facil de hazerse, porque aquel tendra por bien de [poner]
contento a su Magestad por su [propio] interese, y [a las] vezes se podria mandar lo que no se [sab] a una
republica. Y si no fuese que parece bien que su Magestad [ponga] en libertad estas comunidades y no sujetas a
tiranos, [sib] [..] a lo que toca a su servicio mucho [mas] se podria aprovechar estando uno de mano de su
Magestad que governase. Y al cabo creo que avra de venir a esto, por[que] los seneses, de la condicion que son,
que cada qual querra ser señor, y los [otros?] no piensan sino solo en su propio interese. Piense en ello
V. Señoria, porque [xif] in[corpor]a(?) a su Magestad el [buen] govierno de aquella ciudad.

## English summary

Soria reports that someone (the [yac], maybe the Cardinal or a party in Siena) wants Siena to be governed as a
republic. He argues that decisions taken by vote of many are hard to carry out where opinions are divided, and that
it would serve the Emperor better to have one man governing Siena "de mano de su Magestad". That man would keep the
Emperor content out of self-interest, and a single man can be ordered in ways a republic cannot. He grants that
freeing the Sienese communes from their tyrants looks well, but says the city will end up under one ruler anyway,
because every Sienese wants to be master and thinks only of his own interest. He asks Gattinara to think about
securing the government of the city for the Emperor.

Confidence: medium for lines 8-19; low for lines 1-7, which have unresolved codes (yac, fob, taf, tu, pel, pug,
zib, sib) and signs whose values differ from the table.

read_r9491_b.md

# R9491 f. 441r cipher block, second pass (Soria to Gattinara, Genoa 20 July 1523)

Crops: scratchpad r91b_N{n}a/b.jpg (the lines slope, so the left half of line n sits about 0.019 lower than the
right half). There are 19 cipher lines. The clear text before the block is "no se en que terminos esta la negociacion de
Sena porque agora anda alli la peste muy rezia y porque entendido". The clear text after it: "El señor de Ponblin anda
por casarse / bien seria que fuese de mano de su Mag. la muger que ha de tomar porque es un buen pie en Ytalia aquel
estado / digolo a V. S.a porque pueda pensar en ello".

Same sign names as read_r9491.md. New distinctions made in this pass:
- n4 (p-hook with 4) = p is a different sign from r4 = i.
- ƍ (open-topped g) = c is a different sign from 9 = d.
- t# has two forms: t# = v/b (republica, libertad, avra, aprovechar, govierno) and t# = t (contento, proposito).

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | fH. sub yoc yac zog pu ∞∞ | [opener] que el [yac] de se [∞∞] → "que el [yac] desea(?)" |
| 2 | fob 8 sub pu V r T q 7 c y H si xin 6 8 K ♀ t# t r4 h m# ▽ sub tef | [fob]e **que se govierne por la republica y que no** (V=g, 6=r, K=p, ♀=u, t#=b, t=l) |
| 3 | K ∞∞ taf lb sub pu m# f∞ t 7 h α tef pu pob zog yof tu pud m# zo r4 c ꝑ̄ | a[∞∞] [taf]o que se a c a ? e c a (?), **no se si desto** [tu] [pud]a al p r o… |
| 4 | 4 r ƀ ∞ t# ꝑ̄ zog ʋ peb ƍ q lb zog pic tab si sub c 8 7 r4 ∞ f r ƀ m# yef | …p o s i t o → **al proposito del servicio de su Magestad, porque rezia(?) cosa es** (ʋ=l, lb=o, 7 here Ƶ=z?) |
| 5 | α pel zog xod K7c pu seb sob∞ h r ƀ m# si T ꝑ̄ L ȶ zog tuc ƀ 2 ∞ ʒ q 4 7 | a [pel] **de hazerse** [seb sob∞] **cosa por voto de muchos maxime** (xod=ha, ʒ=x, 4=m) |
| 6 | m# yic y zog ∞ ▽ zog pug c r4 α ƀ r n4 q y ∞∞ ꝑ̄ δ 7 ƀ zuf ∞ ▽ zib ∞ sib | **adonde ay** de[pug]r?as (= diversas?) **opiniones, como ay** [zib]a [sib] (δ=n, ∞∞=i) |
| 7 | yic r T ∞ 8 pu p p L ꝑ̄ zog 2 m# y r zog pic tab seb sob∞ h ꝑ̄ ƀ m# pu c q ∞ | [yic]o v a e se [ppto: puesto?] **de mano de su Magestad** [seb sob∞] **cosa seria** |
| 8 | to m ∞ h q l zog xe c pu si sub ∞ sub ʋ L 7 y 9 c m# si zed zog pud ♂ zof L 7 y | [to] **facil de hazerse, porque aquel tendra por bien de** [pud] **con-ten-** (m=f, zed=bien) |
| 9 | t# ꝑ̄ α pic tab si pic 4 6 ȶ# q r r4 δ φ 8 c 7 pu ▽ tadƀ T H 7 8 ƀ pu | **-to a su Magestad por su propio(?) interese, y** [tad]s **vezes se** |
| 10 | K lb 9 c q m# 4 ∞ y 9 m# c xip sub tef pu sab ∞ pep m# c 7 K T t# ƀ q h m# ▽ | **podria mandar lo que no se** [sab] **a una republica, y** (pep=un, K=p, t#ƀ=bl) |
| 11 | pob tef xub ω 7 sub 4 m# c 8 ƍ 7 zed sub pic tab pud yed sob t# 7 c L ∞ 9 | **si no fuese que parece bien que su Magestad** [pud: ponga] **en libertad** (xub=fue, sob=li, ƍ=c; 4=p here?) |
| 12 | yufƀ f r 2 T y r4 9 m# 6 7 ƀ ▽ tef pic V H φ ∞ ƀ m# L q c ∞ y r ƀ sib t# ꝑ̄ α | **estas comunidades y no sujetas a tiranos** [sib] [t#ꝑ̄] a (yuf=esta, V=j) |
| 13 | xip sub φ r ƍ ∞ m# pic peb f∞ ȶ tuc tac pu n4 r 9 c q m# ∞ K c r t# 7 ʒ z ∞ c | **lo que toca a su servicio, mucho** [tac: mas] **se podria aprovechar** (n4=p, t#=v, ʒ=c, z=h) |
| 14 | yuf y 9 r pep r zog 2 m# y r zog pic tab sub E r T 8 c y ∞ ω 7 ▽ ∞ ƀ h m# | **estando uno de mano de su Magestad que governase, y al ca-** (ƀ=l here) |
| 15 | t# r f c 7 r sub ∞ t# c m# zog T H y q c m# yof si pic xipƀ ω 8 y 7 ƀ H ƀ | **-bo creo que avra de venir a esto por** [pic] **los seneses** |
| 16 | zog xin zof 9 ∞ ƍ q r y sub ω r y sub f ∞ 9 m# seb sub X m# pu c ω 8 y q r c | **de la condicion que son, que cada qual querra ser señor** (∞=i, seb=qual, X=rr) |
| 17 | ▽ xipƀ to ya ƀ tef K ∞∞ 7 y ω m# y pob tef ω r xip yed pic ɑ4 c r n4 q r | **y los** [to ya]s **no piensan sino solo en su propio** |
| 18 | r4 y L 8 c 7 ω H n4 ∞∞ 8 y ω 7 yed ync pup ω 8 y q r c q ∞ si sub xif q y | **interese. Piense en ello V. Señoria, porque** [xif] in- (ync=ello, n4=p) |
| 19 | ? r c ꝑ m# ∞ pic tab yoc zid g# r t# 4 8 c y r zog α sub Q m# f q T 9 ∞ 9 / ∂ | -[c]or[p]a(?) **a su Magestad el** [zid] **govierno de aquella ciudad** (Q=ll) (end) |

## New key values

| sign / code | value | proof word |
|---|---|---|
| V (in this letter) | g / j | govierne (l.2); sujetas (l.12) |
| 6 | r (not d) | republica (l.2), propio (l.9) |
| K (crossed alpha) | p | publica (l.2), podria (l.10), piensan (l.17), aprovechar (l.13) |
| ♀ | u | publica (l.2) |
| t# (b-form) | b / v | publica, libertad, avra, aprovechar, govierno |
| t# (t-form) | t | contento (l.8-9), proposito (l.3-4) |
| t | l | publica (l.2) |
| n4 | p (distinct from r4 = i) | podria (l.13), piense (l.18), propio (l.17) |
| ƍ | c (distinct from 9 = d) | toca (l.13), parece (l.11), servicio (l.4) |
| ∞∞ | i | piensan (l.17), piense (l.18), opiniones (l.6) |
| ∞ | i sometimes (otherwise a) | condicion (l.16), proposito (l.4) |
| δ | n | opiniones (l.6), interese (l.9) |
| ʒ | x (l.5) / c (l.13) | maxime; aprovechar |
| 4 | m (l.5); p (l.11, doubtful) | maxime; parece |
| ƀ | l in some places (otherwise s) | republica (t#ƀ = bl), al cabo |
| ʋ (small v) | l | del (zog ʋ), aquel (l.8) |
| lb | o | servicio (l.4), podria (l.10) |
| Q | ll | aquella (l.19) |
| xod | ha | hazerse (l.5) |
| xub | fue | fuese (l.11) |
| sob | li | libertad (l.11) |
| yuf | esta | estas comunidades (l.12), estando (l.14) |
| zed | bien | tendra por bien (l.8), parece bien (l.11) |
| seb | qual | cada qual (l.16) |
| pep | un | una republica (l.10), uno (l.14) |
| ync | ello | piense en ello (l.18; the clear postscript has "pensar en ello") |
| tac | mas (?) | mucho mas se podria (l.13) |
| pud | pon- (?) | que su Magestad ponga en libertad (l.11) |
| zid | buen (?) | el buen govierno (l.19) |
| tad(ƀ) | a la(s) (?) | a las vezes (l.9) |

## Running text

... que el [yac] desea[?] [fob]e que se govierne por la republica, y que no a[ya] [taf]o que se [acabe?],
no se si desto [tu] [pon]ga al proposito del servicio de su Magestad, porque [rezia] cosa es a[pel] de hazerse
[semejante?] cosa por voto de muchos, maxime adonde ay [diversas] opiniones, como ay [zib]a [sib] [..] [puesto?]
de mano de su Magestad. [Semejante?] cosa seria [muy] facil de hazerse, porque aquel tendra por bien de [poner]
contento a su Magestad por su [propio] interese, y [a las] vezes se podria mandar lo que no se [sab] a una
republica. Y si no fuese que parece bien que su Magestad [ponga] en libertad estas comunidades y no sujetas a
tiranos, [sib] [..] a lo que toca a su servicio mucho [mas] se podria aprovechar estando uno de mano de su
Magestad que governase. Y al cabo creo que avra de venir a esto, por[que] los seneses, de la condicion que son,
que cada qual querra ser señor, y los [otros?] no piensan sino solo en su propio interese. Piense en ello
V. Señoria, porque [xif] in[corpor]a(?) a su Magestad el [buen] govierno de aquella ciudad.

## English summary

Soria reports that someone (the [yac], maybe the Cardinal or a party in Siena) wants Siena to be governed as a
republic. He argues that decisions taken by vote of many are hard to carry out where opinions are divided, and that
it would serve the Emperor better to have one man governing Siena "de mano de su Magestad". That man would keep the
Emperor content out of self-interest, and a single man can be ordered in ways a republic cannot. He grants that
freeing the Sienese communes from their tyrants looks well, but says the city will end up under one ruler anyway,
because every Sienese wants to be master and thinks only of his own interest. He asks Gattinara to think about
securing the government of the city for the Emperor.

