At a glanceRead from existing decipherment · partial · 3 of 9 blocks read, 2 in part
- The letters
- Claude Camus de Pontcarré to Villeroy, the King's secretary of state, from Castets (21 March and 1 April 1586), Bordeaux (early and 12 April) and La Rochelle (June). Clear letters with cipher blocks.
- Where
- Bibliothèque nationale de France, fr. 15572 ff. 111v, 112r, 132v, 134v, 151r, 272r–v (Gallica). Not in DECODE or the catalogue.
- The cipher
- Invented and Latin-like signs, several for each letter, some signs with two or three values, word signs for de, la, le, qui/que, et, pour/par, vous, car, and nulls.
- How it was deciphered
- The cipher was deciphered at the time in the margins of ff. 111v–112r, 134v and 151r. Michael Brackx transcribed every block and applied Tomokiyo's key table, which he corrected against those decipherments; the readings follow the margin where it fits the figures and the figures where they differ.
- What it says
- Camus's carrier to “le parent” can no longer help; Villeroy is to send separate ciphered packets, with code names for the carrier (“le beau frere”) and for Camus (“le seruiteur”).
- Still open
- ff. 132v, 134v block A, the f. 151r margin and foot blocks and ff. 272r–v give phrases between gaps; 57 rare signs have no value.
- Credit
- Transcription, corrected key and readings: Michael Brackx (@brackxm) with Claude Code, 22–23 October 2026 (issue #91). Key table: Satoshi Tomokiyo, Cryptiana.
The same volume holds Matignon's and Mayenne's despatches in other ciphers (Mayenne–Forget) and Malicorne's letter of 21 April 1586 (Malicorne 1586), a different cipher with its own page.
01 The letters
| leaf | letter | cipher | decipherment at the time | here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| f. 111v | Castets, 21 March 1586 | 7 lines | interlinear and full margin | read (0.961) |
| f. 112r | same letter | 8 lines | interlinear and full margin | read (0.974) |
| f. 132v | Castets, 1 April 1586 | one block | none | decoded, not read |
| f. 134v | Bordeaux, 3(?) April 1586 | blocks A, B, C | a margin note beside each | A decoded, not read; B 0.781, C 0.812 in part |
| f. 151r | Bordeaux, 12 April 1586 | middle, margin and foot blocks | note beside the middle block | middle read (0.963); others decoded, not read |
| ff. 272r–v | La Rochelle, June 1586 | 11 + 21 lines | none | decoded, not read |
The figures are the share of words read as sense, holes and doubtful words counted against it. Satoshi Tomokiyo's Cryptiana lists these leaves under “Camus's Cipher” with a key table and one opening phrase, but gives no reading of the blocks.
02 The key
Brackx corrected Tomokiyo's table where the margin decipherments and contact sheets of every sign required it: the sign 6 is c (and g), the plain round e is r and the looped e s, a circled G is g, ŋ is o (also l and u), φ stands for ff, f or mm, a large crossed L with a loop (Ⱡ) is the word et, ‡ is b, ɱ is l, and ʒo is the word vous. Each change rests on cribs, or on two contexts and a contact sheet. The plain 9 and ŋ still carry three values each. The label legend, with each sign's shape, is in the repository.
03 The reading
In the writer's spelling, without added accents; [?] an unread word, [?word] doubtful. Where the figures and the margin differ, the figures are followed.
f. 111v, Castets, 21 March 1586
Ie escriuis au porteur par home expres, et en attendant responce; mais puis que le parent n'est plus en ce pays, ie me trouue fort empesche comme i'ay a me gouuerner, car cedit porteur ne me peult plus ayder, mesmes a me faire ueoir. Commandez ce que iugerez pour le mieux et pour le seruice du sieur que scauez, et serez obey et serui ainsi que le prescrirez, car ie uous [?] [?] [?]
I wrote to the bearer by a man sent expressly, and while awaiting the answer; but since the relative is no longer in this country, I find myself much at a loss how to govern myself, for the said bearer can no longer help me, nor even get me seen. Command what you judge best, and for the service of the lord you know of, and you will be obeyed and served as you prescribe, for I [?] you [?] [?]
f. 112r, the same letter
plaira m'escrire de l'affaire du parent, [?et] me faire ung pacquet a part, car aultrement le [?serment] ne faict difficulte de ueoir les lettres, tant il est curieux; et s'il uous plaist que ce soit enchiffre selon le memoire que uous laisse, auquel il uous plaira adiouster, pour le nom de celluy qui porte la lettre au parent, ces deux mots: le beau frere ou le porteur; et pour moy: le seruiteur ou l'oblige.
