An unaddressed Spanish cipher of 8 January 1497 (Espagnol 318 no. 95)

At a glanceCiphertext-only break · partial (100% of the cipher)

The letter: An unaddressed Spanish cipher letter from an Italian city with a Señoría, dated 8 January 1497, three days before Federico of Naples’s letter in the same volume. Wholly in cipher except the date line and signature on the verso.
Where: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Espagnol 318 no. 95, f. 122r–v (Gallica, canvases 458–459). Part of catalogue item 9. Not on DECODE.
The cipher: A homophonic alphabet of 43 invented symbols for 21 letters, one to four each, and 11 code groups written in ordinary letters (bac, bnh, bon …) for words and names.
How it was solved: George Lasry transcribed the leaf in CTTS and recovered the alphabet with its built-in cryptanalysis (2021–22); in October 2026 he corrected two values with Claude Opus 5.5, read the code groups from context and deciphered the whole recto, then the verso (pull request 85). Re-checked here mechanically and statistically.
What it says: Bread cannot be had even for money; the French court the city’s silk workers with trade licences; the King provides “muy tarde y muy poco”; the Pope wants the cardinal of Santa Cruz to seek peace in France; the writer asks for a force to defend the city.
Credit: Key and complete reading by George Lasry (pull requests 75, recto, and 85, verso). The first full reading of lines 14–33 and the verso by Michael Brackx (issue #63), now superseded, which Lasry’s confirms almost everywhere.
Still open: Five name codes, used once each; three tentative readings; one word at a burn hole; the year of the clear date.
Other letters: The other ciphered letters of the volume use other ciphers and have their own pages: no. 92 (the Cifra general), no. 5 (Escrivà’s cipher), no. 93 and no. 94.

01 The letter, deciphered by George Lasry

George Lasry’s reading of the whole leaf (pull requests 75 and 85, October 2026). Bold marks a code group with its reading in brackets: plain readings rest on context, a question mark marks a tentative one, and [Name1?] to [Name5?] are names not identified. [null?] marks a presumed null and … the turn of the leaf; the clear date line is in italics. Spelling as deciphered; punctuation, accents and word division added.

The lower part of f. 122r with George Lasry's decipherment in red above every symbol — The lower third of the recto with Lasry’s values above every symbol, the code groups named in capitals. Image: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Espagnol 318 f. 122r, third photograph (Gallica); decipherment overlay by George Lasry.

Y [null?] de lo de aquí no ay que dezir, remitiéndome a lo dicho, sino que crece cada día la carestía, y espérase que no se podrá aver pan por dinero ni sin él. Y los franceses traen muchas vituallas y licencia para los que hazen la seda, que es un tercio desta [ciudad], que puedan mercadear en Francia; y piensan con estas dos cosas traer esta [gente] a su opinión. Y junto con esto diz que vienen con la más [gente] que pueden, y aun dinero; y [aunque?] el [rey] provee como suele, muy tarde y muy poco, todo lo quiere conplir con palabras. Y la Señoría parece que está dispuesta en esto, porque le toca mucho, pero espera a que el [rey] haga. [y?] Con esto están las cosas en no buen estado.

Y a micer Juan Luys avemos traído acá con harta fatiga, y muestra que está enemigo de Francia. Y el [rey de romanos?] cada día trata con estos que goviernan y les promete muy grandes cosas, pero no creo que se concertarán, pues que de todo me dan parte, aunque del [rey] se encubren. Y parece que se quieren governar como [Name1?] se sirva, y en al (?) grandes malos pensamientos contra el [rey]. No sé si pornán algo por obra. Y creo que Claver avrá sentido algo; lo escrevirá a [Name2?]. Y yo estorvo quanto puedo el daño del [rey], pero no puedo hablar en ello sino con mucha dificultad.

Y el [papa] diz que quiere que el [cardenal] de Santa Cruz vaya a Francia a procurar paz. Y ciertamente, para alcançarla qual conviene, lo mejor sería que la Liga hiziese lo que deve, para que [Name3?] por allá hiziese lo que puede, y así el [rey de romanos?] rogaría a los que le ruegan; de otra manera pienso que causará esto más daño que provecho. Devría [Name4?] mandar a [Name5?] que, si necesario fuese, viniese aquí a defender esto, pues si se perdiese, lo …

[f. 122v] … que Dios no quiera, no avía cosa segura en Ytalia. Y del [rey de romanos?] no sé que diga, sino que está en Alemaña; y no supo nadie de su ida, ni ay esperança de su venida. A viij de enero [year not legible]. [rubric]

English translation (George Lasry)

And [null?] of matters here there is nothing to say, referring myself to what I wrote before, except that the dearth grows every day, and it is expected that bread will not be had for money or without it. And the French are bringing in many victuals, and a licence for those who make silk, who are a third of this [city], to trade in France; and with these two things they mean to bring these [people] over to their side. And besides this, it is said that they are coming with as many [troops] as they can, and money too; and [although?] the [king] provides, as he usually does, very late and very little, he wants to settle everything with words. And the Signoria seems well disposed in this, because it concerns it greatly, but it is waiting for the [king] to act. [And?] With this, things are in no good state.

And we have brought Messer Juan Luys here with great difficulty, and he shows himself an enemy of France. And the [King of the Romans?] deals every day with those who govern and promises them very great things; but I do not believe they will come to terms, since they tell me everything, although they hide from the [king]. And it seems that they want to govern themselves as [Name1?] pleases, and [have?] great evil designs against the [king]. I do not know whether they will put anything into effect. And I believe that Claver will have sensed something; he will write it to [Name2?]. And I hinder the harm to the [king] as much as I can, but I cannot speak of it except with great difficulty.