Confidence: medium for lines 8-19; low for lines 1-7, which have unresolved codes (yac, fob, taf, tu, pel, pug,
zib, sib) and signs whose values differ from the table.

kb_r9491.txt

# R9491 (Genoa, 20 July 1523, to Gattinara), key B. Re-read 5 Oct 2026 from img P3 (f.441r, 19 lines) at 1.25x,
# units as read_r9491_b.md (second pass). One plaintext word per line: word = cipher units.
# [x] unread or context only; {x} opener/closer.
{opener} = f H .
que = sub
el = yoc
duque = yac          # yac = duque (R9496 "este duque y comunidad de Genova")
de = zog
[pu∞∞] = pu ∞∞        # 'de se-i' ... 'Sena'? unread
quiere = sob 8         # sob = quier (R9497 'sob 7' quiere)
que = sub
se = pu
govierne = V r T q 7 c y H
por = si
la = xin
republica = 6 8 K ♀ t# t r4 h m#
y = ▽
que = sub
no = tef
ay = α ∞∞
[taf] = taf
[lb] = lb
que = sub
se = pu
[m#f∞t7hα] = m# f ∞ t 7 h α
no = tef
se = pu
si = pob
de- = zog
-sto = yof
[tu] = tu
[pud] = pud
[m#] = m#
al = zo
pro- = n+ c ꝑ̄
-posito = 4 r ƀ ∞ t# ꝑ̄
del = zog ʋ
servicio = peb ƍ q lb
de = zog
su = pic
Magestad = tab
porque = si sub
rezia = c 8 7 r4 ∞
cosa = f r ƀ m#
es = yef
a- = α
-ver = pel             # pel = ver- (R9492 post data 'pel gantines' = vergantines, twice)
de = zog
hazer- = xod K 7 c
-se = pu
qualquiera = seb sob∞
cosa = h r ƀ m#
por = si
voto = T ꝑ̄ L ȶ
de = zog
muchos = tuc ƀ
maxime = 2 ∞ ʒ q 4 7
adonde = m# yic y zog
ay = ∞ ▽
de = zog
[varias] = pug c r4 α ƀ   # pug a p-block code: 'va-rias' fits, unproved
opiniones = r n4 q y ∞∞ ꝑ̄ δ 7 ƀ
como = zuf
ay = ∞ ▽
[zib] = zib
[a] = ∞
[sib] = sib
[yicrT∞8] = yic r T ∞ 8
[pu] = pu
[pppL] = ꝑ ꝑ ꝑ̄
de = zog
mano = 2 m# y r
de = zog
su = pic
Magestad = tab
qualquiera = seb sob∞
cosa = h ꝑ̄ ƀ m#
seria = pu c q ∞
mas = to             # to = mas: R9493 interlinear "lo mas ocurre" (key-B closing of R9492)
facil = m ∞ h q l
de = zog
hazer- = xe c
-se = pu
porque = si sub
aquel = ∞ sub ʋ
tendra = L 7 y 9 c m#
por = si
bien = zed
de = zog
[pud] = pud
[∂] = ♂
conten- = zof L 7 y
-to = t# ꝑ̄
a = α
su = pic
Magestad = tab
por = si
su = pic
propio = n+ 7 ȶ# q r
interese = r4 δ φ 8 c 7 pu
y = ▽
[tads] = tad ƀ
vezes = T H 7 8 ƀ
se = pu
podria = K lb 9 c q m#
mandar = 4 ∞ y 9 m# c
lo = xip
que = sub
no = tef
se = pu
puede = sab           # s-block (Pa-R); also R9497 'no se [sab] parlar nada': both read 'puede'
a = ∞
una = pep m#
republica = c 7 K T t# ƀ q h m#
y = ▽
si = pob
no = tef
fuese = xub ω 7
que = sub
parece = 4 m# c 8 ƍ 7
bien = zed
que = sub
su = pic
Magestad = tab
[pud] = pud
en = yed
[libertad] = sob t# 7 c L ∞ 9   # sob is 'quier' elsewhere: the sense 'libertad' is not proved by the signs
estas = yuf ƀ
comunidades = f r 2 T y r4 9 m# 6 7 ƀ
y = ▽
no = tef
sujetas = pic V H φ ∞ ƀ
a = m#
tiranos = L q c ∞ y r ƀ
[sib] = sib
[t#ꝑ̄α] = t# ꝑ̄ α
lo = xip
que = sub
toca = φ r ƍ ∞
a = m#
su = pic
servicio = peb f ∞ ȶ
mucho = tuc
[tac] = tac
se = pu
podria = n4 r 9 c q m#
aprovechar = ∞ K c r t# 7 ʒ z ∞ c
estando = yuf y 9 r
uno = pep r
de = zog
mano = 2 m# y r
de = zog
su = pic
Magestad = tab
que = sub
governase = E r T 8 c y ∞ ω 7
y = ▽
al = ∞ ƀ
ca- = h m#
-bo = t# r
creo = f c 7 r
que = sub
avra = ∞ t# c m#
de = zog
venir = T H y q c
a = m#
esto = yof
por = si
[pic] = pic
los = xipƀ
seneses = ω 8 y 7 ƀ H ƀ
de = zog
la = xin
condicion = zof 9 ∞ ƍ q r y
que = sub
son = ω r y
que = sub
cada = f ∞ 9 m#
qual = seb
querra = sub X m#
ser = pu c
señor = ω 8 y q r c
y = ▽
los = xipƀ
[toyas] = to ya ƀ
no = tef
piensan = K ∞∞ 7 y ω m# y
si- = pob
-no = tef
solo = ω r xip
en = yed
su = pic
propio = ɑ4 c r n4 q r
interese = r4 y L 8 c 7 ω H
piense = n4 ∞∞ 8 y ω 7
en = yed
ello = ync
V. = pup
Señoria = ω 8 y q r c q ∞
porque = si sub
[xif] = xif
im- = q y
-porta = α+ r c ϖ m#    # ϖ for t (slip)
a = ∞
su = pic
Magestad = tab
el = yoc
buen = zid
govierno = g# r t# q 8 c y r
de = zog
aquella = α sub Q m#
ciudad = f q T 9 ∞ 9
{closer} = / ∂
# --- short string f.441v, after 'se turin y lo mismo afirma'
{opener} = f H .
Musiur = 2 T ω q ♀ c
de = zog
Beurren = t 8 T X 7 y
{closer} = ∂

R9491_reading.md

<!-- Reading of R9491 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), from measure/kb_r9491.txt (the 5 Oct 2026 re-read of R9491, key B, one word per unit), joined into words and sentences. Letters as the decode gives them (u for v, no accents); word division across line ends, capitals and punctuation added. An unread group of signs is […]; a nomenclature group with no value is kept as written ([dus], [cop], [qed], [rip], [pur], [taf] ...); a word that the 5 Oct re-read gives only from context is [?word]. Openers, closers and nulls ({x}) are left out, as there. Cipher throughout. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Gattinara, Genoa, 20 July 1523 (R9491, key B): reading

## Reading

Que el duque de […] quiere que se govierne por la republica, y que no ay [taf] [lb] que se […]; no se si desto [tu] [pud] [m#] al proposito del servicio de su Magestad, porque rezia cosa es aver de hazerse qualquiera cosa por voto de muchos, maxime adonde ay de [?varias] opiniones, como ay [zib] [?a] [sib] […] [pu] […] de mano de su Magestad qualquiera cosa seria mas facil de hazerse, porque aquel tendra por bien de [pud] […] contento a su Magestad por su propio interese, y [tads] vezes se podria mandar lo que no se puede a una republica. Y si no fuese que parece bien que su Magestad [pud] en [?libertad] estas comunidades, y no sujetas a tiranos [sib] […] lo que toca a su servicio, mucho [tac] se podria aprovechar estando uno de mano de su Magestad que governase; y al cabo creo que avra de venir a esto, por [pic] los seneses de la condicion que son, que cada qual querra ser señor, y los [toyas] no piensan sino solo en su propio interese. Piense en ello V. Señoria, porque [xif] importa a su Magestad el buen govierno de aquella ciudad. Musiur de Beurren …

R9491_en.md

<!-- English translation of R9491_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). Same holes: […] unread signs, [dus] etc. nomenclature groups with no value, [?word] context only. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Gattinara, Genoa, 20 July 1523 (R9491, key B): English translation

That the Duke of […] wants it to be governed by the republic, and that there is no [taf] [lb] that […]; I do not know whether from this [tu] [pud] [m#] to the purpose of His Majesty's service, because it is a hard thing to have anything done by the vote of many, especially where there are [?various] opinions, as there are [zib] [?a] [sib] […] [pu] […] from His Majesty's hand anything would be easier to get done, because that one will be glad to [pud] […] content His Majesty for his own interest, and [tads] times one could command what cannot be commanded to a republic. And were it not that it seems good that His Majesty [pud] these communities in [?liberty], and not subject to tyrants [sib] […] what touches his service, much [tac] could be gained by having someone of His Majesty's hand to govern; and in the end I believe it will have to come to this, because [pic] the Sienese are of the nature they are, that each one will want to be lord, and the [toyas] think of nothing but their own interest. Let Your Lordship think about it, because [xif] the good government of that city matters to His Majesty. Monsieur de Beaurain …