Please write to me about the affair of the relative, [?and] make me a separate packet, for otherwise the [?oath-bound one] does not scruple to look at the letters, so curious is he; and if you please, let it be ciphered according to the memorandum I leave you, to which you will please add, for the name of him who carries the letter to the relative, these two words: the brother-in-law or the bearer; and for me: the servant or the obliged one.
f. 134v, Bordeaux, early April 1586, blocks B and C
Plusieurs discourent [?sur] la demande de [?Frenac], et aussi que le traicte estant a Comont, qui ne [?peult] estre [?sauue], [?] [?] qui y commande, et croit on [?on] ne dict tout.
Ledict porteur donne fort peu d'esperance au secours, [?et] [?le] fruict de son uoyage [?]
Several are talking [?about] the demand of [?Frenac], and also that the treaty being at Caumont, which cannot be [?saved], [?] [?] who commands there, and it is believed [?that] not everything is told. — The said bearer gives very little hope of relief, [?and] [?the] fruit of his journey [?]
f. 151r, Bordeaux, 12 April 1586, middle block
C'est mon excuse pour auoir la commodite de uoir le porteur et dresser la partie que scauez, que i'espere s'effectuera lundy et sans [?subson].
It is my excuse for having the opportunity of seeing the bearer and arranging the matter you know of, which I hope will be carried out on Monday and without [?suspicion]. (The margin has soupcon.)
04 How it was done
- Transcription. Every block sign by sign from full-size line strips, with each sign's position; the margin decipherments and glosses re-read at full zoom. A blind re-transcription of the cribbed blocks agreed on 76–95% of signs; 22 changes were accepted on the image.
- Decoding. A search over each sign's allowed values under a French letter model, scored against the margin texts. Agreement with the margin: 84.3% (f. 111v), 90.5% (f. 112r), 73.6% and 93.4% (f. 134v B, C), 90.1% (f. 151r), against 31–42% for shuffled keys.
- A correction. The French word list behind the coverage figure had mixed in an Italian and a Middle English text. Rebuilt from Montaigne's Essais I–III, coverage over all blocks is 74.6% (79.3% as first posted), against 36–50% for shuffled keys. The margin agreements do not use it.
- Measured here. Words read as sense per block, counting every hole, doubtful and supplied word against it: 0.961, 0.974 and 0.963 for the three complete blocks; 0.781 and 0.812 for f. 134v B and C. Reviewed as sentences, 24 October 2026.
05 What remains
- f. 111v: the three groups after car ie uous, which run past the margin text.
- f. 134v B: the name after sauue (the margin's C?main does not match the figures), and doubtful sur, Frenac, peult, on; C: the last group.
- ff. 132v, 134v A, the f. 151r margin and foot blocks, ff. 272r–v: phrases between gaps, with no decipherment of the time to check them (only a paraphrase for 134v A and the margin block). A copy of these letters, or a split of the plain 9 and ŋ at higher resolution, is needed.
- 57 rare signs (108 occurrences), probably codes, among them the sign for cy faict on f. 134v A.
Full texts
The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.
f. 111v
Camus to Villeroy from Castets, 21 March 1586: the old carrier to 'le parent', the secret contact, can no longer help; Camus asks for orders for the service of 'the lord you know of'.