And the [Pope] says that he wants the [Cardinal] of Santa Cruz to go to France to procure peace. And certainly, to obtain it as it should be, the best would be for the League to do what it ought, so that [Name3?] over there would do what he can, and so the [King of the Romans?] would entreat those who entreat him; otherwise I think this will do more harm than good. [Name4?] ought to order [Name5?] to come here, if it were necessary, to defend this place, for if it were lost, …

[f. 122v] … which God forbid, nothing in Italy would be safe. And of the [King of the Romans?] I do not know what to say, except that he is in Germany; and nobody knew of his going, nor is there any hope of his coming. On 8 January [year not legible]. [rubric]

Lasry’s 2026 key corrects two values of his 2022 table: the small solid circle is z, not b (dezir, hazen, diz, paz), and the ℓ-shaped symbol is r, not s (aver pan, micer, Claver). His recto agrees with every correction Michael Brackx had proposed to the 2022 lines 1–13 (section 03), and with Brackx’s reading of lines 14–33 except rogaría a los que le ruegan (Brackx: logaria … llegan), para que (parece que) and Claver avrá (Claue haura). His verso (pull request 85, the fourth photograph f122v) agrees with Brackx’s (section 04) except no sé que diga (que siga); it has the King of the Romans gone to Germany, which supports reading dif (written def on the verso) as Maximilian I. The leaf spells the country alemanna (Lasry’s own decryption, and Brackx); his edition prints Alemaña, normalising nn to ñ as it does in daño. The edition is left as he has it; whether to keep the leaf’s spelling is a question for him.

Key chart: each letter with its symbols, the code groups with their readings and the special signs — Lasry’s key as revised in 2026. Readings with a question mark are tentative; [NameN?] are unidentified names. Image: George Lasry, CTTS key snapshot for BnF Espagnol 318 f. 122r.

Checked here on 24 October 2026, after pull request 85: decode.py applies the key file to Lasry’s transcription and gives 1,364 symbols, 1,246 on the recto (the two lines photographed twice are now transcribed once) and 118 on the verso, every one with a value. Statistically (docs/_validate.py, Spanish letter model, code groups left out) the reading scores −1.97 per letter, against −5.99 for random keys of the same shape (7.8 standard deviations lower) and −3.44 for a key fitted to the same symbols shuffled (43.9 lower). Verdict: pass.

02 The leaf and the key

F. 122 is a single leaf of dense signs, 31 lines by the segmentation (33 line bands as Brackx cuts them), with four more cipher lines on the verso above a clear date line and signature. It has no address and no salutation. In May 2022 George Lasry sent Tomokiyo an “approximate” solution, and Tomokiyo published it as two images. One is the alphabet, one to three signs per letter, with a row of unassigned signs and the code groups bac bnh bon dah daf dae oht bed dal boo del. The other is Lasry’s decipherment of lines 1–13, in red over the scan. Until October 2026 this page said no plaintext had been published. That was wrong: the second image had been missed, and Brackx pointed it out.

A line of cipher signs from f. 122r with the letter each cluster carries printed in red beneath it — F. 122r, line 17, from the project’s machine reading of September 2026, with the letter each sign cluster carries printed beneath: *…muy grandes cosas … pero no…*. Blanks are places where two signs touch. Image: Annotated here on BnF Espagnol 318 f. 122r, line 17 (Gallica).

03 Lines 1–13 in 2022

Lasry’s reading, transcribed from his image with word division added here; [bon] and [bnh] name code groups written in clear letters on the leaf, where his overlay leaves a blank:

i de lo de aqui no a lo ve debir [r]emitiendo e / a lo dichos ino que crece cada dia la carestia i espe/rase que no se podra ave[r] pan por dinero ni si n’el/los franceses traen muchas bituaias i licen[c]/a para los que haben las e da que es un tercio desta / [bac] que puedan mercadear en Francia i piensan con es/tas dos cosas traer esta [bon] a su opinnion i jun/to con esto dib que vienen con la mas [bon] que pueden i / aun dinero i el [bnh] provee como suele mui tarde i / [m]ui poco todo lo quiere conplir con la ladras i la / Sennoria parece que esta dispuesta en esto por/que le toca s[…]ucho pero espera a que el [bnh] hama / con esto estan las cosas en no ven estado i a ices

Brackx proposes corrections to these lines. They are listed here for Lasry’s review and do not replace his reading. The comparison is with his image, letters only; where the issue lists a blank over a code group, or text the image already has, there is no difference.

l.	Lasry 2022	Brackx proposes	checked here
1	i (first sign)	a null (the large ꝺ-shaped sign)	—
1	no a lo ve debir	no ay que dezir	—
1	[r]emitiendo e	remitiendome	—
5	haben	hazen (los que hazen la seda)	on the scan
8	dib	diz	on the scan
10	con la ladras	con palabras	on the scan
12	hama	haga	on the scan
13	no ven estado	no buen estado	—
13	i a ices (end)	y, a null, one unread word	—

Behind the first three of the checked ones is a small solid circle that Lasry’s table does not list and Brackx reads as z (hazen, diz, dezir). He also proposes values for most of the signs Lasry lists as “Unknown”, each from two or more words: the alpha with a tail is l (por alla); the b-bowl with two crossbars is z (hiziese); the 8-shape is a (nadie); 9. is con or a null. A stroke with two crossbars doubles the consonant before it (llegan, perdiesse). He confirms Lasry’s two 7-forms (crossed 7 = s, plain 7 = d) and lines 2, 3, 4 and 6 as Lasry has them.

04 Brackx: lines 14–33 and the verso (superseded)

Michael Brackx’s reading, the first of these lines, now superseded by Lasry’s complete reading (section 01) and kept as history, made by eye with Lasry’s alphabet on enlarged crops of the scan (spelling as deciphered, punctuation his):

Juan Luys avemos traydo aca con harta fatiga, y muestra que esta enemigo [de] Francia; y el [def] cada dia trata con estos que gouiernan, y les promete muy grandes cosas; pero no creo que se concertaran, pues que de todo me dan parte, aunque del [bnh] se encubren; y parece que se quieren gouernar como [del] se sirua; y [burn] grandes malos pensamientos contra el [bnh]. No se di[burn] pornan algo por obra; y creo que Claue haura sentido algo, y escreuira a [dah]; y yo estoruo quanto puedo el danno del [bnh], pero no puedo hablar en ello sino con mucha dificultad. Y el [dae] diz que quiere que el [bed] de Santa Cruz vaya a Francia a procurar paz; y ciertamente, para alcançarla qual conuiene, lo meior seria que la Liga [burn] hiziese lo que deue; parece que [dal] por alla hiziese lo que puede, y asi el [def] logaria a los que le llegan; de otra manera pienso que causara esto mas danno que prouecho. Deuria [dal] mandar a [boo] que, si necessario fuese, viniesse a defender esto, pues si se perdiesse, lo que Dios no quiera, no auia cosa segura en Ytalia; y del [def] no se que siga, sino que esta en Alemanna; y no supo nadie de su yda, ni ay esperança de su venida.

