Matignon’s tuple cipher, May 1586

At a glanceExisting decipherment · partial (82% of the cipher)

The letter: Jacques de Matignon, the King’s lieutenant in Guyenne, to Henri III, May 1586. Ten pages wholly in cipher, with no clear text, signature or date; the cover is endorsed May 1586.
Where: Bibliothèque nationale de France, fr. 15572 ff. 234r–238v (Gallica btv1b9061879d, canvases 240–247). Not in DECODE or the project’s catalogue.
The cipher: Each plaintext letter is a group of two to four signs, with figure groups for letters and syllables (14 = p, 20 = la, 18 = le or de) and signs for words such as qui, par, faire and sieur. Tomokiyo names it Matignon’s tuple cipher and knows no other letter in it.
How it was deciphered: A decipherer of the time barred the groups and wrote a letter or syllable over most of them. Michael Brackx took the key from those glosses, completed it from the language, decoded every group and wrote each page out as sentences with an English translation.
What it says: The Garonne trade cut by the Protestants of Caumont, Gascon captains talking of a league, the people ruined by Huguenot contributions, Jehan Durant’s order to attack Castillon, and men to be won or rewarded: La Saussaie, la Fontaine, the baron de Vaillac.
Still open: On every page 8–14% of the groups carry two or more possible values and the decoder chose one; the glosses that would settle them are not recorded group by group. F. 236v is mostly unread.
Credit: Michael Brackx (issue #86), with Claude Code: transcription, key, reading, translation and the label legend.

01 The letter

The despatch fills ff. 234r–238v of BnF fr. 15572, the volume of Matignon’s correspondence that also holds his Cipher-3 note f. 276 (a different cipher, with its own page) and the Mayenne–Forget letters in Cipher-1 (their own page). Its cover, Au Roy, is endorsed May 1586; Satoshi Tomokiyo, who describes the cipher on his Henry III’s Cipher with Ambassadors page, has March and calls it the only letter known to him in this system. He gives neither key nor reading.

The ten pages carry 220 lines and 2,152 cipher groups. The text opens in mid-sentence on f. 234r, but no leaf is missing before it. The names it shares with the Cipher-3 note (Jehan Durant, La Roussière, La Guiolle, La Saussaie) place it in the same affair.

02 The cipher

Each plaintext letter is written as a group of two to four signs: ξ.ur = e, ỹop = a, aỹ = t, bɾ = s. Figure groups stand for letters and syllables (14ʓ = p, 20 = la, 18 = le or de, 237 = g, 30 = m, 15 = mm), and single signs for common words (three dots = qui, a barred long s and q = par, 60 = faire, a C with a mark = sieur, 8 = Monsieur). Strokes between groups are nulls, and a group may run across a line break.

Brackx gave every group a label (E, A, N14, C20, QUI…); the legend in the repository ties each of the 120 labels used to its value and sign shape. Some labels carry more than one value: E2 is c or e, M30 m, n, mm or nn, QUI qui or que, N18 le or de, DA de or d. Where they occur, the decoder chose the value that made French.

03 The reading

The contemporary decipherer barred the groups and wrote a letter or syllable over most of them, and whole phrases on ff. 236–238. Brackx took the key from those glosses, completed it from the language, choosing values by how well they make French under a letter model, and checked the transcription against the images in seven rounds. He then wrote each page out as sentences in the decrypted spelling, sizing every hole ([?] for one unread group), and translated it.

The opening, f. 234r:

[?ca] t’eust seiorne a Gabarret, i’eusse este d’auis que l’on deust ale de ce coste la; mais ueu les affaires que ce presente de l’autre, e le traffic de la Garonne du tout rompu par la tirannie de ceux de Comont, ie serois d’auis qu’on y alast pour doner contantement aux sudis capitaines, noblesse, uiles du pais.

“[?ca] had stayed at Gabarret, I would have been of the opinion that one should go that way; but seeing the affairs on the other side, and the trade of the Garonne entirely broken by the tyranny of those of Caumont, I would be of the opinion that one should go there to satisfy the said captains, nobility and towns of the country.”

The letter goes on to the Gascon captains’ talk of a league among themselves, the poor people ruined by Huguenot contributions, the five hundred horse to be kept with the army if it is led beyond the Garonne, and maistre Iehan Durant’s order to attack Castillon-sur-Dordogne, which sent the Gascon captains away discontented. The second half turns to men to be won or rewarded: La Saussaie, the sieur de la Fontaine, Alincourt and Gouffiers, and the baron de Vaillac, to be given deux milles muis de sel, ou … trois offices de conseiler huguenos. Every page, its translation and its decryption against the transcription are in the full texts below.