Transcription
# f. 111v (canvas 118 left), cipher block at the foot # Michael Brackx, round-2 labels (brackx2026/legend.md); / = divider fe hs ?b 7 o tw E ?b yz 7 es / al z zp y E th 9 c rho / ss 10 y o 9 G oo e E 9 es / et 9 qn r vt 9 sn es E d6 es oo y sn es f / a r n zs oo y n es / U mb f zp r e o sn d6 9 4 es th 14 zp mb c es 9 sn tw f / oo r n zs 7 f / a o th E 9 2 f zf y E th / f a oo o es tw 10 f / 6 zo 9 n r ssi r a o cg zo 2 f E 9 o e ls 9 mb f mb n tw th oo y E th 9 z e 9 o a f oo f c y th / oo mb c es / al ?is md f ?q / a 9 es ?b f zt / r a o ?l vt r n E 9 z 9 y 7 e / 6 y ph fa 9 k o es tw f 4z z z cg 9 E o es / xo y f a n 9 z ?x / et xo / mb f / zp o E zt n 8 f md c tw n f tw es zp e d6 tw r z 9 mb / et z 9 E o e zo oo f ssi etm es f E c rho / r n qn rho U yz o / oo E f es tw e rho E f car 7 o 30 z y vt mb oo 9 / et ls r 9 th oo mb 8 o
Decryption
# f. 111v (canvas 118 left), cipher block at the foot: raw decryption with the round-2 key (Brackx), one line per cipher line; · = null sign 1. ··eiecriuis auportous parhleexprres 2. etenefensrtsponse maispuis queleuerenteest 3. eplusense paisie metrouefort empesche coniaia 4. megouernermelelictportournemepeuut plus ledes 5. mesmes amesfaireueoir commandesceuuugeres parle 6. mieux etpour le peruiceduciessurtceuol etuererobey 7. etserui ainsquele prescrirecarieuousuoflpo etmentplse # Contemporary decipherment on the leaf (its own letters; word division not the scribe's) je escrivis au porteur par home expres / et en attendant responce mais puis que le parent nest / plus en ce pays je me trouve fort empesche comme jay a / me gouverner car cedit porteur ne me peult plus ayder / mesmes a me faire voir commandez ce que jugerez pour le / mieux et pour le service du sieur que scavez et serez obey / et servi ainsi que le prescrirez quant
Reading
# f. 111v (canvas 118 left), cipher block at the foot: reading in the writer's spelling (Michael Brackx, issue #91, 23 Oct 2026) Ie escriuis au porteur par home expres, et en attendant responce; mais puis que le parent n'est plus en ce pays, ie me trouue fort empesche comme i'ay a me gouuerner, car cedit porteur ne me peult plus ayder, mesmes a me faire ueoir. Commandez ce que iugerez pour le mieux et pour le seruice du sieur que scauez, et serez obey et serui ainsi que le prescrirez, car ie uous [?] [?] [?]
Translation
# f. 111v (canvas 118 left), cipher block at the foot: English I wrote to the bearer by a man sent expressly, and while awaiting the answer; but since the relative is no longer in this country, I find myself much at a loss how to govern myself, for the said bearer can no longer help me, nor even get me seen. Command what you judge best, and for the service of the lord you know of, and you will be obeyed and served as you prescribe, for I [?] you [?] [?]
f. 112r
The same letter continued: Villeroy should send separate packets ciphered with the memorandum Camus left, with code names 'le beau frere' or 'le porteur' for the carrier and 'le seruiteur' or 'l'oblige' for Camus.
Transcription
# f. 112r (canvas 118 right), cipher block at the head # Michael Brackx, round-2 labels (brackx2026/legend.md); / = divider oo mb x 7 E r / a 9 ?w ls E rho e o / k 9 mb r ph o md zp / oo fa e . f 9 th ?alm f vt r n E f / zf fa rho e o zp qn oo fa aq z o th / x . ss d6 / car r z mb th E o a f 9 d6 / mb o / ls rho r a 9 f th sn f rho r n d6 th / o o 7 ph rho 6 z mb th o / k o ?rv f y n E a 9 ?w / mb E f es / th r qn th / n mb 9 e f 6 y e rho 9 z e / ?Fet ?w rho mb 30 / oo yz r 7 tw th U / 6 o ?w y n th / 9 qn 8 10 ph E f / etm f3 o mb rho qn zl o / a f ls zo rho E f U 30 / mb r n yz o x zp U mb / rho mb 30 oo mb r 7 e f / x md rho y c ?w th o E / xo xl ?b qn y a tri / 6 9 zl z z ssi xb oo zo E th r / tb mb e o r y oo r e o d6 d6 6 f ?w / k o z G / a y th 8 / xl oo o r z ph E 9 e f y c xl z y E th f zp e etm xo a dag ssi xl ?w f e c 7 th o z E / dag z zl zo oo o zl 7 cg 9 /
Decryption
# f. 112r (canvas 118 right), cipher block at the head: raw decryption with the round-2 key (Brackx), one line per cipher line; · = null sign 1. plaire mesmrire delamedu par·eetmefaire 2. faireunbaquet a·part caraultrement le miemeetne 3. saitt eeifficulte deueoirmes lres tent ilere 4. curiour ssiluous plaistque cesoit enchfre 5. etselinle memoirequeuous laileauquel iluousplai 6. re adiouster parlesnomde celuuileporta lalre 7. alberettces deux mots lebeaufrereouleuorteur 8. etpourmoyleseruiteur oulobelign # Contemporary decipherment on the leaf (its own letters; word division not the scribe's) plaira mescrire de laffaire du parent qu il fault me faire ung pacquet a part car aultrement le serment ne faict difficulte de veoir les lettres tant il est curieux et sil vous plaist que ce soit enchiffre selon le memoire que vous laisse auquel il vous plaira adiouster pour le nom de celluy qui porte la lettre au parent ces deux mots le beau frere ou le porteur et pour moy le serviteur ou loblige
Reading
# f. 112r (canvas 118 right), cipher block at the head: reading in the writer's spelling (Michael Brackx, issue #91, 23 Oct 2026) plaira m'escrire de l'affaire du parent, [?et] me faire ung pacquet a part, car aultrement le [?ser]ment ne faict difficulte de ueoir les lettres, tant il est curieux; et s'il uous plaist que ce soit enchiffre selon le memoire que uous laisse, auquel il uous plaira adiouster, pour le nom de celluy qui porte la lettre au parent, ces deux mots: le beau frere ou le porteur; et pour moy: le seruiteur ou l'oblige.