The four cipher lines of f. 122v above the beginning of the clear date line — F. 122v, the four cipher lines. The second begins `÷ϵʮ` *del*, then the code group `def`, then *no se que siga, sino que esta en*, and ends with the signs for *Alemanna*. Image: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Espagnol 318 f. 122v, via Gallica.

The code groups are not read. Brackx’s suggestions from context, which are not readings: def the King of the Romans, Maximilian I, whose withdrawal from Italy in December 1496 would fit the verso; bed “cardinal”, Carvajal, cardinal of Santa Croce; dae perhaps the Pope; dal perhaps the recipient. dah (l. 23) and dal are different groups, and oht, in Lasry’s list, does not occur on the leaf.

05 What was checked here

Seven passages were deciphered again here, sign by sign from the scan with Lasry’s table: recto lines 5 (los que ha[z]en la seda), 8 (con la mas [bon] que pueden), 9 (provee como suele muy tarde), 10 (con palabras y la), 12 (a que el [bnh] haga), 25–26 (dificultad. Y el [dae] di[z], -ta Cru[z]), and verso line 2 (y del [def] no se que siga, sino que esta en Alemanna). All agree with Brackx. His lines also agree with the project’s September machine reading wherever the two overlap (lines 15–20, 22, 23, 25), except that the machine had me toca in line 12, where Lasry and Brackx both have le toca. The remaining lines of 14–33 have not been checked here sign by sign.

06 The machine reading

In September 2026, before Brackx’s reading, the project applied Lasry’s key through image processing, because matching the signs by eye was unreliable (÷ against ≐, three forms of 7). The leaf was binarised and its connected components grouped into 963 glyphs over 31 lines. These were clustered by shape, and the clusters were labelled from contact sheets against the key. The clean clusters give the Spanish frequency ranking (e–a–o–n–s) with no language information. A Spanish 5-gram decoder then filled the uncertain boxes. Three independent decoders agreed on the same two thirds of the recto and failed on the same third, where two signs touch. Two of Lasry’s signs were corrected on the way: the n with a cross-tail is m, not y. The pipeline lives in targets/esp318/.

07 What is still open

Five name codes, dcl dah dal dnl boo (Lasry’s Name1–Name5), each used once. No other letter in this key is known.
Three tentative readings: dif as the King of the Romans (twice), the symbol read aunque? and the symbol read y?.
One word in line 20, en al, at a burn hole according to Brackx.
The year of the clear date line on the verso, faded; Lasry reads a viij de enero, the year not legible.

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.

George Lasry's reading (PR 75 recto, PR 85 verso, 2026): BnF Espagnol 318 f. 122r-v, 8 Jan 1497 read in part

Bread cannot be had even for money; the French court the city's silk workers with trade licences; the King provides 'muy tarde y muy poco'; the Pope wants the cardinal of Santa Cruz to seek peace in France; the King of the Romans has gone to Germany (verso).

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (92% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

all.txt

# f122a.jpg
C;D;:-;C.;n+;77;S;=.;X_;m;ct;pi0;7+;77;X_;n+;m;FB;=.;7;=.;o;pi0;T:;a_;=.;gt;pi0;D-;u_;C.;7+;7;77;yt;=.;
Z;n+;pi:;7;pi0;oI;I-o;77;7-;pi0;L;77;m;ct;=.;oI;T:;C.;4;=.;oI;X_;7;Z;S;pi0;X_;n+;X_;oI;X_;T:;C.;7-;X;pi0;X_;of;=.;7o;np;C.;
T:;X_;7o;=.;-o-;ct;=.;7+;77;7-;C.;np;77;7;T:;X_;Z;ct;=.;p++;np;X_;L;.X.;77;T:;S;pi0;L;=.;T:;77;L;pi0;7o;u_;7+;=.;n+;
C;n+;77;7o;Y;T:;X_;L;4;=.;7o;=.;7-;X;T:;Z;=.;7+;gt;ct;oI;I-o;X_;7o;I-;pi0;D-;ct;X_;ee;X_;7o;of;n+;pi0;4;=.;7+;oI;m;
X_;.X.;X_;T:;Z;n+;pi:;7o;-o-;FB;=.;I-o;X_;o;C.;7+;n+;X_;7o;=.;7;X_;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;ct;7+;X;=.;T:;oI;pi0;77;:-;C.;7-;X;X_;
_bac;m;ct;=.;.X.;ct;=.;7;X_;L;gt;=.;T:;4;Z;7;=.;X_;T:;C.;7+;Y;T:;X_;L;4;u_;X_;C;.X.;pi0;=.;7+;7o;X_;L;4;77;7+;=.;7-;
X;X_;7o;:-;pi:;7o;oI;77;7o;Z;7-;X;T:;Z;=.;T:;=.;7-;X;Z;_bon;X_;7o;ct;77;np;pi0;L;7+;pi0;77;L;C;of;pi0;ct;7+;
X;77;oI;77;7+;=.;7-;X;77;:-;pi0;o;m;ct;=.;ct;u_;C.;7+;C.;7+;oI;77;7+;n+;X_;gt;X_;7o;_bon;m;ct;=.;.X.;ct;=.;7;C.;7+;of;
X_;ct;7+;:-;pi0;7+;C.;T:;77;C;oN;=.;n+;_bnh;.X.;T:;77;ct;=.;C.;oI;77;gt;77;7o;ct;=.;n+;C.;gt;ct;of;X;X_;T:;7;=.;of;
_I_o;ct;of;np;77;oI;77;D-;77;7;pi:;n+;77;m;ct;pi0;C.;T:;C.;oI;77;7+;np;n+;pi0;T:;oI;77;L;np;X_;n+;Z;I-;T:;Z;7o;C;n+;X_;
7-;=.;7+;L;77;T:;pi0;X_;np;X_;T:;C.;oI;=.;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;X;X_;7;pi0;7o;np;ct;=.;7o;X;X_;=.;7+;=.;7-;X;77;np;77;T:;