keyA_r9492_v2.txt

# R9492 key-A cipher block, second reading (2026-09-19), f.444r L1-L13 + f.445v L14-L32, one line per MS line.
# Re-read at 2x/4x from img/IMG_R9492_I44719_P2.jpg (right page, lower half) and _P3.jpg (left page, top).
# Collated with the duplicate R9493 (img/IMG_R9493_I44726_P6.jpg, f.450v left page 25 lines + f.451r top 5 lines).
# Glyph scheme as keyA_r9492_f444.txt / keyA_june.txt. {R93 x} = R9493 reading; {=x} = my note/value.
# Corrections to the key found in this pass:
#  d (partial-d) = m, not r: mes, como, cinco mil, armada, mar, amigos, milagro, manera, mas, comenzar.
#  q-with-stem-and-loop (hooked q, 'ꝗ') is very often R = f: fasta, fara, faran, fuera, forma, fizo, efetos, fec..
#     where the difference from q (ꝓ = o / que) is only the length of the stem; marked R where the value is f.
#  'Lo' (L-hook + small circle, written as a unit) = ç/z: fizo, vez, deçia, veçes, doçientas, començarles.
#  Y (T with double bar) = r (rr): guerra, tierra.
#  n (π) confirmed = s in pasar (b9npo, R93 same).
#  P (p with double bar) takes both g (gente, grisones, enemigo, amigos, luego, seguirian, milagro) and a
#     (esperauan, armar, usaran, enviar, alguna?) -- two forms not separated reliably on this image.
#  7 (slanted/hanging) = i, but b/v in 73Zcae 'buenos', 73Zcq 'bueno', 7oze9ca 'bresano', 7zoP9da 'bergamo'.
#  cT = d, but c+T = nt in cTZ 'nte' (veinte), 73cT.. 'junta..', ZcTo9o 'entrar', 7cRpcTze 'infantes'.
L1: TZ lod 2zac ZeOo73zc 92ae 3z7 cTZ f Toze cTz2 dzeb9
L2: n9cTq Oad2q Zebzo93pc cap 3zc cTo7p 9Oo7{R93 pOo7} d37 bozeTa{R93 bozeTq}
L3: z2 sig lod saq b9op{R93 b9o9} b9npo leh fT927p{R93 fT9279} bzoq fpeT9 pPao9
L4: canz 73cTP39c{R93 73cT93pc} PzcTz lod P3zYp b9op cap b3ZcT9c b9n9o
L5: T9c bozeTa{R93 bozenTa} Oac zmZoO7Tq baTo7p nzo cap bzcn9nzc
L6: lod b9n9o Oac nq2a 29 PzcTZ cTpodqe{R93 cT9od9e} Oac Zebzo9cOp
L7: cap Op29Oqc{R93 O92po9c} 2ae qed f Oac 29 Zebzo9cOp cTz 2ae cip cae f
L8: bzcn9cTa 392zonZ cTZ 2ae O7cOqd72 7cRpcTze{R93 7cq9cTze} cap
L9: T7zcZ leh boazcO9 bpoq9 bacz o zcZ2 pod9cTp lod d9o
L10: z fa TzcPq 937eq{R93 937ea} lod 7ozeP zeP{R93 omits zeP} Oadq lod 9Oo7 Pc RzO q 2p 2z
L11: 39o 2ae rip cTaLo7Zc T9e 3P29e{R93 3p29e} lod OanP2zTze Q?o
L12: Lo79 T7zYp lod 2ae Po7 eacZe fb7zcna cap nz9c bpoq
L13: 9odPo 92qe qed fOozq cap 2ae cT7OQqe rip 3e9oPc Oqc
L14: {pur} 2ae To9Tqe cap 3ea aT937pcq{R93 a aT937pcq} Og9cba RoPPaeq V39cTq
L15: nz R7Loa 2p 27Pp ZZczo92{R93 PzZcZo92} fb9nP3p{R93 fb9n93p} ZeTz sig lod saq
L16: leh rap cap 3c9 3zLo cqe cTZLo79 cap V3Zo779{R93 V3Zo7p} ZcTo9o leh
L17: 29 27P9 f aTo9e3ZLoZe cT93p b92p7ope bqo cT729T9o
L18: R9eTp{Q read; =fasta} cap b9nq z2 cT7Oqa sig f 92 qop Z2 nz cTzO29oq
L19: c3zeTo q Zczd7Pa f 9cn7 b7zcna cap R9Opc{R93 R9opc} 2ae rip
L20: cap cT729Tpo9c z2 pOaocT7q Oac {pur} R9eTp{R93 R9eT9} 3zo 2ea{R93 2a cap}
L21: cap R9oPZ2{R93 R9op z2} sig lod saq fn73zopc cap n7zcZ Rqodp b9oq3z
L22: c7o q zc37Po ZmzoO7Tq leh rap nzo9c nze 9d7Pae f
L23: cq RPo9c paOaocT7a Oqc {pur} f 937zc cTa cTz nzo cTZeT9
L24: d9czop R3zo9 73Zcq{R93 73Zca} Oadzc O9o2Ze 23zPa 29 P3zY9{R93 R3zY9} mul{R93 nul}
L25: cTzeTa nz nzP37o79c cTae 73Zcae ZRzTae 2a 3cq cap
L26: nz cTZePoP39o79 z2 ZeT9cTq lod lih cTz2 9bae7zcTa
L27: cTz2 ZmzoO7Ta f zeT9o7p dz7qo 92a79 cTa zcZ2
L28: 3zoP9d9ea f 7oze9ca{R93 7oZn9ca} f 2aToa cap 23Z Pq nzo79 Ta
L29: d9 cTa 7zoP9da{R93 7zoPPda} lod cTacTz baTo7pc n9O9o cT7czoae
L30: b9op 92P3cp b9Pp 92pa{R93 92p} mos f cq nzo7p d72 9Poa cap
L31: nz Tad9nz bozeTa 7ozn9 q 3zoac9 f 93zo T9cTq
L32: d9e cT7czoae b9o9 2aeP9eTae cTz2 ZmZoO7Ta p ol

keyA_r9492_rest.txt

# R9492 (Soria to Charles V, Genoa, July 1523): all cipher outside the f.444r-445v block (keyA_r9492_f444.txt).
# Survey of P1-P6: the only other cipher is on P5 right page (f.448r): a 3-line block in the closing and a
# 8-line Post data. It is NOT key A: the signs are the key-B type (lemniscate, alpha+, m-with-bar, code words
# sub/zog/zof/yed/xip/xin/xab/tef/si/pu/yoc, cf. keyB.md). The key-A letter scheme does not fit, so signs are
# named by the legend below (matched to keyB.md letters where the shape is the same).
# Legend (this file):
#  8 = lemniscate (lying ∞)          E = standing figure-8 / delta-like (keyB E)
#  w = two joined circles with bar (ꝏ)   oo = two small circles linked by a stroke
#  t = tau-shaped T-bar sign          L = L-shaped hook with raised stroke
#  T = triangle ▽                     X = crossed x (æ-like)
#  M = m with crossing stroke (m+)    N = m with stroke underneath (m underlined)
#  A = alpha with cross below (ɑ+)    a = plain alpha α
#  F = p with double cross-bar on descender (ǂ)   Q = q with crossed tail
#  D = ∂-like sign with hook (ɗ)      r = small r/ɤ-like sign
#  R = ℞-like sign (L8 only)          v = check/√-like sign
#  h = h-like sign                    9# = 9 with small # superscript;  ^b = small superscript b after a sign
#  @ = circle with dot (⊙)            P = capital P with loop (L4 only)
#  c 2 4 7 9 y as written; lower-case code words as written.
# Word spacing is the writer's.
# block 1: P5 right (f.448r) top, after "Estando para cerrar la pnte", before "enesta no dire otra cosa"
L1: {fH} yef 8XQtM9r zub 4 t w oo t c
L2: zog DEtX7 T AtE^b si yoc pu cM 4yNrc289F pup tab zog
L3: pef xip sub to rhtX7 @ E
# block 2: P5 right (f.448r) Post data, after "Post data", before "En este mismo dia tengo letra del abbad de najara"
L4: gto P sub cQ7y9F pu yed t#8chM c yoc yeb DEtX7y zof
L5: yif tEc v 8y LQy pes xap zog^b zof pu Qa yic sub tef pub pu2 pob
L6: tef yed pep M zid a haX8hM si sub ynfy yic xin^b 9#a v7c8E
L7: zog xab T tol^b pel 9#ayLQyE^b si ynfE 2McQy8E cahQv27y
L8: LERr9cQ8y LrMac zof yoc T pof c xip xip sub tef N8cay
L9: zof xin h8XMha T si yof 8t72r^b AEy wa9r sub pu M8c
L10: LM yif pel 9#8yLQy zof xip c7y hr 2Fc4Qyr T yoc pu
L11: M8cLQcM zog zub aLc7^b 9Q8^b zof pep 8 h8XMha ///

read_r9492_v2.md

# R9492 (Soria to Charles V, Genoa, July 1523): key-A block, second reading

Source: `keyA_r9492_v2.txt`, a re-read of f.444r (13 lines) and f.445v (19 lines, L14-L32) collated with the
duplicate R9493 (f.450v-451r). The old transcription stopped at L31 and had lost words in L26-L31. This reading
adds L32 and fills the gaps.

Key corrections from this pass: d = m (not r). The hooked q with a long stem = R = f. 'Lo' = ç/z. Y = r(r).
P (barred p) stands for both g and a. The slanted 7 is sometimes b. cT = d, but some occurrences split as c+T = nt.

## Running text (code words resolved, [..] = doubt)

[Te] de Leon escriven a los veinte y tres del mes pasado, como lo esperavan, que vendria [aqui] muy presto el Rey
de Francia para pasar en Italia; pero hasta agora no se juntavan gente de guerra para que puedan pasar tan presto
con exercito. Podria ser que pensasen de pasar con solo la gente d'armas, con esperança que calaran los [qed], y
con la esperança de los venecianos y pensado valerse de los cinco mil infantes que tiene en Provença para poner en
el armada de mar.

E yo tengo aviso de [Bres..] [esa] como de aqui [an fec(ho)] que la [le] var los [rip] doçientas [balas] de
coseletes [..]rria tierra de los Grisones, y pienso que sean para armar a los [qed]. Y creo que los dichos [rip]
usaran con [pur] los tratos que uso Otaviano Campo[fregoso] quando se fizo la liga general, y [pasava] este Rey de
Francia en Italia, que una vez nos deçia que querria entrar en la liga y otras veçes dava palabras por dilatar,
fasta que paso el dicho Rey, y a la ora el se declaro nuestro enemigo. Y ansi pienso que haran los [rip]: que
dilataran el acordio con [pur] hasta ver lo que hara el Rey de Francia; y si vieren que tiene forma para venir o
enviar exercito en Italia, seran sus amigos y no haran acordio con [pur].

Y aviendo de ser desta manera, fuera bueno començarles luego la guerra [mul]. Desto se seguirian dos buenos
efetos: lo uno, que se desgravaria el estado de Milan del aposiento del exercito, y estaria mejor alojado en el
Bergamasco y Bresano; y lo otro, que luego seria tomado Bergamo, de donde podrian sacar dineros para alguna paga a
la infanteria. Y no seria milagro que se tomase presto Bresa o Verona, y aver tanto mas dineros para los gastos
del exercito [a ..].

## English summary

Soria reports that letters from [the ambassador] in Lyon of the 23rd of last month say the King of France was
expected to come soon to cross into Italy. So far, though, no troops have been raised to cross quickly with an
army. The King may mean to come with his gendarmes alone, counting on the [qed] coming down (probably the Swiss),
on the Venetians, and on the 5,000 infantry he has in Provence to put aboard his fleet. Soria has word that the
[rip] are moving some 200 bales of corselets through the Grisons' country to arm the [qed]. He expects the [rip]
to deal with [pur] as Ottaviano Fregoso did when the general league was made: promise, stall, and then declare
against the Emperor once the French king had crossed. So they will drag out the agreement with [pur] until they
see what France does. If France looks able to come or send an army, they will side with France and make no
agreement with [pur].

He therefore advises opening war on them at once [mul]. This would do two good things. The duchy of Milan would be
spared the billeting of the imperial army, which would be better quartered in the Bergamasco and Bresciano. Bergamo
would be taken quickly, and its money would pay part of what the infantry is owed. Brescia or Verona might fall
soon after, giving more money for the army.

The target is Venice's mainland territory (Bergamo, Brescia, Verona). So [rip] is almost certainly the Venetians
or their Signoria, and [pur] the Emperor or the imperial side in the league talks with Venice. Venice in fact
joined the Emperor on 29 July 1523.