Translation
# f. 112r (canvas 118 right), cipher block at the head: English please write to me about the affair of the relative, [?and] make me a separate packet, for otherwise the [?oath-bound one] does not scruple to look at the letters, so curious is he; and if you please, let it be ciphered according to the memorandum I leave you, to which you will please add, for the name of him who carries the letter to the relative, these two words: the brother-in-law or the bearer; and for me: the servant or the obliged one.
f. 132v decoded, not read
Castets, 1 April 1586: phrases about the bearer and the 'poursuivant'; no contemporary decipherment.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# f. 132v; line 0 = interlinear insertion (^ = insertion mark). Proofread pass J5 at 1.6x from p132v.jpg; xpos in f132_groups_joint_xpos.txt ^ mb 9 oo y e th f c E / md fe / es 7 rho 9 oo z 7 es / fe z 9 y n e / md ^ 7 x c rho es 9 3 r ssi / r z 9 tw ! mb c ssi / U mb ls y rho 9 qn / n yz ! ssi r yz e x / k 9 zp y 2 dag 7 E / r oo y tw 10 9 E / xl xo es z rho c r qn th / xb es 9 zp th / zp y E tb fe 9 es mb y rho cg qn f / ?fo tw r ?hs2 ?pc f tri / ?xt hq 9 a rho qn / ?fo ?blob yz r th rho E tw y f es r z o 8
Decryption
# f. 132v: decoded, not read. Phrases from the round-2 decode (Michael Brackx, issue #91 body, 22 Oct 2026); lightly normalised spelling; … = unread; [ ] restored; (?) doubtful [ce] porteur … si je puis veoir … j'aurai(?) avec lui … approcher le poursuivant … esloigné … de chemin …
f. 134v, block A decoded, not read
Bordeaux, early April 1586: seeing the bearer, something to be presented to the 'poursuivant'; the margin paraphrases.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# f. 134v block A (5 lines, after "en ceste ville # Xo"; the 5th line, missing before, ends before "dict dans peu de jours"). Proofread pass J6 from p134v.jpg z o y 7 E / xl oo y E th f c E / xb es rho o f3 d6 / 9 qn ?sb 7 ssi / e o qn md c rho mb qn r y 8 9 / zp e f f3 o sn th 9 E / tb mb E o / tri mb r / a ssi / r z ?ff zp r E f / qn th / Lx tb 9 qn sn y e o ?lh rho rho mb es o 9n rho ?rhox r / md 9 a fa 7 d6 z o E es / xl xo es z 7 c x qn th / xo mb c ssi / zf fa 7 E o / th E f 2 f e oo y qn / xb yz y ssi r cg o / ?ed es o E c 7 th f z e /
Decryption
# f. 134v block A: decoded, not read. Phrases from the round-2 decode (Michael Brackx, issue #91 body, 22 Oct 2026); lightly normalised spelling; … = unread; [ ] restored; (?) doubtful [pour] veoir le porteur qui s'est … rendu. Il n'a … présenter … de la … et la encore qu'il … vers le poursuivant par luy faire treuver … bon … voyage(?) … serviteur …
f. 134v, block B read in part
Talk of the 'demande de Frenac' and of the treaty at Caumont, which cannot be saved.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (78% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# f. 134v, block B (5 lines) # Michael Brackx, round-2 labels (brackx2026/legend.md); / = divider oo mb z es / 7 f c E f3 / md 7 es tw y c e f qn th / ?alxt o E tb ?blob md f ?alm r qn md f tri ?sb r o fa ?rn es / Lx r c y ssi / xb mb th E r 7 8 th 9 / o es th fa qn d6 / x dc y ls dag sn th / xb 9n f oo 9 z mb th 9 es d6 e o es r 9 es / o 7 z fa qn es / xb ssi 8 y ph fa sn k o / Lx tw E y 7 th dag qn sn y qn sn f md 7 dc th d6 y z th /
Decryption