# f122b.jpg
m;ct;=.;n+;C.;D-;77;oI;X_;7;_I_o;ct;oI;I-o;77;.X.;=.;T:;77;=.;7o;np;=.;T:;X_;X_;m;ct;=.;C.;n+;_bnh;I-o;X_;-I-;Z;
9;4;77;L;=.;7o;X;77;=.;7-;X;X_;7+;n+;Z;7-;oI;77;7o;X_;7o;=.;7+;L;77;I-;ct;=.;7+;=.;7-;X;X_;7;pi:;C;D;X_;_I_o;pi0;oI;=.;p++;
pi0;ct;X_;L;n+;ct;of;7o;X_;ct;=.;gt;77;7+;X;T:;X_;n+;7;pi:;X_;oI;X_;oI;77;L;I-o;X_;T:;X;X_;Y;X_;D-;pi0;-I-;X_;of;
_I_o;ct;=.;7-;X;T:;Z;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;X;X_;=.;7+;C.;gt;pi0;-I-;77;oI;S;=.;Y;T:;Z;7+;oI;pi0;X_;C;=.;n+;_dif;oI;X_;
7;X_;7;pi0;Z;X;T:;Z;D-;X_;oI;77;L;=.;7-;X;77;7o;m;ct;=.;-I-;77;ct;pi0;=.;T:;L;X_;7+;of;n+;C.;7-;np;T:;77;
gt;=.;D-;C.;gt;ct;of;-I-;T:;X_;L;7;=.;7o;oI;77;7+;X_;7o;np;=.;T:;77;L;77;oI;T:;C.;77;m;ct;=.;7o;=.;oI;77;7+;
oI;=.;T:;X;X_;T:;Z;7+;np;ct;=.;7o;m;ct;=.;7;=.;D-;77;7;pi:;gt;=.;7;X_;L;np;X_;T:;X;=.;X_;ct;7+;
m;ct;=.;7;C.;n+;_bnh;7o;=.;C.;7+;4;ct;I-;T:;C.;7+;of;np;X_;T:;C.;4;=.;m;ct;=.;7o;C.;m;FB;pi0;C.;T:;C.;7+;-I-;=.;
ct;=.;T:;7+;X_;T:;oI;77;_I_o;77;_dcl;7o;=.;7-;u_;T:;ct;X_;C;=.;7+;X_;n+;-I-;T:;X_;7+;7;=.;7o;gt;X_;n+;77;7o;np;=.;7+;
7o;X_;gt;pi0;=.;7+;X;77;7o;4;77;7+;X;T:;X_;=.;n+;_bnh;7+;77;7o;=.;7-;pi0;np;77;T:;L;X_;L;X_;n+;-I-;77;

# f122c.jpg
np;77;T:;77;I-;T:;X_;C;oI;T:;C.;77;m;ct;=.;oI;n+;X_;ct;=.;p++;X_;ct;T:;X_;7o;=.;7+;X;pi0;7;77;X_;n+;-I-;77;n+;
=.;7-;oI;T:;C.;ct;pi0;T:;X_;X_;_dah;C;of;77;=.;7-;X;77;T:;ct;77;m;ct;X_;7+;X;77;np;ct;=.;7;pi:;C.;n+;7;X_;
7+;L;77;:-;C.;n+;_bnh;.X.;C.;T:;77;7+;77;np;ct;=.;7;pi:;I-o;X_;I-;n+;X_;T:;C.;7+;C.;ee;77;7o;pi0;7+;77;oI;77;L;gt;ct;oI;I-o;Z;
:-;pi0;Y;pi0;oI;ct;n+;D-;X_;:-;C;=.;n+;_dae;:-;pi0;o;m;FB;=.;-o-;FB;pi0;C.;T:;C.;m;FB;=.;C.;n+;_bcd;:-;C.;7o;X_;7+;
X;X_;oI;T:;ct;o;ct;X_;of;Z;X_;Y;T:;X_;L;oI;pi0;Z;X_;np;T:;77;oI;ct;T:;Z;p;np;X_;o;of;oI;pi0;=.;T:;X;X_;
gt;=.;7+;X;C.;np;X_;T:;Z;X_;n+;oI;X_;7+;4;Z;T:;n+;X_;m;ct;X_;n+;oI;77;7+;ct;pi0;C.;7+;C.;n+;77;gt;=.;pi0;77;T:;
7-;=.;T:;u_;X_;m;ct;=.;n+;X_;n+;pi0;-I-;X_;I-o;pi0;b++;pi0;C.;7-;C.;n+;77;m;FB;C.;:-;C.;ct;=.;np;X_;T:;Z;-o-;FB;C.;
_dal;np;77;T:;X_;ee;X_;I-o;pi0;b++;u_;C.;7-;=.;n+;77;m;FB;C.;np;ct;=.;7;=.;of;X_;7o;u_;=.;i...;_dif;a_;77;-I-;X_;
T:;pi0;X_;X_;n+;pi:;7o;m;FB;C.;n+;C.;a_;ct;=.;-I-;X_;7+;:-;=.;77;X;T:;Z;gt;X_;7+;C.;T:;Z;np;pi0;C.;7+;7o;77;-o-;FB;C.;
oI;X_;ct;7o;X_;T:;Z;=.;7-;X;77;gt;X_;7o;:-;X_;7+;77;m;ct;=.;np;T:;77;ct;=.;oI;I-o;77;7;=.;ct;T:;pi0;X_;_dnl;
gt;X_;7+;7;X_;T:;Z;_boo;m;ct;=.;7o;pi0;L;=.;oI;=.;7;X_;T:;pi0;77;Y;ct;=.;7o;=.;ct;pi0;7+;pi0;C.;7-;=.;X_;
m;ct;pi0;X_;:-;C.;Y;=.;7+;7;=.;T:;C.;7-;X;77;.X.;ct;=.;7o;7-;pi0;7o;=.;np;=.;T:;7;pi0;C.;7o;=.;n+;77;