## Code words still unknown

| code | occurrences (line: context) | guess |
|---|---|---|
| qed | L7 "que calaran los [qed] y con la esperança de los venecianos"; L13 "para armar a los [qed]" | Suizos/Esguizaros (calar = to come down into Italy; the letter's clear text mentions Suyçaros) |
| rip | L11 "var los [rip] doçientas balas de coseletes"; L13 "los dichos [rip] usaran con [pur] los tratos"; L19 "asi pienso que haran los [rip]" | Venecianos / la Señoria. But cip = Venecia and "cip cae" = venecia-nos in L7, so rip may be a different body |
| pur | L14 "usaran con [pur] los tratos"; L20 "dilataran el acordio con [pur]"; L23 "no haran acordio con [pur]" | V. Mag. / el Emperador (or "la liga") |
| mul (R9493 nul) | L24 "fuera bueno començarles luego la guerra [mul]" | e.g. "por aca", "desde Milan"; one occurrence only |
| sig | alone in L18 "paso el dicho [sig]" | = Rey (sig lod saq = Rey de Francia, so saq = Francia, lod = de) |
| lod, cap, leh, rap, lih, cip, cae, mos | de, que, en, Italia, Milan, Venecia, "-nos", infanteria | as in keyA.md; these readings are consistent here |
| TZ (L1 start) | "[TZ] de Leon escriven" | probably a code or abbreviation for "el embajador" / "Te(sorero)"; R9493 has the same |

Doubtful sign readings to recheck:
- L2 "9Oo7" ('aqui'?; R9493 has pOo7).
- L10 "7ozeP zeP ... 9Oo7 Pc RzO q 2p 2z" (Bresa esa ... aqui an fec que la le?).
- L11 end "Q?o" and L12 "Lo79" ('..rria/..çia').
- L15 "fb9nP3p" (R9493 fb9n93p = pasava).
- L32 end "p ol".

r_july.txt

# Reading of the key-A block of the July letter (R9492 f.444r-445v, collated R9493), lines of keyA_r9492_v2.txt.
L1: {TZ} de Leon escriuen a los ueinte y tres del mes pa-
L2: -sado como lo esperauan que uendria aqui muy presto
L3: el Rey de Francia para pasar en Ytalia pero fasta agora
L4: no se iuntauan gente de guerra para que puedan pasar
L5: tan presto con exercito podria ser que pensasen
L6: de pasar con solo la gente darmas con esperanca
L7: que calaran los [qed] y con la esperanca de los uenecianos y
L8: pensado ualerse de los cinco mil infantes que
L9: tiene en Prouenca para poner en el armada de mar
L10: e yo tengo auiso de Bresa como de aqui [an] [fec] [que] [la] le-
L11: -uar los [rip] docientas ualas de coseletes [Qo]
L12: [Locia] tierra de los grisones y pienso que sean para
L13: armar a los [qed] y creo que los dichos [rip] usaran con
L14: [pur] los tratos que uso Otauiano Campofregoso quando
L15: se fizo la liga general y pasaua este Rey de Francia
L16: en Ytalia que una uez nos decia que querria entrar en
L17: la liga y otras uezes daua palabras por dilatar
L18: fasta que paso el dicho Rey y al ora el se declaro
L19: nuestro enemigo y ansi pienso que faran los [rip]
L20: que dilataran el acordio con [pur] fasta uer lo
L21: que fara el Rey de Francia y si uieren que tiene forma para ue-
L22: -nir o enuiar exercito en Ytalia seran sus amigos y
L23: no faran acordio con [pur] y auiendo de ser desta
L24: manera fuera bueno comencarles luego la guerra porque
L25: desto se seguirian dos buenos efetos lo uno que
L26: se desgrauaria el estado de Milan del aposiento
L27: del exercito y estaria mejor alojado en el
L28: Bergamasco y Bresano y lo otro que luego seria to-
L29: -mado Bergamo de donde podrian sacar dineros
L30: para alguna paga a la infanteria y no seria milagro que
L31: se tomase presto Bresa o Uerona y auer tanto
L32: mas dineros para los gastos del exercito [p] [ol]

kb_r9492.txt

# R9492 f.448r (late July 1523): the key-B closing (3 lines) and Post data (8 lines). Re-read 5 Oct 2026 from
# img P5 (right page) at 1.3x; units as keyA_r9492_rest.txt, letter values from keyB.md.
# [x] unread or context only; {x} opener/closer.
# --- closing block
{opener} = f H
es = yef
arrivado = 8 X Q t M 9 r
aqui = zub          # R9493 interlinear 'es arrivado aqui monsr de beaurre'; also L11
Musiur = 4 t w oo t c
de = zog
Beurre = D E t X 7  # Beurren, final n omitted (writer's slip)
y = T
pues = A t E ^b
por = si
el = yoc
se = pu
ha = c M
informado = 4 y N r c 2 8 9 F
V. = pup
Magestad = tab
de = zog
todo = pef          # R9493 interlinear 'de todo'
lo = xip
que = sub
mas = to            # R9493 f.455r: the same closing in key A, struck, with the clerk's interlinear 'lo mas ocurre'
ocurre = r h t X 7
{closer} = @ E
# --- Post data
{opener} = g t o P
que- = sub
-riendo = c Q 7 y 9 F
se = pu
en- = yed
-barcar = t# 8 c h M c
el = yoc
dicho = yeb
Beurren = D E t X 7 y
con = zof
este = yif           # yif = este (y-block Di-Es): clear R9491 f.441r "se a detenido este vergantin y Lorenzo Mormino"
ver- = t E c
-gantin = v 8 y L Q y   # V = g as in R9494 'Geneva'
yo = pes
le = xap
des- = zog ^b
-con- = zof
-se- = pu
-jado = Q a yic
que = sub
no = tef
vaya = pub          # R9493 (key A copy of the post data): 'que no vaya si no en una buena carraca'
[pu2] = pu 2        # not in R9493; unread (slip?)
si = pob
no = tef
en = yed
una = pep M
buena = zid a
carraca = h a X 8 h M
porque = si sub
estando = y n f y yic
las = xin ^b
galeras = 9# a v 7 c 8 E   # last sign E/9 read as s: slip
de = zog
Francia = xab
y = T
otros = tol ^b      # t-block (M-Pa) + s; also R9494 'tol s doze mil'
ver- = pel          # p-block (Se-Y): ver-, with 'gantines' twice here
-gantines = 9# a y L Q y E ^b
por = si
esta = y n f E
marina = 2 M c Q y 8
[E] = E             # stray sign, R9493 has none: unread
facilmen- = c a h Q v 2 7 y   # R9493 'OPo72dzc Tz' = (f)acilmente; c for m (f) a slip
-te = L E
podrian = R r 9 c Q 8 y        # R9493 baTo7pc 'podrian'
topar = L r M a c   # R9493 'TPbPo' t-a-p-a-r; two witnesses + sense 'topar con el y tomarlo'
con = zof
el = yoc
y = T
toma- = pof          # p-block (Se-Y); R9493 'TPd9o2a' = tomarlo
-r = c
lo = xip
lo = xip
que = sub
no = tef
faran = N 8 c a y
con = zof
la = xin
carraca = h 8 X M h a
y = T
por = si
esto = yof
avemos = 8 t 7 2 r ^b
pensado = A E y w a 9 r
que = sub
se = pu
parta = M 8 c L M
este = yif
ver- = pel
-gantin = 9# 8 y L Q y
con = zof
Lorenço = xip c 7 y h r   # xip (lo) as a syllable + r-e-n-ç-o; the clear text of R9491 f.441r names 'Lorenzo Mormino' with this brigantine
Mormino = 2 F c 4 Q y r   # 4 = m as in R9491 'maxime'
y = T
el = yoc
se = pu
partira = M 8 c L Q c M
de = zog
aqui = zub
a = a
tres = L c 7 ^b
dias = 9 Q 8 ^b
con = zof
una = pep 8
carraca = h 8 X M h a

R9492_reading.md

<!-- Reading of R9492 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), from measure/r_july.txt (the 5 Oct 2026 re-read of the key-A body of R9492) and measure/kb_r9492.txt (the key-B closing and post data), joined into words and sentences. Letters as the decode gives them (u for v, no accents); word division across line ends, capitals and punctuation added. An unread group of signs is […]; a nomenclature group with no value is kept as written ([dus], [cop], [qed], [rip], [pur], [taf] ...); a word that the 5 Oct re-read gives only from context is [?word]. Openers, closers and nulls ({x}) are left out, as there. Cipher throughout. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, July 1523 (R9492-R9493; key A body, key B closing): reading

## Reading

De Leon escriuen a los ueinte y tres del mes pasado como lo esperauan, que uendria aqui muy presto el Rey de Francia para pasar en Ytalia; pero fasta agora no se iuntauan gente de guerra para que puedan pasar tan presto con exercito; podria ser que pensasen de pasar con solo la gente darmas, con esperanca que calaran los [qed], y con la esperanca de los uenecianos, y pensado ualerse de los cinco mil infantes que tiene en Prouenca para poner en el armada de mar. E yo tengo auiso de Bresa como de aqui [an] [fec] [?que] [?la] leuar los [rip] docientas ualas de coseletes [Qo] [Locia] tierra de los grisones, y pienso que sean para armar a los [qed]; y creo que los dichos [rip] usaran con [pur] los tratos que uso Otauiano Campofregoso quando se fizo la liga general y pasaua este Rey de Francia en Ytalia, que una uez nos decia que querria entrar en la liga, y otras uezes daua palabras por dilatar fasta que paso el dicho Rey, y al ora el se declaro nuestro enemigo. Y ansi pienso que faran los [rip], que dilataran el acordio con [pur] fasta uer lo que fara el Rey de Francia; y si uieren que tiene forma para uenir o enuiar exercito en Ytalia, seran sus amigos y no faran acordio con [pur]. Y auiendo de ser desta manera, fuera bueno comencarles luego la guerra, porque desto se seguirian dos buenos efetos: lo uno, que se desgrauaria el estado de Milan del aposiento del exercito, y estaria mejor alojado en el Bergamasco y Bresano; y lo otro, que luego seria tomado Bergamo, de donde podrian sacar dineros para alguna paga a la infanteria; y no seria milagro que se tomase presto Bresa o Uerona, y auer tanto mas dineros para los gastos del exercito. [p] [ol] …

[Key B:] Es arrivado aqui Musiur de Beurre, y pues por el se ha informado V. Magestad de todo lo que mas ocurre, queriendo se embarcar el dicho Beurren con este vergantin, yo le desconsejado que no vaya [pu2] si no en una buena carraca, porque estando las galeras de Francia y otros vergantines por esta marina [E], facilmente podrian topar con el y tomarlo, lo que no faran con la carraca; y por esto avemos pensado que se parta este vergantin con Lorenço Mormino, y el se partira de aqui a tres dias con una carraca.

R9492_en.md

<!-- English translation of R9492_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). Same holes: […] unread signs, [dus] etc. nomenclature groups with no value, [?word] context only. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, July 1523 (R9492-R9493; key A body, key B closing): English translation

From Lyon they write on the twenty-third of last month that they expected that the King of France would come here very soon to cross into Italy; but so far men of war were not being gathered so that they could cross so soon with an army; it might be that they thought of crossing with the men-at-arms alone, in the hope that the [qed] would come down, and in the hope of the Venetians, and having thought to make use of the five thousand infantry he has in Provence to put in the fleet at sea. And I have word from Brescia that from here [an] [fec] [?that] [?the] [rip] are carrying two hundred bales of corselets [Qo] [Locia], the land of the Grisons, and I think they are to arm the [qed]; and I believe that the said [rip] will use with [pur] the dealings that Ottaviano Campofregoso used when the general league was made and this King of France was crossing into Italy, who one time told us he wanted to enter the league, and at other times gave words to delay until the said King had crossed, and then declared himself our enemy. And so I think the [rip] will do: they will delay the agreement with [pur] until they see what the King of France will do; and if they see that he has the means to come or to send an army into Italy, they will be his friends and will make no agreement with [pur]. And since it is to be this way, it would be good to begin the war on them at once, because two good effects would follow from it: the one, that the State of Milan would be relieved of quartering the army, and it would be better lodged in the Bergamasco and Bresciano; and the other, that Bergamo would at once be taken, from where they could draw money for some pay for the infantry; and it would be no miracle if Brescia or Verona were soon taken, and so much more money had for the army's expenses. [p] [ol] …

[Key B:] Monsieur de Beaurain has arrived here, and since Your Majesty has been informed by him of everything else that happens, as the said Beaurain wished to embark on this brigantine, I advised him not to go [pu2] except in a good carrack, because, the galleys of France and other brigantines being along this coast [E], they could easily come upon him and take him, which they will not do with the carrack; and for this we have thought that this brigantine should leave with Lorenzo Mormino, and he will leave here in three days with a carrack.

read_r9494.md

# R9494 (RAH Salazar A-28 ff. 478-479), Soria to Charles V, Genoa 26 July 1523 — key B cipher, reading

Images: img/IMG_R9494_I44734_P2.jpg (f.478v bottom, f.479r top). Checked against the duplicate R9495 (IMG_R9495_I44735_P2.jpg, f.481r,
where both blocks run on as one). Glyph names as keyB.md / read_r9497.md; M# = m with double vertical bar, m̲ = m with underbar,
Ƶ = 7 with bar, ɡʒ = g with z-tail, ꝑ̄ = p with two bars, K = alpha-like crossed sign.