04 How much reads

The read share is measured on each page’s reading: 1 − (holes + doubtful words) / (words + holes), with every [?], doubtful word and supplied letter counted as a hole.

page	groups	read share	state
234r	251	0.974	read
234v	251	0.622	partial
235r	183	0.962	partial
235v	255	0.954	partial
236r	271	0.723	partial
236v	231	0.431	decoded, not read
237r	190	0.940	partial
237v	201	0.929	partial
238r	202	0.836	partial
238v	117	0.756	partial

On every page 8–14% of the groups belong to labels with two or more values, where the decoder chose the value in context; that is over the project’s 3% limit for look-alike signs unless the choices can be shown. Brackx then recorded the contemporary gloss over each of those groups on five pages (107 groups, issue #95). F. 234r is glossed group by group: 20 of its 24 choices agree with the gloss, one is contradicted (l. 7, qui where the decoder had que) and three are unclear, leaving 1.2% of its groups unconfirmed, so it counts as read. On 235r–v and 237r–v most multi-valued groups carry no gloss, and those pages stay read in part. Three more contradictions were taken into the readings: de for d on 237r l. 1, and monsieur for sieur twice on 237v ll. 3–4. Brackx’s own measure, with a French model rebuilt from Montaigne’s Essais, puts 80.8% of decoded letters in corpus words, against 28–30% for shuffled keys.

05 What remains open

Multi-valued labels (E2, M30, QUI, N18, DA and others), 8–14% of the groups on each page other than 234r: the value is the decoder’s choice where no gloss stands over the group. The glosses are recorded for all ten pages (glosses_multivalued.tsv, 216 groups, issues #95 and #99): 114 of 2,135 groups carry no gloss or an unclear one.
F. 236v, most of the page (read share 0.43): show-through and faded ink; the page rests on fragmentary glosses (Saint-Lô?, a curé, a peace, priests, a campaign).
Single spots, re-read at full resolution without result: 234v l. 13 (a name glossed Cadarran(?)) and ll. 21–24; 236r l. 15 (la Mare?) and ll. 22–25; 238r ll. 20–22 (la crois lartie, perhaps a name); 238v l. 10 (a whole-word gloss read Bourg(?)).
41 rare labels (79 groups, 3.7%) whose sign shape is not recorded, and single-use values (19 glossed sa on 236v, code 13, perhaps faict).

The transcription has not been checked against the images by a second person. No image of these leaves is in the repository yet; the pages are on Gallica, canvases 241–247.

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. 234r

Opens mid-sentence: had the army stayed at Gabarret the writer would have gone that way, but with the Garonne trade cut off by 'the tyranny of those of Caumont' he advises going there to satisfy the captains, nobility and towns, who talk of a league among themselves.

Transcription

f234r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 234r: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
E2 A T E U S T S E I
O R N E A TO I E U SSf E
NR E S T E D A U I S CN
Q O N D E U S T A Q E
DA E2 E ER O S T E C20 M30 A I
S U E U Q E S A FF A
I R E S QUI E2 E N14 R E S
E N T E DA Q A U T R E
E N18le T R A FF I E2c DA C20 N237 A
R O M30NN N E D U T O U
T R O M30 N14 U PAR C20 T I R A
DAN I E DA E2 E U IV BQ E2 O
M30M O N T I E S E R O
I S D A U I S QC U O
N Y A Q A S T N14 O U R D
O N E R E2 O N T A N T E
M30 E N T A U QV S U D I
S E2 A N14 I T A I N E
S N O SQ Q E EES E U I
Q E S D U N14 A I S Q O
N A N14 A R Q E E N T R E
NR E U QV DA N60 U N E Q I
N237 U E N14 O U R E2 E E2