# f122v.png
m;FB;C.;:-;pi0;77;7o;7+;77;m;ct;pi0;C.;T:;X_;7+;pi;X_;ct;u_;X_;oI;77;7o;X_;7-;C.;-I-;ct;T:;Z;=.;7+;of;D-;X_;n+;u_;Z;
C;:-;C.;n+;_dif;7+;77;7o;=.;m;FB;=.;7;pi0;-I-;X_;7o;pi0;7+;77;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;X;X_;C.;7+;X_;n+;C.;gt;X_;L;7+;X_;
of;7+;77;7o;ct;np;77;7+;X_;7;pi0;C.;:-;C.;7o;ct;of;7;X_;L;pi0;X_;of;=.;7o;np;=.;T:;X_;7+;oI;X_;:-;C.;7o;ct;
ct;=.;L;pi0;7;X_;

Decryption

reading.txt

# BnF Espagnol 318 f. 122r-v, 8 Jan 1497: George Lasry's edited Spanish (PR 75 recto, PR 85 verso; lasry2021/CONTRIBUTION.md)
# date line in clear, in *italics*; the leaf's alemanna is printed Alemaña in Lasry's edition
# [word] code group read from context; [word?] tentative; [NameN?] unidentified name code; [null?] presumed null

Y [null?] de lo de aquí no ay que dezir, remitiéndome a lo dicho, sino que crece cada día la carestía, y espérase que no se podrá aver pan por dinero ni sin él. Y los franceses traen muchas vituallas y licencia para los que hazen la seda, que es un tercio desta [ciudad], que puedan mercadear en Francia; y piensan con estas dos cosas traer esta [gente] a su opinión. Y junto con esto diz que vienen con la más [gente] que pueden, y aun dinero; y [aunque?] el [rey] provee como suele, muy tarde y muy poco, todo lo quiere conplir con palabras. Y la Señoría parece que está dispuesta en esto, porque le toca mucho, pero espera a que el [rey] haga. [y?] Con esto están las cosas en no buen estado.

Y a micer Juan Luys avemos traído acá con harta fatiga, y muestra que está enemigo de Francia. Y el [rey de romanos?] cada día trata con estos que goviernan y les promete muy grandes cosas, pero no creo que se concertarán, pues que de todo me dan parte, aunque del [rey] se encubren. Y parece que se quieren governar como [Name1?] se sirva, y en al (?) grandes malos pensamientos contra el [rey]. No sé si pornán algo por obra. Y creo que Claver avrá sentido algo; lo escrevirá a [Name2?]. Y yo estorvo quanto puedo el daño del [rey], pero no puedo hablar en ello sino con mucha dificultad.

Y el [papa] diz que quiere que el [cardenal] de Santa Cruz vaya a Francia a procurar paz. Y ciertamente, para alcançarla qual conviene, lo mejor sería que la Liga hiziese lo que deve, para que [Name3?] por allá hiziese lo que puede, y así el [rey de romanos?] rogaría a los que le ruegan; de otra manera pienso que causará esto más daño que provecho. Devría [Name4?] mandar a [Name5?] que, si necesario fuese, viniese aquí a defender esto, pues si se perdiese, lo …

[f. 122v] … que Dios no quiera, no avía cosa segura en Ytalia. Y del [rey de romanos?] no sé que diga, sino que está en Alemaña; y no supo nadie de su ida, ni ay esperança de su venida. *A viij de enero* [year not legible]. [rubric]

Translation

no95_lasry_en.md

<!-- English translation of reading.txt (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): George Lasry's edited Spanish of f. 122r (PR 75) and f. 122v (PR 85), with the same marks: [word] a code group read from context, [word?] tentative, [NameN?] an unidentified name code, [null?] a presumed null; the recto ends in mid-sentence ("…") and the verso continues it. -->

# BnF Espagnol 318 no. 95, f. 122r-v, 8 January 1497: English translation of George Lasry's edited reading

[null?] Of matters here there is nothing to say, referring myself to what has been said, except that the dearth grows
every day, and it is expected that bread will not be had for money or without it. And the French are bringing many
victuals, and licence for those who make silk, who are a third of this [city], to trade in France; and with these two
things they think to bring these [people] round to their opinion. And together with this they say they are coming with as
many [men] as they can, and money too; and [although?] the [king] provides as he usually does, very late and very little,
he wants to fulfil everything with words. And the Signoria seems to be disposed in this, because it concerns it greatly,
but it waits for the [king] to act. [and?] With this, things are in no good state.

And we have brought Messer Juan Luys here with great trouble, and he shows that he is an enemy of France. And the [King
of the Romans?] deals every day with those who govern here and promises them very great things, but I do not believe they
will come to terms, since they tell me everything, although they hide from the [king]. And it seems they wish to govern
themselves as [Name1?] may please, and in other things (?) [they have] great evil thoughts against the [king]. I do not
know whether they will put anything into effect. And I believe Claver will have sensed something; he will write it to
[Name2?]. And I hinder the [king]'s harm as much as I can, but I cannot speak of it except with great difficulty.