## Block 1 (f. 478v, after 'de Roma ni de napoles no tengo cartas ...')

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HB ɡʒ 8 T X 7 ∞(R9495: ɡʒ 7 T X 8 y) yef yoc si L∞9rc zog ynf zo seb 7 q y m̲ r c 2 α | [HB opener] [name ?e?rren] es el portador de esta, al [seb=qual?] e (he) informa- |
| 2 | yic zog pef xip zog znb(R9495 za) ▽ yoc 7 pes α T 7 2 ꝑ̄ ƀ yef hcqLꝑ̄ ∞ pup tab | -do de [pef = todo?] lo de [znb/za = aca?] y el(?) [7 pes] avemos escrito a V. Magestad. |
| 3 | Lc7ƀ 9q∞ƀ ·∞·(R9495 xod) si Lq8X∞(R9495 Lq8XM#) zof pep hꝑ̄X7r ɑ+q∞2r y L7ƀ sub pu | Tres dias ha, por tierra, con [pep = un] correo piamontes, que se |
| 4 | yab qTM# [∞ struck] ∞ y ꝑ? r (R9495 qT∞∂ ∞ K y ꝑ̄) sub K ɑ+ c ꝑ̄ 2 7 L q 9 ꝑ̄ zog tep c yed ∞7Ƶ8? | dize iva a [a n ? o], que ha prometido de [tep c = bolver?] en [?eze] |
| 5 | 9qM#ƀ · yoc yeb ɡʒ 7 T X 8 y ∞ 7ƀ hcqLꝑ̄ zo K ɡ̣∞9 zog y∞ | dias. El dicho [name ?e?rren] ha escrito al abad de Na- |
| 6 | qαcM# | -jara. |

## Block 2 (f. 479r top, before 'de venecia no tengo otra nueva')

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | sub te K c r T 7 ∞ (R9495 ɑ+ c α T 7 ∞) zuf pu ∞y zog yicƀ per ▽ r h ʒ ꝑ̄ 2qV yef hT9ꝑ̄ƀ | que [te] provea como se an de [yicƀ = dar?] [per = veinte?] y ocho mil escudos |
| 2 | zo 9rLꝑ̄c ɑ+c∞yL7y8c yed hꝑ̄ƀL∞y hqM# sa ɑ+∞9#M#c hq7cLrƀ | al dotor [Prantener?] en Costancia (Konstanz) [sa = para] pagar ciertos |
| 3 | zu 7ƀ sub K zog ꝑ K yic zof h7cL∞ yic sub M#y zog 97h7y98c | [zu]es (suizos?) que ha [zog ꝑ a do = dexado?] concertado, que an de decender |
| 4 | yed xab ▽ tolƀ 9rƵ8 2qV zo L7ƀꝑ̄c8c r Tqr qry7L yed V7 | en Francia, y [tol]s doze mil al tesorero [? Tqr qry7L] en [V7-] |
| 5 | y8T∞ ⊙ ∃ | -neva (Geneva/Ginebra?) [end marks] |

## New key values

| sign / group | value | proving word |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | m | piamontes (ɑ+q∞2ry L7ƀ), prometido, avemos, mil (2qV) |
| m̲ (m with underbar) | f | informado (qym̲rc2α yic); = keyB 'm = f' |
| M# (m with double bar) | a | tierra (Lq8XM#, R9495), dias (9qM#ƀ), Najara, Costancia, pagar |
| 8 (upright) | e | tierra, decender, doze, tesorero |
| ɑ+ / n+ | p | piamontes, prometido, pagar |
| K (crossed alpha) | a / ha | 'que ha prometido' (R9495 α), abad |
| ɡ̣ | b | abad |
| Ƶ (7 with bar) | z | doze (9rƵ8) |
| ʒ | h | ocho (▽rhʒꝑ̄: y o c h o) |
| 9# | g | pagar |
| V | l | mil; possibly g in 'V7y8T∞' = Geneva (?) |
| yef (as syllable) | es | es-crito (yef hcqLꝑ̄), es-cudos (yef hT9ꝑ̄ƀ) |
| yic | -do (syllable) | informa-do, concerta-do, dexa-do? |
| ymf / ynf | esta | 'portador de esta' |
| seb | qual? | 'al qual he informado' |
| sa | para? | 'para pagar ciertos' |
| si + L∞9rc | por-tador | portador |
| xod | ha (as 'tres dias ha'; R9495 variant of ·∞·) | tres dias ha |
| pep | un? | con un correo |
| tep c | bolver? | ha prometido de bolver en ... dias |
| pef, znb/za, 7 pes, per, tol, zu, te, yicƀ | open | see readings |

## Running text (plain Spanish, doubtful parts bracketed)

[Name: ?e?rren], es el portador desta, al qual he informado de [todo] lo de [aca], y el(?) [..] avemos escrito a V. Magestad.
Tres dias ha, por tierra, con [un] correo piamontes, que se dize iva a [...], que ha prometido de [bolver] en [..] dias, el dicho
[name] ha escrito al abad de Najara.
... que [V.M.?] provea como se an de [dar] [veinte?] y ocho mil escudos al dotor [Prantener?] en Costancia para pagar ciertos
[suizos?] que ha [dexado] concertado, que an de decender en Francia, y [..]s doze mil al tesorero [...] en [Geneva?].

read_r9494.md

# R9494 (RAH Salazar A-28 ff. 478-479), Soria to Charles V, Genoa 26 July 1523 — key B cipher, reading

Images: img/IMG_R9494_I44734_P2.jpg (f.478v bottom, f.479r top). Checked against the duplicate R9495 (IMG_R9495_I44735_P2.jpg, f.481r,
where both blocks run on as one). Glyph names as keyB.md / read_r9497.md; M# = m with double vertical bar, m̲ = m with underbar,
Ƶ = 7 with bar, ɡʒ = g with z-tail, ꝑ̄ = p with two bars, K = alpha-like crossed sign.

## Block 1 (f. 478v, after 'de Roma ni de napoles no tengo cartas ...')

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HB ɡʒ 8 T X 7 ∞(R9495: ɡʒ 7 T X 8 y) yef yoc si L∞9rc zog ynf zo seb 7 q y m̲ r c 2 α | [HB opener] [name ?e?rren] es el portador de esta, al [seb=qual?] e (he) informa- |
| 2 | yic zog pef xip zog znb(R9495 za) ▽ yoc 7 pes α T 7 2 ꝑ̄ ƀ yef hcqLꝑ̄ ∞ pup tab | -do de [pef = todo?] lo de [znb/za = aca?] y el(?) [7 pes] avemos escrito a V. Magestad. |
| 3 | Lc7ƀ 9q∞ƀ ·∞·(R9495 xod) si Lq8X∞(R9495 Lq8XM#) zof pep hꝑ̄X7r ɑ+q∞2r y L7ƀ sub pu | Tres dias ha, por tierra, con [pep = un] correo piamontes, que se |
| 4 | yab qTM# [∞ struck] ∞ y ꝑ? r (R9495 qT∞∂ ∞ K y ꝑ̄) sub K ɑ+ c ꝑ̄ 2 7 L q 9 ꝑ̄ zog tep c yed ∞7Ƶ8? | dize iva a [a n ? o], que ha prometido de [tep c = bolver?] en [?eze] |
| 5 | 9qM#ƀ · yoc yeb ɡʒ 7 T X 8 y ∞ 7ƀ hcqLꝑ̄ zo K ɡ̣∞9 zog y∞ | dias. El dicho [name ?e?rren] ha escrito al abad de Na- |
| 6 | qαcM# | -jara. |

## Block 2 (f. 479r top, before 'de venecia no tengo otra nueva')

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | sub te K c r T 7 ∞ (R9495 ɑ+ c α T 7 ∞) zuf pu ∞y zog yicƀ per ▽ r h ʒ ꝑ̄ 2qV yef hT9ꝑ̄ƀ | que [te] provea como se an de [yicƀ = dar?] [per = veinte?] y ocho mil escudos |
| 2 | zo 9rLꝑ̄c ɑ+c∞yL7y8c yed hꝑ̄ƀL∞y hqM# sa ɑ+∞9#M#c hq7cLrƀ | al dotor [Prantener?] en Costancia (Konstanz) [sa = para] pagar ciertos |
| 3 | zu 7ƀ sub K zog ꝑ K yic zof h7cL∞ yic sub M#y zog 97h7y98c | [zu]es (suizos?) que ha [zog ꝑ a do = dexado?] concertado, que an de decender |
| 4 | yed xab ▽ tolƀ 9rƵ8 2qV zo L7ƀꝑ̄c8c r Tqr qry7L yed V7 | en Francia, y [tol]s doze mil al tesorero [? Tqr qry7L] en [V7-] |
| 5 | y8T∞ ⊙ ∃ | -neva (Geneva/Ginebra?) [end marks] |

## New key values

| sign / group | value | proving word |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | m | piamontes (ɑ+q∞2ry L7ƀ), prometido, avemos, mil (2qV) |
| m̲ (m with underbar) | f | informado (qym̲rc2α yic); = keyB 'm = f' |
| M# (m with double bar) | a | tierra (Lq8XM#, R9495), dias (9qM#ƀ), Najara, Costancia, pagar |
| 8 (upright) | e | tierra, decender, doze, tesorero |
| ɑ+ / n+ | p | piamontes, prometido, pagar |
| K (crossed alpha) | a / ha | 'que ha prometido' (R9495 α), abad |
| ɡ̣ | b | abad |
| Ƶ (7 with bar) | z | doze (9rƵ8) |
| ʒ | h | ocho (▽rhʒꝑ̄: y o c h o) |
| 9# | g | pagar |
| V | l | mil; possibly g in 'V7y8T∞' = Geneva (?) |
| yef (as syllable) | es | es-crito (yef hcqLꝑ̄), es-cudos (yef hT9ꝑ̄ƀ) |
| yic | -do (syllable) | informa-do, concerta-do, dexa-do? |
| ymf / ynf | esta | 'portador de esta' |
| seb | qual? | 'al qual he informado' |
| sa | para? | 'para pagar ciertos' |
| si + L∞9rc | por-tador | portador |
| xod | ha (as 'tres dias ha'; R9495 variant of ·∞·) | tres dias ha |
| pep | un? | con un correo |
| tep c | bolver? | ha prometido de bolver en ... dias |
| pef, znb/za, 7 pes, per, tol, zu, te, yicƀ | open | see readings |

## Running text (plain Spanish, doubtful parts bracketed)

[Name: ?e?rren], es el portador desta, al qual he informado de [todo] lo de [aca], y el(?) [..] avemos escrito a V. Magestad.
Tres dias ha, por tierra, con [un] correo piamontes, que se dize iva a [...], que ha prometido de [bolver] en [..] dias, el dicho
[name] ha escrito al abad de Najara.
... que [V.M.?] provea como se an de [dar] [veinte?] y ocho mil escudos al dotor [Prantener?] en Costancia para pagar ciertos
[suizos?] que ha [dexado] concertado, que an de decender en Francia, y [..]s doze mil al tesorero [...] en [Geneva?].