# f. 134v, block B (5 lines): raw decryption with the round-2 key (Brackx), one line per cipher line; · = null sign 1. blus ieurs discourent 2. rerlandemandedefeeals etauoy quiltraic 3. te estant acomont quinepoultestre 4. sens eiuans quiycommande etcroiton 5. nonnedicttout # Contemporary decipherment on the leaf (its own letters; word division not the scribe's) plus de seurete sur la demande de frenac et aussi que le traicte estant a caumont qui ne peut estre sauve qui y commande et croit on
Reading
# f. 134v, block B (5 lines): reading in the writer's spelling (Michael Brackx, issue #91, 23 Oct 2026) Plusieurs discourent [?sur] la demande de [?Frenac], et aussi que le traicte estant a Comont, qui ne [?peult] estre [?sauue], [?] [?] qui y commande, et croit on [?on] ne dict tout.
Translation
# f. 134v, block B (5 lines): English Several are talking [?about] the demand of [?Frenac], and also that the treaty being at Caumont, which cannot be [?saved], [?] [?] who commands there, and it is believed [?that] not everything is told.
f. 134v, block C read in part
The bearer gives very little hope of relief (secours) from his journey.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (81% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# f. 134v, block C (foot, 3 lines) # Michael Brackx, round-2 labels (brackx2026/legend.md); / = divider mb f md 7 dc th / oo y E f z 3 / md y ?nab o / ?13 zo e th . oo 9 c md o es zp f e r qn 8 o / fa z / es o dc o / 7 th o c 3 md . f ?sb E z 7 dc th / tri es y qn z y ssi r 6 o fe ?sb2 ?14
Decryption
# f. 134v, block C (foot, 3 lines): raw decryption with the round-2 key (Brackx), one line per cipher line; · = null sign 1. ledict plreur dune fort· 2. peudesperance au sece iteurd·e 3. fruict desonuoyage·de # Contemporary decipherment on the leaf (its own letters; word division not the scribe's) Led. porteur [?donne] fort peu desperance au secours, et [le] fruict de son voyage
Reading
# f. 134v, block C (foot, 3 lines): reading in the writer's spelling (Michael Brackx, issue #91, 23 Oct 2026) Ledict porteur donne fort peu d'esperance au secours, [?et] [?le] fruict de son uoyage [?]
Translation
# f. 134v, block C (foot, 3 lines): English The said bearer gives very little hope of relief, [?and] [?the] fruit of his journey [?]
f. 151r, middle block
Bordeaux, 12 April 1586: seeing the bearer is Camus's excuse to arrange 'la partie que scauez', which he hopes will be carried out on Monday without suspicion.
Transcription
# f. 151r, middle block (4 lines) # Michael Brackx, round-2 labels (brackx2026/legend.md); / = divider hs ?ff es r 9 f3 th o / a y qn f G 8 z es 9 / xo r z y 7 E mb r dc y ?oslash dag md 7 th o / tri z y n E / tb / oo y E th r z e / Lx md E o n f e / tb ss thx 7 o / U es dc r z o es / U 7 9 es oo f E o / es f ph f ?amp thx c f E x / mb z md ssi Lx es r qn es f3 y oo f3 dag qn /
Decryption
# f. 151r, middle block (4 lines): raw decryption with the round-2 key (Brackx), one line per cipher line; · = null sign 1. ·nsaeste monexcuse pourauoir 2. lecommodite deuoir la porteur etdre 3. ier lapartie quescauez queiespere seffec 4. tuera ludietsanssubson # Contemporary decipherment on the leaf (its own letters; word division not the scribe's) Cest mon excuse pour avoir la commodite de voir le porteur et dresser la partie que scavez que jespere se executera lundy sans soupcon
Reading
# f. 151r, middle block (4 lines): reading in the writer's spelling (Michael Brackx, issue #91, 23 Oct 2026) C'est mon excuse pour auoir la commodite de uoir le porteur et dresser la partie que scauez, que i'espere s'effectuera lundy et sans [?subson].