And the [pope] says he wants the [cardinal] of Santa Cruz to go to France to procure peace. And certainly, to achieve it as
it should be, the best would be for the League to do what it ought, so that [Name3?] over there might do what he can, and
so the [King of the Romans?] would be begging those who beg him; otherwise I think this will do more harm than good.
[Name4?] ought to order [Name5?] that, if necessary, he should come here to defend this, for if it were lost, …

[f. 122v] … which God forbid, nothing in Italy would be safe. And of the [King of the Romans?] I do not know what to say,
except that he is in Germany; and nobody knew of his going, nor is there any hope of his coming. *On 8 January* [year
not legible]. [rubric]

Lasry's 2022 reading of ll. 1-13 and Brackx's proposed corrections read in part

Lasry's earlier decipherment of ll. 1-13 (the image on Tomokiyo's GL page) and the nine corrections Brackx proposed to it in issue #63.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (88% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

all.txt

# f122a.jpg
C;D;:-;C.;n+;77;S;=.;X_;m;ct;pi0;7+;77;X_;n+;m;FB;=.;7;=.;o;pi0;T:;a_;=.;gt;pi0;D-;u_;C.;7+;7;77;yt;=.;
Z;n+;pi:;7;pi0;oI;I-o;77;7-;pi0;L;77;m;ct;=.;oI;T:;C.;4;=.;oI;X_;7;Z;S;pi0;X_;n+;X_;oI;X_;T:;C.;7-;X;pi0;X_;of;=.;7o;np;C.;
T:;X_;7o;=.;-o-;ct;=.;7+;77;7-;C.;np;77;7;T:;X_;Z;ct;=.;p++;np;X_;L;.X.;77;T:;S;pi0;L;=.;T:;77;L;pi0;7o;u_;7+;=.;n+;
C;n+;77;7o;Y;T:;X_;L;4;=.;7o;=.;7-;X;T:;Z;=.;7+;gt;ct;oI;I-o;X_;7o;I-;pi0;D-;ct;X_;ee;X_;7o;of;n+;pi0;4;=.;7+;oI;m;
X_;.X.;X_;T:;Z;n+;pi:;7o;-o-;FB;=.;I-o;X_;o;C.;7+;n+;X_;7o;=.;7;X_;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;ct;7+;X;=.;T:;oI;pi0;77;:-;C.;7-;X;X_;
_bac;m;ct;=.;.X.;ct;=.;7;X_;L;gt;=.;T:;4;Z;7;=.;X_;T:;C.;7+;Y;T:;X_;L;4;u_;X_;C;.X.;pi0;=.;7+;7o;X_;L;4;77;7+;=.;7-;
X;X_;7o;:-;pi:;7o;oI;77;7o;Z;7-;X;T:;Z;=.;T:;=.;7-;X;Z;_bon;X_;7o;ct;77;np;pi0;L;7+;pi0;77;L;C;of;pi0;ct;7+;
X;77;oI;77;7+;=.;7-;X;77;:-;pi0;o;m;ct;=.;ct;u_;C.;7+;C.;7+;oI;77;7+;n+;X_;gt;X_;7o;_bon;m;ct;=.;.X.;ct;=.;7;C.;7+;of;
X_;ct;7+;:-;pi0;7+;C.;T:;77;C;oN;=.;n+;_bnh;.X.;T:;77;ct;=.;C.;oI;77;gt;77;7o;ct;=.;n+;C.;gt;ct;of;X;X_;T:;7;=.;of;
_I_o;ct;of;np;77;oI;77;D-;77;7;pi:;n+;77;m;ct;pi0;C.;T:;C.;oI;77;7+;np;n+;pi0;T:;oI;77;L;np;X_;n+;Z;I-;T:;Z;7o;C;n+;X_;
7-;=.;7+;L;77;T:;pi0;X_;np;X_;T:;C.;oI;=.;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;X;X_;7;pi0;7o;np;ct;=.;7o;X;X_;=.;7+;=.;7-;X;77;np;77;T:;

# f122b.jpg
m;ct;=.;n+;C.;D-;77;oI;X_;7;_I_o;ct;oI;I-o;77;.X.;=.;T:;77;=.;7o;np;=.;T:;X_;X_;m;ct;=.;C.;n+;_bnh;I-o;X_;-I-;Z;
9;4;77;L;=.;7o;X;77;=.;7-;X;X_;7+;n+;Z;7-;oI;77;7o;X_;7o;=.;7+;L;77;I-;ct;=.;7+;=.;7-;X;X_;7;pi:;C;D;X_;_I_o;pi0;oI;=.;p++;
pi0;ct;X_;L;n+;ct;of;7o;X_;ct;=.;gt;77;7+;X;T:;X_;n+;7;pi:;X_;oI;X_;oI;77;L;I-o;X_;T:;X;X_;Y;X_;D-;pi0;-I-;X_;of;
_I_o;ct;=.;7-;X;T:;Z;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;X;X_;=.;7+;C.;gt;pi0;-I-;77;oI;S;=.;Y;T:;Z;7+;oI;pi0;X_;C;=.;n+;_dif;oI;X_;
7;X_;7;pi0;Z;X;T:;Z;D-;X_;oI;77;L;=.;7-;X;77;7o;m;ct;=.;-I-;77;ct;pi0;=.;T:;L;X_;7+;of;n+;C.;7-;np;T:;77;
gt;=.;D-;C.;gt;ct;of;-I-;T:;X_;L;7;=.;7o;oI;77;7+;X_;7o;np;=.;T:;77;L;77;oI;T:;C.;77;m;ct;=.;7o;=.;oI;77;7+;
oI;=.;T:;X;X_;T:;Z;7+;np;ct;=.;7o;m;ct;=.;7;=.;D-;77;7;pi:;gt;=.;7;X_;L;np;X_;T:;X;=.;X_;ct;7+;
m;ct;=.;7;C.;n+;_bnh;7o;=.;C.;7+;4;ct;I-;T:;C.;7+;of;np;X_;T:;C.;4;=.;m;ct;=.;7o;C.;m;FB;pi0;C.;T:;C.;7+;-I-;=.;
ct;=.;T:;7+;X_;T:;oI;77;_I_o;77;_dcl;7o;=.;7-;u_;T:;ct;X_;C;=.;7+;X_;n+;-I-;T:;X_;7+;7;=.;7o;gt;X_;n+;77;7o;np;=.;7+;
7o;X_;gt;pi0;=.;7+;X;77;7o;4;77;7+;X;T:;X_;=.;n+;_bnh;7+;77;7o;=.;7-;pi0;np;77;T:;L;X_;L;X_;n+;-I-;77;