kb_r9494.txt

# R9494 (26 July 1523), key B, re-read 5 Oct 2026 from img P2 (f.478v foot, f.479r top) and collated with R9495
# (P2, f.481r). R9496 is a third copy (not used here). One plaintext word per line: word = cipher units.
# [x] unread or context only; {x} opener/closer.
# --- block 1
{opener} = H B
Beurren = ɡʒ 8 T X 7 y
es = yef
el = yoc
portador = si L ∞ 9 r c
de = zog
esta = ymf
al = zo
qual = seb
e = 7
informado = q y m̲ r c 2 α yic
de = zog
todo = pef          # p-block (Se-Y) code; the only fit in 'informado de [pef] lo de [znb]'
lo = xip
de = zog
aca = znb           # R9495 za; z-block (A-De), 'alla' is zeb
y = ▽
el = yoc
e = 7
yo = pes            # pes = yo, also R9497 'pes e apretado'; here 'el e yo avemos'
avemos = α T 7 2 ꝑ̄ ƀ
escrito = yef h c q L ꝑ̄
a = ∞
V. = pup
Magestad = tab
tres = L c 7 ƀ
dias = 9 q ∞ ƀ
ha = ∞              # R9495 xod = ha
por = si
tierra = L q 8 X ∞
con = zof
un = pep
correo = h ꝑ̄ X 7 r
piamontes = ɑ+ q ∞ 2 r y L 7 ƀ
que = sub
se = pu
dize = yab
iva = q T M#
a = ∞
[aqo] = y r         # R9494 'y ꝑ r' after a struck ∞; R9495 writes 'α ʒ ꝑ̄' here: the copies disagree, unread
que = sub
a = K
prometido = ɑ+ c ꝑ̄ 2 7 L q 9 ꝑ̄
de = zog
[tep-] = tep        # t-block (M-Pa) code + r: 'de [..]r', unread
[-r] = c
en = yed
[aeze] = ∞ 7 Ƶ 8    # a number of days ending -ze (onze/doze/treze?); signs do not give one, unread
dias = 9 q M# ƀ
el = yoc
dicho = yeb
Beurren = ɡʒ 7 T X 8 y
a = ∞               # 'a escrito' = ha escrito
escrito = 7 ƀ h c q L ꝑ̄
al = zo
abad = K ɡ̣ ∞ 9
de = zog
Najara = y ∞ q α c M#
# --- block 2
que = sub
[te] = te           # t-block code before 'provea', unread
provea = K c r T 7 ∞
como = zuf
se = pu
an = ∞ y
de = zog
[dos] = yic ƀ       # yic = do elsewhere; 'an de dos' does not parse: unread
[per] = per         # p-block (Se-Y), 'veinte' fits, R9495 differs here: unread
y = ▽
ocho = r h ʒ ꝑ̄
mil = 2 q V
escudos = yef h T 9 ꝑ̄ ƀ
al = zo
dotor = 9 r L ꝑ̄ c
Prantener = ɑ+ c ∞ y L 7 y 8 c
en = yed
Costancia = h ꝑ̄ ƀ L ∞ y h q M#
para = sa
pagar = ɑ+ ∞ 9# M# c
ciertos = h q 7 c L r ƀ
[zu-] = zu          # z-block code + es (cantones? alemanes?), unread
[-es] = 7 ƀ
que = sub
a = K
dexado = zog ꝑ K yic   # R9495 'zog ʒ ∞ yic': ʒ = x as in R9491 'maxime'
concertado = zof h 7 c L ∞ yic
que = sub
an = M# y
de = zog
decender = 9 7 h 7 y 9 8 c
en = yed
Francia = xab
y = ▽
[otros] = tol ƀ     # t-block (M-Pa) + s; 'otros' fits but is not proved
doze = 9 r Ƶ 8
mil = 2 q V
al = zo
tesorero = L 7 ƀ ꝑ̄ c 8 c r
Vionet = T q r y 7 L   # name spelled in letters (v-i-o-n-e-t); not identified
en = yed
Geneva = V 7 y 8 T ∞   # R9495 '9# 7 y 8 T ∞' (g)
{closer} = ⊙ ∃
# --- R9496 (third copy, f.483r) opens with a paragraph that R9494/R9495 do not have (re-read 5 Oct 2026, img P2 right)
{opener} = f H
Beurren = ɡʒ 7 T X 8 ∂
[partira] = tap c ∞        # t-block (M-Pa) + ra: 'partira' fits, unproved
[2m#9qα∂∞] = 2 m# 9 q α ∂ ∞   # 'mañana'? the signs give m-a-d-i-a-?-a: unread
con = zof
una = pep ∞
carraca = h m# X α H ∞
yra = ▽ c ∞
derecho = 9 c 7 f ʒ r      # d-r-e-c-h-o, f = c and ʒ = h as in the table
a = ∞
Barcelona = t# m# c h 7 V r Y α
y = ▽
con = zof
el = yoc
[pus] = pus
[m#] = m#
Martin = L ∞ c L q y
Centurion = h 8 ∂ L T c q ꝑ̄ y
por = si
embaxador = yud r c        # y-block (Di-Es) + -or; Martin Centurione was Genoa's envoy to Charles V (R9497 f.579r)
de = zog
este = yif                 # yif = este: R9492 'parta [yif] vergantin', clear R9491 'se a detenido este vergantin'
duque = yac                # y-block (Di-Es); 'este duque y comunidad' is Soria's clear phrase for Genoa
y = ▽
comunidad = h r 2 T y q 9 ∞ 6
de = zog
Genova = xic               # x-block (F-L); 'este duque y comunidad de' = Genoa, the place of writing
y = ▽
el = yoc

R9494_reading.md

<!-- Reading of R9494 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), from measure/kb_r9494.txt (the 5 Oct 2026 re-read of R9494, key B, one word per unit), joined into words and sentences. Letters as the decode gives them (u for v, no accents); word division across line ends, capitals and punctuation added. An unread group of signs is […]; a nomenclature group with no value is kept as written ([dus], [cop], [qed], [rip], [pur], [taf] ...); a word that the 5 Oct re-read gives only from context is [?word]. Openers, closers and nulls ({x}) are left out, as there. Cipher throughout. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, 26 July 1523 (R9494-R9496, key B): reading

## Reading

Beurren es el portador de esta, al qual e informado de todo lo de aca; y el e yo avemos escrito a V. Magestad tres dias ha por tierra con un correo piamontes, que se dize iva a [aqo], que a prometido de [tep-] [-r] en [aeze] dias. El dicho Beurren a escrito al abad de Najara que [te] provea como se an de [dos] [per] y ocho mil escudos al dotor Prantener en Costancia para pagar ciertos [zu-] [-es] que a dexado concertado que an de decender en Francia, y [?otros] doze mil al tesorero Vionet en Geneva. Beurren [?partira] […] con una carraca, yra derecho a Barcelona, y con el [pus] [m#] Martin Centurion por embaxador de este duque y comunidad de Genova, y el …

R9494_en.md

<!-- English translation of R9494_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). Same holes: […] unread signs, [dus] etc. nomenclature groups with no value, [?word] context only. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, 26 July 1523 (R9494-R9496, key B): English translation

Beaurain is the bearer of this, whom I have informed of everything here; and he and I wrote to Your Majesty three days ago by land with a Piedmontese courier, who is said to be going to [aqo], who has promised to [tep-] [-r] in [aeze] days. The said Beaurain has written to the Abbot of Nájera that [te] provide how they are to [dos] [per] and eight thousand escudos to Doctor Prantner at Constance, to pay certain [zu-] [-es] whom he has left agreed to descend into France, and [?another] twelve thousand to the treasurer Vionet at Geneva. Beaurain [?will leave] […] with a carrack, will go straight to Barcelona, and with him [pus] [m#] Martin Centurion as ambassador of this Duke and commune of Genoa, and he …

read_r9497_full.md

# R9497 (ff. 577-579) Soria to Charles V, Genoa 13 Aug 1523: full reading of the key-B cipher

Lines 1-6 of block 1 are from read_r9497.md. Lines 7-10, block 2 and f. 579r were read from band crops of P2.
Block 1 was collated sign by sign with the duplicate R9498 (f. 583v) on 30 Sept 2026; see 'Collation with R9498'
and 'Block 1, continuous text' below.

## Block 1 (f. 578v)

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | see read_r9497.md | Andrea Doria and the principe de Salerno are discontented with the king [of France], because he had taken from them the enterprise of this city and given it to the Bastard of Savoy. And one who calls himself Jeronimo Doria, one of the leading men of this city, has [spoken] to me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria (corrected 30 Sept 2026: see below) |
| 7 | yab sub pob pup tab sob 7. ∞h7ɑ+L∞c yed pic peb hqr zo yeb | dizen que si V. Mag. [sob 7. = quiere] aceptar en su servicio al dicho |
| 8 | αy9c7∞ 9ꝑ̄c∞α zof ϖ+ƀ Ŀ+α Lcꝑ̄ 9#M# V8c∞θ sub yoc | Andrea Doria con sus quatro galeras, que el (Ŀ = tall capital L, a sign for q distinct from the small angular L = t) |
| 9 | xip ϖ7c+qc∞ zog 4+▽ zid ∞ pap ▽ xip 4qƀ4r z7∞ yeb | lo servira de muy buen-a voluntad, y lo mismo [z7∞ = hará] el dicho |
| 10 | zog ɑ+∞cL7 97V zic zog ϖ∞V7cyr ▽ [ꝑ̄ gto?] | de parte del principe de Salerno y [?] (clear: para que lo escriva a V. Ces. Mag. y al visorey de Napoles...) |

## Block 2 (f. 578v foot)

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | fE· pes 7 ∞ɑ+c7L∞9r αyLryqꝑ̄Lr α9ꝑ̄cyꝑ̄ sa sub ɑ+∞[g]+7 | [opener] [pes = yo] e apretado Antonioto Adorno para que pague |
| 2 | ymf x7ɑ++ɡ̣Vqh∞ xip sub zog+7y 9∞cα pup tab si xin | esta republica lo que de-ven dar a V. Mag. por la |
| 3 | h∞ɑ+qL▽Vαhqry xob yed paf zog V. tin V7ry / ▽∞48 | capitulacion [xob = hecha] en [paf = tiempo] del [tin = papa] Leon, y a me |

## f. 579r top (continues block 2)

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | yeb sub α hrz7Lq9ꝑ̄ ∞ 4∞cLqy h7y ꝑ̄▽cqry sub xag | dicho que a acometido a Martin Centurion que [xag = hable/escriva] |
| 2 | ϖrɡ̣c7 ymc α pup tab ▽ sub xa α+7c pic sud tef pu sab | sobre esto a V. Mag., y que [xa = hasta] aver su [sud = respuesta] no se [sab = ?] |
| 3 | ɑ+∞V∞c yα9M# ∃ Θ· | [palar = parlar/hablar] nada [closer ∃ Θ] (clear: y pues el dicho Martin Centurion abra hablado sobre ello...) |

## New key values

| sign/group | value | proof word |
|---|---|---|
| + | u (also v) | sus, muy, servira, pague, deven |
| z | m (besides h) | acometido |
| ꝑ̄ (barred, in 'Centurion') | t | Centurion (maybe the φ = t of keyB) |
| M# | a | galeras, nada |
| 9# | g | galeras |
| x | r | republica, servira? (x7ɑ++ɡ̣Vqh∞) |
| zog as a syllable | de- | deven (zog+7y) |
| zog V. | del | del rey (block 1 l.2), del papa (block 2 l.3) |
| zid ∞ | buena (zid = buen) | de muy buena voluntad |
| pap | voluntad | same |
| ymc | esto | sobre esto |
| xuf | habla- (xuf yic = hablado), grade I; not 'dicho', which is yeb | y a me hablado |
| sob 7. | quier + e = quiere (was 'quisiere?') | si V. Mag. quiere aceptar; sob∞ = quiera in R9491 'seb sob∞ cosa' = qualquiera cosa (twice) |
| pes | yo? | yo e apretado |
| xob | hecha? | capitulacion hecha en tiempo |
| paf | tiempo? | same |
| tin | papa? | del papa Leon |
| xag | hable/escriva? | que hable sobre esto a V. Mag. |
| xa | hasta? | hasta aver su respuesta |
| sud | respuesta? | same |
| sab | open (puede? / hará?) | no se [sab] parlar nada |
| fE·, Θ E | openers; ∃ Θ· closer | |

## Running text

Andrea Doria and the Prince of Salerno are discontented with the King [of France], because he had promised them
the enterprise of this city and gave it to the Bastard of Savoy. And one who calls himself Jeronimo Doria, a
kinsman of the leading men of this city, told me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria that, [if] Your Majesty
[would be willing] to take the said Andrea Doria into your service with his [four] galleys, he will serve you
most willingly, and the said [Jeronimo] will do the same on behalf of the Prince of Salerno, and [?] (clear:
so that I write it to Your Caesarean Majesty and to the viceroy of Naples...).