Translation
# f. 151r, middle block (4 lines): English It is my excuse for having the opportunity of seeing the bearer and arranging the matter you know of, which I hope will be carried out on Monday and without [?suspicion].
f. 151r, margin and foot blocks decoded, not read
Courtesies and a note about 'l'amy'; the margin block has a free clear version, the foot block's crib has an unread first line.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
f151r_margin_foot_transcription.txt
# left margin, vertical (read in c/margU.jpg orientation); l. 2 begins after the clear "Vous supp[lie]"; clear version = the postscript in the top-left margin tri ?sb r 7 E o 8 f xb a 9 es th 8 y ph r qn md f / Lx ssi es 9 E z 7 e xb a 7 9 z ?ang U xo E r ssi hs U mb r a ssi th e 9 2 o 7 8 ssi a 9 es th E 9 / es 10 z a dd mb 9 es r z x dd y ?nab f 6 E r 8 f # foot block, 2 lines below the date (upright, not rotated); crib = note in the bottom-left margin "...lamy qui me faict peu ..." mb 9 oo y E th f z e / qn r z E f es o qn ?w o / x r yz E o tri mb r a ssi xb ?sb r 7 8 thx oo o z ?bd es oo 9 E o e / 7 o 4 mb r 7 ?zx o E r ssi xo th z qn tb
Decryption
f151r_margin_foot_decryption.txt
# f. 151r margin and foot blocks: decoded, not read. Phrases from the round-2 decode (Michael Brackx, issue #91 body, 22 Oct 2026); lightly normalised spelling; … = unread; [ ] restored; (?) doubtful Margin: de faire ce qui m'est commandé et y servir le mieux que [je] pourray … que l'amy trouve … icy m'estre … très humbles … à vos bonnes grâces. Foot: le porteur n'a … de l'amy qui … faict peu espérer … pour …
ff. 272r-v decoded, not read
La Rochelle, June 1586: men sent to see Camus about their part with 'le parent', without telling him anything particular; Camus asks to be relieved and withdrawn.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
# f. 272r (canvas 281 right, foot), 11 lines. Proofread pass J5 from p272r.jpg; xpos in f272_groups_joint_xpos.txt hs et es ?3d ?ed f3 x 7 a r qn d6 md r E 9 qn md z / mb 9 es ?bigc f3 ?ed hs es 9 zp d6 7 o a f Lx md y z z 8 n f ls o md z oo x y o f qn 8 ?jt es th f xb xl md f z G 7 f es a f tri 8 f ls y ssi f3 es f z al o a 9 9 8 th Lx hs ?sb z d6 mb y 9n cg th f ls zp es x z f tw al y ssi xb mb hs sn f a o xl r es E f sn k n n d6 hs r rho sn es es f z al o a 9 qn th tw f al o es tri mb r a ssi U yz c sn a y qn d6 E o r oo x E o qn a 9 sn th hs r z y rho e 9 es d6 9 ?rhox ?d2 f rho th f es Lx z c ?cap pi th e r n qn th mb c ssi 11 z r 7 e 9 c o y 7 e ss tw f al o es U a hs c rho o es f et tw e 7 thx ss a ?rhox qn 10 ?2 o U a o ls r sn k n 9 f3 a fa y y zo rho e f f3 tw e 7 thx ss hs mb 11 z ssi Lx tw e y ssi xl mb r sn o qn md rho rho d6 tri xl es c o y 7 e r c 9 8 U y hs ?hb c o a f rho al 9 ?2 e md 9 sn 10 rho ph e o c E Lx mb 9 o es th tw 7 mb x ?zx z mb c es o qn th rho e tri a zo ssi 8 o ?fo mb 30 r z y rho th zp y o z hs ls f 8 e rho E o al o md 7 es r qn th U k x r tb ?g9 hs # f. 272v (canvas 282 left), 21 lines mb z d6 r z y 7 o qn th md y ?nab 8 10 r e cg f tri z o rho e r z o 8 a ?rhox ssi 8 ?rhot f rho ?blob fa c e zo