# f122c.jpg
np;77;T:;77;I-;T:;X_;C;oI;T:;C.;77;m;ct;=.;oI;n+;X_;ct;=.;p++;X_;ct;T:;X_;7o;=.;7+;X;pi0;7;77;X_;n+;-I-;77;n+;
=.;7-;oI;T:;C.;ct;pi0;T:;X_;X_;_dah;C;of;77;=.;7-;X;77;T:;ct;77;m;ct;X_;7+;X;77;np;ct;=.;7;pi:;C.;n+;7;X_;
7+;L;77;:-;C.;n+;_bnh;.X.;C.;T:;77;7+;77;np;ct;=.;7;pi:;I-o;X_;I-;n+;X_;T:;C.;7+;C.;ee;77;7o;pi0;7+;77;oI;77;L;gt;ct;oI;I-o;Z;
:-;pi0;Y;pi0;oI;ct;n+;D-;X_;:-;C;=.;n+;_dae;:-;pi0;o;m;FB;=.;-o-;FB;pi0;C.;T:;C.;m;FB;=.;C.;n+;_bcd;:-;C.;7o;X_;7+;
X;X_;oI;T:;ct;o;ct;X_;of;Z;X_;Y;T:;X_;L;oI;pi0;Z;X_;np;T:;77;oI;ct;T:;Z;p;np;X_;o;of;oI;pi0;=.;T:;X;X_;
gt;=.;7+;X;C.;np;X_;T:;Z;X_;n+;oI;X_;7+;4;Z;T:;n+;X_;m;ct;X_;n+;oI;77;7+;ct;pi0;C.;7+;C.;n+;77;gt;=.;pi0;77;T:;
7-;=.;T:;u_;X_;m;ct;=.;n+;X_;n+;pi0;-I-;X_;I-o;pi0;b++;pi0;C.;7-;C.;n+;77;m;FB;C.;:-;C.;ct;=.;np;X_;T:;Z;-o-;FB;C.;
_dal;np;77;T:;X_;ee;X_;I-o;pi0;b++;u_;C.;7-;=.;n+;77;m;FB;C.;np;ct;=.;7;=.;of;X_;7o;u_;=.;i...;_dif;a_;77;-I-;X_;
T:;pi0;X_;X_;n+;pi:;7o;m;FB;C.;n+;C.;a_;ct;=.;-I-;X_;7+;:-;=.;77;X;T:;Z;gt;X_;7+;C.;T:;Z;np;pi0;C.;7+;7o;77;-o-;FB;C.;
oI;X_;ct;7o;X_;T:;Z;=.;7-;X;77;gt;X_;7o;:-;X_;7+;77;m;ct;=.;np;T:;77;ct;=.;oI;I-o;77;7;=.;ct;T:;pi0;X_;_dnl;
gt;X_;7+;7;X_;T:;Z;_boo;m;ct;=.;7o;pi0;L;=.;oI;=.;7;X_;T:;pi0;77;Y;ct;=.;7o;=.;ct;pi0;7+;pi0;C.;7-;=.;X_;
m;ct;pi0;X_;:-;C.;Y;=.;7+;7;=.;T:;C.;7-;X;77;.X.;ct;=.;7o;7-;pi0;7o;=.;np;=.;T:;7;pi0;C.;7o;=.;n+;77;

# f122v.png
m;FB;C.;:-;pi0;77;7o;7+;77;m;ct;pi0;C.;T:;X_;7+;pi;X_;ct;u_;X_;oI;77;7o;X_;7-;C.;-I-;ct;T:;Z;=.;7+;of;D-;X_;n+;u_;Z;
C;:-;C.;n+;_dif;7+;77;7o;=.;m;FB;=.;7;pi0;-I-;X_;7o;pi0;7+;77;m;ct;=.;C.;7-;X;X_;C.;7+;X_;n+;C.;gt;X_;L;7+;X_;
of;7+;77;7o;ct;np;77;7+;X_;7;pi0;C.;:-;C.;7o;ct;of;7;X_;L;pi0;X_;of;=.;7o;np;=.;T:;X_;7+;oI;X_;:-;C.;7o;ct;
ct;=.;L;pi0;7;X_;

Decryption

no95_decryption_lasry_ll1-13.md

# no. 95, f. 122r ll. 1–13: George Lasry's decipherment (May 2022)

Copied verbatim from `f122_reading.md` (section "f. 122r, ll. 1–13 (Lasry 2022, reference)"), where it was transcribed from Lasry's red overlay on the scan, published by Tomokiyo on cryptiana's GL page as "provided by George Lasry" and marked approximate (https://cryptiana.web.fc2.com/code/GL/BnF_es318_f122_decipher.png; local copy `targets/esp318/lit/crypt/GL/BnF_es318_f122_decipher.png`). Word division and `[ ]` added in this repository. Lasry's reading is the reference for these lines; Michael Brackx's proposed corrections are in `no95_corrections_brackx_ll1-13.md`, beside this file.

Notation: `[bac]` code group, not read; `[burn]` burn hole; `…` unread; `[?]` doubtful. u/v and i/y as deciphered.

```
 1  i de lo de aqui no a lo ve debir [r]emitiendo e
 2  a lo dichos ino que crece cada dia la carestia i espe-
 3  rase que no se podra ave[r] pan por dinero ni si n'el-
 4  los franceses traen muchas bituaias i licen[c]-
 5  a para los que haben las e da que es un tercio desta
 6  [bac] que puedan mercadear en Francia i piensan con es-
 7  tas dos cosas traer esta [bon] a su opinnion i jun-
 8  to con esto dib que vienen con la mas [bon] que pueden i
 9  aun dinero i el [bnh] provee como suele mui tarde i
10  [m]ui poco todo lo quiere conplir con la ladras i la
11  Sennoria parece que esta dispuesta en esto por-
12  que le toca s[burn]ucho pero espera a que el [bnh] hama
13  con esto estan las cosas en no ven estado i a ices
```

Decryption

no95_corrections_brackx_ll1-13.md

# no. 95, f. 122r ll. 1–13: Michael Brackx's proposed corrections to George Lasry's decipherment (21 Oct 2026, pending Lasry)

Copied verbatim from `f122_reading.md` (section "Proposed corrections to Lasry's ll. 1–13 (Brackx 2026, pending Lasry)"). These are proposals from GitHub issue #63; they do not replace Lasry's reading (`no95_decryption_lasry_ll1-13.md`), which stays the reference.