I have pressed Antonioto Adorno to make this republic pay what they owe Your Majesty under the capitulation
[made] in the [time] of [Pope] Leo. He has told me that he has approached Martin Centurion to [write/speak]
to Your Majesty about this, and that [until] he has your [answer] nothing can be [discussed/done].

## Confidence

High for the cipher in block 1 lines 7-10 and the running shape of block 2 and f.579r (Antonioto Adorno,
republica, capitulacion, Martin Centurion, galeras, servira, mismo, nada all spell out). The code-group
meanings marked ? (pes, xob, paf, tin, xag, xa, sud, sab) are guesses from context. 'Ŀ+α' in 'quatro' is not
L = t: both copies write a tall capital L there and the small angular L for the t (30 Sept 2026). 'z7∞' is read as 'hará' only from the sense. The signs after Salerno, 'ꝑ̄ gto',
are unread (R9498 writes 'yꝑ̄. g+o ∃ ⊙.' there: 'Salerno' then a closer). Block 1 collated with R9498.

## Collation with R9498 (30 Sept 2026)

R9498 (9/28 ff. 581-584, image P2 left, f. 583v) repeats block 1 with other homophones and some code groups where
R9497 spells in letters. Differences that fix values:

| R9497 | R9498 | value | grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ꝑ° ▽ q L ∞ 9 r (l. 2) | ꝛ° T ∞ φ ∞ 9 ꝑ̄ | quitado: ꝑ°/ꝛ° = q, ▽/T = u, then -itado; the earlier 'pro...(prometido)' was wrong, the word ends -tado in both copies | H (u-i-t-a-d-o from the key), q from the word |
| V7ƀ (les) | xap ƀ. | xap = le (x-block runs F-L) | C (collation) |
| ▽yꝑ̄ (uno, l. 4) | pep ꝑ̄. | pep = un | C (collation) |
| yef pep r. (l. 5) | yef pep r. | es uno (not 'pari[ente]'): 'que es uno de los principales de esta ciudad' | C |
| ɑ+∞cL7 (parte, l. 6) | tun | tun = parte (also R9498 l. 10 'zog tun zog V. zic' = de parte del principe) | C (collation) |
| sob 7. | sob 7 | quiere (sob = quier; R9491 'seb sob∞ cosa' = qualquiera cosa twice; s-block runs P-R) | M |
| Ŀ + α ∠ c ꝑ̄ | Ŀ T ∞ ∠ c r | quatro: tall L = q in both copies, the t is the small angular L | H for -uatro, q from the word |
| ϖ7c+qc∞ (servira) | peb c∞ | peb = servi- confirmed | C |
| 4▽q (muy) | z▽▽ | muy | H |
| z7∞ (l. 9, read 'hará' from sense) | tec ∞ | still open: tec is a code group (t-block, M-P), so 'hará' stays a guess (ofrecerá?) | I |
| yab sub | yab q+ꝑ ⊙ sub | R9498 inserts 'q+ꝑ ⊙' (a closer-like ⊙); not in R9497, treated as a slip/null | open |

Alphabetical order of the code: each initial consonant covers a stretch of the plaintext alphabet (z: al, alla,
buena, como, con, de; y: dicho, dizen, el, ella, en, es, esta, esto; x: Francia, gana, guerra, hable, haze, la, le,
lo; t: Magestad, mucho, no, papa, parte; s: para, por, qual, que, rey; p: se, servi-, si, su, tiempo, un, V.,
voluntad, yo). xuf therefore stands between F and L: 'xuf yic' = habla-do (I), not 'dicho' (= yeb).

## Block 1, continuous text (30 Sept 2026)

Andrea Doria y el principe de Salerno estan muy descontentos del rey, porque les avia quitado la enpresa de esta
ciudad y la avia dado al bastardo de Saboya; y a me [hablado] uno que se dize Jeronimo Doria, que es uno de los
principales de esta ciudad, de parte del dicho Andrea Doria, y dizen que si V. Mag. [quiere] aceptar en su
servicio al dicho Andrea Doria con sus quatro galeras, que el lo servira de muy buena voluntad, y lo mismo [hará]
el dicho de parte del principe de Salerno.

Andrea Doria and the Prince of Salerno are very discontented with the King, because he had taken from them the
enterprise of this city and had given it to the Bastard of Savoy; and one who calls himself Jeronimo Doria, one of
the leading men of this city, has [spoken] to me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria, and they say that if Your
Majesty [will] accept the said Andrea Doria into your service with his four galleys, he will serve you very
willingly, and the said [Jeronimo] will [do] the same on behalf of the Prince of Salerno.

Grades: all words H/C except [hablado] (xuf yic, I from alphabetical position and sense), [quiere] (sob 7., M) and
[hará] (z7∞, I). 'bastardo' is ɡ̣∞ƀLαc + yic (-do); 'estan' is ymf (esta) + y (n).

read_r9497_full.md

# R9497 (ff. 577-579) Soria to Charles V, Genoa 13 Aug 1523: full reading of the key-B cipher

Lines 1-6 of block 1 are from read_r9497.md. Lines 7-10, block 2 and f. 579r were read from band crops of P2.
Block 1 was collated sign by sign with the duplicate R9498 (f. 583v) on 30 Sept 2026; see 'Collation with R9498'
and 'Block 1, continuous text' below.

## Block 1 (f. 578v)

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | see read_r9497.md | Andrea Doria and the principe de Salerno are discontented with the king [of France], because he had taken from them the enterprise of this city and given it to the Bastard of Savoy. And one who calls himself Jeronimo Doria, one of the leading men of this city, has [spoken] to me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria (corrected 30 Sept 2026: see below) |
| 7 | yab sub pob pup tab sob 7. ∞h7ɑ+L∞c yed pic peb hqr zo yeb | dizen que si V. Mag. [sob 7. = quiere] aceptar en su servicio al dicho |
| 8 | αy9c7∞ 9ꝑ̄c∞α zof ϖ+ƀ Ŀ+α Lcꝑ̄ 9#M# V8c∞θ sub yoc | Andrea Doria con sus quatro galeras, que el (Ŀ = tall capital L, a sign for q distinct from the small angular L = t) |
| 9 | xip ϖ7c+qc∞ zog 4+▽ zid ∞ pap ▽ xip 4qƀ4r z7∞ yeb | lo servira de muy buen-a voluntad, y lo mismo [z7∞ = hará] el dicho |
| 10 | zog ɑ+∞cL7 97V zic zog ϖ∞V7cyr ▽ [ꝑ̄ gto?] | de parte del principe de Salerno y [?] (clear: para que lo escriva a V. Ces. Mag. y al visorey de Napoles...) |

## Block 2 (f. 578v foot)

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | fE· pes 7 ∞ɑ+c7L∞9r αyLryqꝑ̄Lr α9ꝑ̄cyꝑ̄ sa sub ɑ+∞[g]+7 | [opener] [pes = yo] e apretado Antonioto Adorno para que pague |
| 2 | ymf x7ɑ++ɡ̣Vqh∞ xip sub zog+7y 9∞cα pup tab si xin | esta republica lo que de-ven dar a V. Mag. por la |
| 3 | h∞ɑ+qL▽Vαhqry xob yed paf zog V. tin V7ry / ▽∞48 | capitulacion [xob = hecha] en [paf = tiempo] del [tin = papa] Leon, y a me |

## f. 579r top (continues block 2)

| line | transcription | reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | yeb sub α hrz7Lq9ꝑ̄ ∞ 4∞cLqy h7y ꝑ̄▽cqry sub xag | dicho que a acometido a Martin Centurion que [xag = hable/escriva] |
| 2 | ϖrɡ̣c7 ymc α pup tab ▽ sub xa α+7c pic sud tef pu sab | sobre esto a V. Mag., y que [xa = hasta] aver su [sud = respuesta] no se [sab = ?] |
| 3 | ɑ+∞V∞c yα9M# ∃ Θ· | [palar = parlar/hablar] nada [closer ∃ Θ] (clear: y pues el dicho Martin Centurion abra hablado sobre ello...) |

## New key values

| sign/group | value | proof word |
|---|---|---|
| + | u (also v) | sus, muy, servira, pague, deven |
| z | m (besides h) | acometido |
| ꝑ̄ (barred, in 'Centurion') | t | Centurion (maybe the φ = t of keyB) |
| M# | a | galeras, nada |
| 9# | g | galeras |
| x | r | republica, servira? (x7ɑ++ɡ̣Vqh∞) |
| zog as a syllable | de- | deven (zog+7y) |
| zog V. | del | del rey (block 1 l.2), del papa (block 2 l.3) |
| zid ∞ | buena (zid = buen) | de muy buena voluntad |
| pap | voluntad | same |
| ymc | esto | sobre esto |
| xuf | habla- (xuf yic = hablado), grade I; not 'dicho', which is yeb | y a me hablado |
| sob 7. | quier + e = quiere (was 'quisiere?') | si V. Mag. quiere aceptar; sob∞ = quiera in R9491 'seb sob∞ cosa' = qualquiera cosa (twice) |
| pes | yo? | yo e apretado |
| xob | hecha? | capitulacion hecha en tiempo |
| paf | tiempo? | same |
| tin | papa? | del papa Leon |
| xag | hable/escriva? | que hable sobre esto a V. Mag. |
| xa | hasta? | hasta aver su respuesta |
| sud | respuesta? | same |
| sab | open (puede? / hará?) | no se [sab] parlar nada |
| fE·, Θ E | openers; ∃ Θ· closer | |

## Running text

Andrea Doria and the Prince of Salerno are discontented with the King [of France], because he had promised them
the enterprise of this city and gave it to the Bastard of Savoy. And one who calls himself Jeronimo Doria, a
kinsman of the leading men of this city, told me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria that, [if] Your Majesty
[would be willing] to take the said Andrea Doria into your service with his [four] galleys, he will serve you
most willingly, and the said [Jeronimo] will do the same on behalf of the Prince of Salerno, and [?] (clear:
so that I write it to Your Caesarean Majesty and to the viceroy of Naples...).