n d6 r 8 o cg qn ?d2 f sn 9 e f qn 8 f ?pl mb md o f c y 7 th md 7 e o tri y f c e ss th r z oo fa E o qn th tw r sn es a f E rho 9 qn md 7 rho o tri ss th 7 8 c yz n 9 e es ?rhox sn ?rhox qn xo zp o qn es o es r oo E 9 sn md e o tri a y ssi U mb hs ?bigl z o 8 10 y es f tri tb sn o cg y th rho r d6 rho ?rhox 9 tri tb hs 8 es c e tw z ?rhox ssi qn o sn c ssi r ?sb oo o c 11 md 7 e f U 8 c n U es 8 es r z pi ?cap o es th e o tb c o e 7 d6 f ?fo o es th U 30 fa ssi x sn th a x qn md f 8 f U r c y ssi es oo 9 c fa zp e f qn md E o tri yz 10 o a f yz e tri hs 8 f es rho o 8 y c e d6 a x z 7 o ?cap f es 8 e rho th tri qn o al r ?bigy f es tb o e r fa c mb th E o tw 10 es f f3 rho qn ?rhox sn oo f qn es f E r a fa md f mb rho z e fa sn 8 o ?tx a 9 e o th 7 e thx E md 7 tw ssi et oo mb z es th y es th U xo e r ssi 8 ?rhox o fa z ?blob ?d2 7 rho r ssi md rho tw th et es o a dd mb r oo yz f fa dd y ?d2 hs 11 7 n o qn ?dd2 dc ?ang fa c oo qn th hs z y n o f e th 7L o z ?14 e o f o es th r qn th d6 y z es md c es G 11 hs ?sb n o y e th 7L ?blob hs z e 7L 7 11 o ?14 c o f G Lx xo thx o md d6 o qn c es ?ed xo es z 11 7 7L c x sn th mb o U yz 7L a x md 7 ss th et 11 yz mb o es tw y cg qn y 7 th th o es th e o md y c 7L mb f r Lx qn f es ssi ?q9 rho 11 7 7L o e Lx et qn o 8 10 7L e 11 tw rho f qn th U r hs 7L es 7 qn cg ?14 o e f E r z G r n o ph o es xo 8 o zp r 7 e o f a oo mb y 7 o e ?rhox 9 th 7 o sn d6 x z yz 7 rho 8 ssi U ?cc tri ?ft 11 7 e ?ff ?i es zo o f qn tw 7L mb o ?sb y e th tri tb 8 tw z qn sn 7L ?rhox f ?ft y ?z yz n o o fa z xl 11 yz r f qn zp zo ssi o ?blob oo mb z es 7 o z 7L es z o e es et es y mb md fa th tri E rho c fa e cg c f Lx es y 6 ?ca ?dd2 o qn md e f Lx z y c mb md e y 7 es et mb cg f c es th o o rho o qn z r 7 8 d6 f ?17 o es th r qn th es 7 qn o 8 f yz fa rho E 9
Decryption
# ff. 272r-v: decoded, not read. Phrases from the round-2 decode (Michael Brackx, issue #91 body, 22 Oct 2026); lightly normalised spelling; … = unread; [ ] restored; (?) doubtful … deuxiesme de ce mois … seulement … temps avec luy qu'il … seulement … de l'amy … m'avoit escrit par … de moy … il vous avoit pleu m'escrire, le disant … avoient donc charge de veoir avec moy … leur part au parent, sans me rien dire de particulier … pour penser apprendre de moy quelque chose de la négotiation de la … la vérité, c'est que vous … ayant mandé ce que avois peu apprendre de l'humeur de … m'avoit escrit … sinon penser à ma délivrance … retirer d'icy et plus tost que pourray … j'ay dict … semblable … estant tous du … lequel m'a dict … il les cognoit … et ne chérissent … employer … plusieurs … et soldats … je voudrois … aux affères …
Key: key_r2.txt
06 Sources
- Bibliothèque nationale de France, fr. 15572, via Gallica (views 118, 140, 142, 158, 281–282).
- Satoshi Tomokiyo, Cryptiana, ciphers of Henri III's reign: “Camus's Cipher” (key table and leaf list).
- Michael Brackx, “Solution: Camus (Pontcarré) cipher passages”, issue #91, 22–23 October 2026.
The transcription, key, legend, decryptions, readings and translations are in the repository folder targets/camus1586/.