Compared here against Lasry's image itself (some of the issue's quotations of the image are loose: his overlay
leaves blanks over the code groups `bon` and `bnh` rather than misreading them, and has *provee como suele mui
tarde*). Only differences of letters are listed; word division and the naming of code groups are not corrections.

| l. | Lasry 2022 | Brackx proposes | sign at issue | checked here on the scan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | *i* (first sign) | null | the large ꝺ-shaped sign, Unknown in Lasry's table | no |
| 1 | *no a lo ve debir* | *no ay que dezir* | y, q, and the small solid circle = z | no |
| 1 | *[r]emitiendo e* | *remitiendome* | | no |
| 5 | *haben* | *hazen* (*los que hazen la seda*) | small solid circle = z | yes |
| 8 | *dib* | *diz* | small solid circle = z | yes (as *diz que vienen con la mas [bon] que pueden*) |
| 10 | *con la ladras* | *con palabras* | Lasry's P sign, then his second B (⊢) | yes |
| 12 | *hama* | *haga* | ⊥ without the o is Lasry's G, not M | yes |
| 13 | *en no ven estado* | *en no buen estado* | | no |
| 13 | *i a ices* (end) | *y* + null + one unread word | | no |

Signs Brackx proposes for Lasry's "Unknown" row (from two or more words each): the ∝-like alpha with a tail = *l*
(*por alla*, *logaria*); the b-bowl with two crossbars = *z* (*hiziese* ×2); the 8-shape = *a* (*nadie*); the hooked
lightning variant = *d* (*de aqui*); `9.` = *con* or null (l. 13); ꝑ = *h* in *haura* (l. 22). Not in Lasry's table:
the small solid circle = *z* (*hazen*, *dezir*, *diz*); a stroke with two crossbars and no bowl doubles the preceding
consonant (*llegan*, *perdiesse*, *viniesse*); the π/o sign with two crossbars = *o* (*estoruo*). He separates three
double-crossed shapes that read inconsistently as one sign.

Code groups on the leaf: `bac bon bnh def del dae bed dah dal boo`. `dah` (l. 23) and `dal` (ll. 29, 31) are
different groups; `oht`, in Lasry's list, was not found on the leaf. Brackx's contextual suggestions, not readings:
`def` the King of the Romans, Maximilian I (gone to Germany, "nobody knew of his going"), `bed` cardinal (Carvajal,
cardinal of Santa Croce), `dae` the Pope?, `bac` the city the letter concerns, `bon` gente?, `bnh` an Italian power
or prince, `dal` the recipient?, `boo` a commander or fleet.

Reading

no95_ll1-13_reading.md

<!-- Reading of BnF Espagnol 318 f. 122r ll. 1-13 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): George Lasry's 2022 decipherment (texts/no95_decryption_lasry_ll1-13.md, the reference) joined into running text, line-end splits closed, punctuation editorial; Michael Brackx's corrections (texts/no95_corrections_brackx_ll1-13.md) are taken where that file marks them checked on the scan (hazen l. 5, diz l. 8, palabras l. 10, haga l. 12) and given as [?word] where they are not (ay que dezir, remitiendome l. 1, buen l. 13); the first sign (Brackx: a null) and the last unread word of l. 13 are left as [?]. Code groups not read stay [bac], [bon], [bnh]; [burn] = burn hole; [r], [c], [m] letters supplied by Lasry. Spelling as deciphered (u/v, i/y). -->

# BnF Espagnol 318 no. 95, f. 122r ll. 1-13, 8 January 1497

## Reading

[?] De lo de aqui no [?ay] [?que] [?dezir], [?remitiendome] a lo dicho, sino que crece cada dia la carestia, i esperase
que no se podra ave[r] pan por dinero ni sin el. Los franceses traen muchas bituaias i licen[c]ia para los que hazen la
seda, que es un tercio desta [bac], que puedan mercadear en Francia; i piensan con estas dos cosas traer esta [bon] a su
opinnion. I junto con esto diz que vienen con la mas [bon] que pueden, i aun dinero; i el [bnh] provee como suele, mui
tarde i [m]ui poco, todo lo quiere conplir con palabras. I la Sennoria parece que esta dispuesta en esto, porque le toca
[burn]ucho, pero espera a que el [bnh] haga. Con esto estan las cosas en no [?buen] estado. I [?]

Translation

no95_ll1-13_en.md

<!-- English translation of texts/no95_ll1-13_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026), with the same holes: [bac], [bon], [bnh] code groups kept (contextual suggestions: bac the city, bon people?, bnh a prince or power), [burn], [?] and [?word]. -->

# BnF Espagnol 318 no. 95, f. 122r ll. 1-13, 8 January 1497: English translation

[?] Of matters here there is [?nothing] [?to] [?say], [?referring myself] to what has been said, except that the dearth
grows every day, and it is expected that bread will not be had for money or without it. The French are bringing many
victuals, and licence for those who make silk, who are a third of this [bac], to trade in France; and with these two
things they think to bring this [bon] round to their opinion. And together with this they say they are coming with as
many [bon] as they can, and money too; and the [bnh] provides as he usually does, very late and very little, and wants to
fulfil everything with words. And the Signoria seems to be disposed in this, because it concerns it [burn]uch, but it
waits for the [bnh] to act. With this, things are in no [?good] state. And [?]

Key: key.txt

08 Sources

George Lasry, the complete recto, key, edition and translation: pull request 75, CTTS project in targets/esp318no95/lasry2021/.
BnF, Département des Manuscrits, Espagnol 318, f. 122r–v, ark btv1b52503046q on Gallica.
S. Tomokiyo, cryptiana, the page of George Lasry’s decipherments: the f. 122 alphabet and Lasry’s decipherment of lines 1–13, as images (Lasry, May 2022).
Michael Brackx, “Solution: esp318no95”, GitHub issue #63, 21 October 2026.

Notes, profile and the combined reading (f122_reading.md, Lasry’s lines and Brackx’s kept apart, with the proposed corrections) in targets/esp318no95/; the scans and the segmentation pipeline in targets/esp318/.