I have pressed Antonioto Adorno to make this republic pay what they owe Your Majesty under the capitulation
[made] in the [time] of [Pope] Leo. He has told me that he has approached Martin Centurion to [write/speak]
to Your Majesty about this, and that [until] he has your [answer] nothing can be [discussed/done].

## Confidence

High for the cipher in block 1 lines 7-10 and the running shape of block 2 and f.579r (Antonioto Adorno,
republica, capitulacion, Martin Centurion, galeras, servira, mismo, nada all spell out). The code-group
meanings marked ? (pes, xob, paf, tin, xag, xa, sud, sab) are guesses from context. 'Ŀ+α' in 'quatro' is not
L = t: both copies write a tall capital L there and the small angular L for the t (30 Sept 2026). 'z7∞' is read as 'hará' only from the sense. The signs after Salerno, 'ꝑ̄ gto',
are unread (R9498 writes 'yꝑ̄. g+o ∃ ⊙.' there: 'Salerno' then a closer). Block 1 collated with R9498.

## Collation with R9498 (30 Sept 2026)

R9498 (9/28 ff. 581-584, image P2 left, f. 583v) repeats block 1 with other homophones and some code groups where
R9497 spells in letters. Differences that fix values:

| R9497 | R9498 | value | grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ꝑ° ▽ q L ∞ 9 r (l. 2) | ꝛ° T ∞ φ ∞ 9 ꝑ̄ | quitado: ꝑ°/ꝛ° = q, ▽/T = u, then -itado; the earlier 'pro...(prometido)' was wrong, the word ends -tado in both copies | H (u-i-t-a-d-o from the key), q from the word |
| V7ƀ (les) | xap ƀ. | xap = le (x-block runs F-L) | C (collation) |
| ▽yꝑ̄ (uno, l. 4) | pep ꝑ̄. | pep = un | C (collation) |
| yef pep r. (l. 5) | yef pep r. | es uno (not 'pari[ente]'): 'que es uno de los principales de esta ciudad' | C |
| ɑ+∞cL7 (parte, l. 6) | tun | tun = parte (also R9498 l. 10 'zog tun zog V. zic' = de parte del principe) | C (collation) |
| sob 7. | sob 7 | quiere (sob = quier; R9491 'seb sob∞ cosa' = qualquiera cosa twice; s-block runs P-R) | M |
| Ŀ + α ∠ c ꝑ̄ | Ŀ T ∞ ∠ c r | quatro: tall L = q in both copies, the t is the small angular L | H for -uatro, q from the word |
| ϖ7c+qc∞ (servira) | peb c∞ | peb = servi- confirmed | C |
| 4▽q (muy) | z▽▽ | muy | H |
| z7∞ (l. 9, read 'hará' from sense) | tec ∞ | still open: tec is a code group (t-block, M-P), so 'hará' stays a guess (ofrecerá?) | I |
| yab sub | yab q+ꝑ ⊙ sub | R9498 inserts 'q+ꝑ ⊙' (a closer-like ⊙); not in R9497, treated as a slip/null | open |

Alphabetical order of the code: each initial consonant covers a stretch of the plaintext alphabet (z: al, alla,
buena, como, con, de; y: dicho, dizen, el, ella, en, es, esta, esto; x: Francia, gana, guerra, hable, haze, la, le,
lo; t: Magestad, mucho, no, papa, parte; s: para, por, qual, que, rey; p: se, servi-, si, su, tiempo, un, V.,
voluntad, yo). xuf therefore stands between F and L: 'xuf yic' = habla-do (I), not 'dicho' (= yeb).

## Block 1, continuous text (30 Sept 2026)

Andrea Doria y el principe de Salerno estan muy descontentos del rey, porque les avia quitado la enpresa de esta
ciudad y la avia dado al bastardo de Saboya; y a me [hablado] uno que se dize Jeronimo Doria, que es uno de los
principales de esta ciudad, de parte del dicho Andrea Doria, y dizen que si V. Mag. [quiere] aceptar en su
servicio al dicho Andrea Doria con sus quatro galeras, que el lo servira de muy buena voluntad, y lo mismo [hará]
el dicho de parte del principe de Salerno.

Andrea Doria and the Prince of Salerno are very discontented with the King, because he had taken from them the
enterprise of this city and had given it to the Bastard of Savoy; and one who calls himself Jeronimo Doria, one of
the leading men of this city, has [spoken] to me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria, and they say that if Your
Majesty [will] accept the said Andrea Doria into your service with his four galleys, he will serve you very
willingly, and the said [Jeronimo] will [do] the same on behalf of the Prince of Salerno.

Grades: all words H/C except [hablado] (xuf yic, I from alphabetical position and sense), [quiere] (sob 7., M) and
[hará] (z7∞, I). 'bastardo' is ɡ̣∞ƀLαc + yic (-do); 'estan' is ymf (esta) + y (n).

kb_r9497.txt

# R9497 (13 Aug 1523), key B, collated with R9498. One plaintext word per line: word = its cipher units.
# Units as transcribed in read_r9497.md / read_r9497_full.md, re-checked on img P2 (5 Oct 2026).
# [x] unread / context only; {x} opener, closer.
# --- block 1, f. 578v
{opener} = Θ E
Andrea = ∞ y 9 c 7 α
Doria = 9 r c q M
y = ▽
el = yoc
principe = zic
de = zog
Salerno = ϖ ∞ V 8 c y ꝑ̄
estan = ymf y
muy = 4 ▽ q
descontentos = 97ƀ zof L 7 X L ꝑ̄ θ
del = zog V.
rey = soc
porque = si sub
les = V 7 ƀ
avia = ∞ ▽ q α
quitado = ꝑ° r ▽ q L ∞ 9 r
la = xin
enpresa = 8 y ɑ+ c 7 ƀ ∞
de = zog
esta = ymf
ciudad = h q ▽ 9 ∞ 9
y = ▽
la = xin
avia = α ▽ q ∞
dado = 9 α 9 r
al = zo
bastardo = ɡ̣ ∞ ƀ L α c yic
de = zog
Saboya = ϖ α ɡ̣ r ▽ α
y = ▽
a = ∞
me = 4 7
[hablado] = xuf yic
uno = ▽ y ꝑ̄
que = sub
se = pu
dize = yab
Jeronimo = q 7 c r y q = ꝑ̄
Doria = 9 r c q ∞
que = sub
es = yef
uno = pep r.
de = zog
los = xip ƀ.
principales = ſ c q y h q ∞ + ∞ V 7 ƀ
de = zog
esta = ymf
ciudad = h q ▽ 9 ∞ 9
de = zog
parte = ∞ + ∞ c L 7
del = 9 7 V
dicho = yeb
Andrea = α y 9 c 7 8
Doria = 9 r c q ∞
y = ▽
dizen = yab
que = sub
si = pob
V. = pup
Magestad = tab
quiere = sob 7.
aceptar = ∞ h 7 ɑ+ L ∞ c
en = yed
su = pic
servicio = peb h q r
al = zo
dicho = yeb
Andrea = α y 9 c 7 ∞
Doria = 9 ꝑ̄ c ∞ α
con = zof
sus = ϖ + ƀ
quatro = Ŀ + α L c ꝑ̄
galeras = 9# M# V 8 c ∞ θ
que = sub
el = yoc
lo = xip
servira = ϖ 7 c + q c ∞
de = zog
muy = 4 + ▽
buena = zid ∞
voluntad = pap
y = ▽
lo = xip
mismo = 4 q ƀ 4 r
[hara] = z 7 ∞
el =
dicho = yeb
de = zog
parte = ɑ+ ∞ c L 7
del = 9 7 V
principe = zic
de = zog
Salerno = ϖ ∞ V 7 c y r
[y] = ▽
[o] = ꝑ̄
{closer} = g t o
# --- block 2, f. 578v foot
{opener} = f E ·
yo = pes
e = 7
apretado = ∞ ɑ+ c 7 L ∞ 9 r
Antonioto = α y L r y q ꝑ̄ L r
Adorno = α 9 ꝑ̄ c y ꝑ̄
para = sa
que = sub
pague = ɑ+ ∞ [g] + 7
esta = ymf
republica = x 7 ɑ+ + ɡ̣ V q h ∞
lo = xip
que = sub
deven = zog + 7 y
dar = 9 ∞ c
a = α
V. = pup
Magestad = tab
por = si
la = xin
capitulacion = h ∞ ɑ+ q L ▽ V α h q r y
hecha = xob
en = yed
[tiempo] = paf
del = zog V.
papa = tin
Leon = V 7 r y
y = ▽
a = ∞
me = 4 8
dicho = yeb
que = sub
a = α
acometido = h r z 7 L q 9 ꝑ̄
a = ∞
Martin = 4 ∞ c L q y
Centurion = h 7 y ꝑ̄ ▽ c q r y
que = sub
hable = xag
sobre = ϖ r ɡ̣ c 7
esto = ymc
a = α
V. = pup
Magestad = tab
y = ▽
que = sub
hasta = xa
aver = α + 7 c
su = pic
[respuesta] = sud
no = tef
se = pu
puede = sab          # s-block (Pa-R); also R9491 l.10 "lo que no se [sab] a una republica": both read puede
parlar = ɑ+ ∞ V ∞ c
nada = y α 9 M#
{closer} = ∃ Θ ·

R9497_reading.md

<!-- Reading of R9497 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), from measure/kb_r9497.txt (the 5 Oct 2026 re-read of R9497, key B, one word per unit), joined into words and sentences. Letters as the decode gives them (u for v, no accents); word division across line ends, capitals and punctuation added. An unread group of signs is […]; a nomenclature group with no value is kept as written ([dus], [cop], [qed], [rip], [pur], [taf] ...); a word that the 5 Oct re-read gives only from context is [?word]. Openers, closers and nulls ({x}) are left out, as there. Cipher throughout. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, 13 August 1523 (R9497-R9498, key B): reading

## Reading

Andrea Doria y el principe de Salerno estan muy descontentos del rey, porque les avia quitado la enpresa de esta ciudad y la avia dado al bastardo de Saboya; y a me [?hablado] uno que se dize Jeronimo Doria, que es uno de los principales de esta ciudad, de parte del dicho Andrea Doria, y dizen que si V. Magestad quiere aceptar en su servicio al dicho Andrea Doria con sus quatro galeras, que el lo servira de muy buena voluntad; y lo mismo [?hara] el dicho de parte del principe de Salerno [?y] [?o]. Yo e apretado Antonioto Adorno para que pague esta republica lo que deven dar a V. Magestad por la capitulacion hecha en [?tiempo] del papa Leon, y a me dicho que a acometido a Martin Centurion que hable sobre esto a V. Magestad, y que hasta aver su [?respuesta] no se puede parlar nada.

R9497_en.md

<!-- English translation of R9497_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026). Same holes: […] unread signs, [dus] etc. nomenclature groups with no value, [?word] context only. -->

# Alonso Sánchez [de Soria] to Charles V, Genoa, 13 August 1523 (R9497-R9498, key B): English translation

Andrea Doria and the Prince of Salerno are very discontented with the King, because he had taken from them the enterprise of this city and had given it to the Bastard of Savoy; and one called Jeronimo Doria, who is one of the principal men of this city, has [?spoken] to me on behalf of the said Andrea Doria; and they say that if Your Majesty is willing to accept the said Andrea Doria into your service with his four galleys, he will serve you with very good will; and the said [man] [?will do] the same on behalf of the Prince of Salerno [?and] [?or]. I have pressed Antoniotto Adorno to have this republic pay what they owe Your Majesty under the capitulation made in the [?time] of Pope Leo, and he has told me that he has charged Martin Centurion to speak to Your Majesty about it, and that until his [?answer] comes nothing can be discussed.