Decryption

f234r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 234r: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 cateustsei
     E2=c A=a T=t E=e U=u S=s T=t S=s E=e I=i
L02 orneagabarretieusse
     O=o R=r N=n E=e A=a TO=gabarret I=i E=e U=u SSf=ss E=e
L03 [NR]estedauisque
     NR=[NR] E=e S=s T=t E=e D=d A=a U=u I=i S=s CN=que
L04 londeustale
     Q=l O=o N=n D=d E=e U=u S=s T=t A=a Q=l E=e
L05 dececostelamai
     DA=de E2=c E=e ER=c O=o S=s T=t E=e C20=la M30=m A=a I=i
L06 sueulesaffa
     S=s U=u E=e U=u Q=l E=e S=s A=a FF=ff A=a
L07 iresquecepres
     I=i R=r E=e S=s QUI=que E2=c E=e N14=p R=r E=e S=s
L08 entedelautre
     E=e N=n T=t E=e DA=de Q=l A=a U=u T=t R=r E=e
L09 eletrafficdelaga
     E=e N18le=le T=t R=r A=a FF=ff I=i E2c=c DA=de C20=la N237=g A=a
L10 ronnedutou
     R=r O=o M30NN=n N=n E=e D=d U=u T=t O=o U=u
L11 trompuparlatira
     T=t R=r O=o M30=m N14=p U=u PAR=par C20=la T=t I=i R=r A=a
L12 nniedeceuxdeco
     DAN=nn I=i E=e DA=de E2=c E=e U=u IV=x BQ=de E2=c O=o
L13 montiesero
     M30M=m O=o N=n T=t I=i E=e S=s E=e R=r O=o
L14 isdauisquo
     I=i S=s D=d A=a U=u I=i S=s QC=q U=u O=o
L15 nyalastpourd
     N=n Y=y A=a Q=l A=a S=s T=t N14=p O=o U=u R=r D=d
L16 onercontante
     O=o N=n E=e R=r E2=c O=o N=n T=t A=a N=n T=t E=e
L17 mentauxsudi
     M30=m E=e N=n T=t A=a U=u QV=x S=s U=u D=d I=i
L18 scapitaine
     S=s E2=c A=a N14=p I=i T=t A=a I=i N=n E=e
L19 snoblesseui
     S=s N=n O=o SQ=b Q=l E=e EES=ss E=e U=u I=i
L20 lesdupaislo
     Q=l E=e S=s D=d U=u N14=p A=a I=i S=s Q=l O=o
L21 naparleentre
     N=n A=a N14=p A=a R=r Q=l E=e E=e N=n T=t R=r E=e
L22 [NR]euxdefaireuneli
     NR=[NR] E=e U=u QV=x DA=de N60=faire U=u N=n E=e Q=l I=i
L23 guepourcec
     N237=g U=u E=e N14=p O=o U=u R=r E2=c E=e E2=c

Reading

f234r_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 234r

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

[?ca] t'eust seiorne a Gabarret, i'eusse este d'auis que l'on deust ale de ce coste la; mais ueu les affaires qui ce presente[nt] de l'autre, e le traffic de la Garonne du tout rompu par la tirannie de ceux de Comont, ie serois d'auis qu'on y alast pour doner contantement aux sudis capitaines, noblesse, uiles du pais. L'on a parle entre eux de faire une ligue pour ce c-

Translation

f234r_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 234r

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

[?ca] had stayed at Gabarret, I would have been of the opinion that one should go that way; but seeing the affairs that present themselves on the other side, and the trade of the Garonne entirely broken by the tyranny of those of Caumont, I would be of the opinion that one should go there to give satisfaction to the said captains, nobility and towns of the country. They have talked among themselves of making a league to c-

f. 234v read in part

The poor people ruined by Huguenot contributions need help; a passage on expenses and commissions, and on the sieur de la Fontaine, is only partly read.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (62% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f234v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 234v: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
O N S E R U E R Q E
U N S Q E S A U T R
S I A Y R O M30 N14 U
E2 O U N14 M30 A I S I
E S T SQ E S O I N Q
U R A SSf I S T E R M30
M30 E S N18le N14 A U R E
U N14 Q E QUI E S T R
I N E DA E2 O N T R
SQ U T I O N S X6 Q
N10 U N237 U E N O S Q
U E N T S U R E U
A QC U O Y Q A U E
A T E N E QV N14 E N
Z E T O U T E S E2 O
M30 I SS I O N S DASH E T N
FD A U Q T E S N14 E
R QUI E2 E R E N D E PU
Q QUI D O I T A Q E
D R O T D U SR DA C20 FD
N T A I N E S I Q N
E2c E S E N T N14 Q U S
A Q M30 E N E QC U I
N Y E S T X8 POUR N18 SX I E N
U D I T SR DA C20 FD O N A
I N E I Q E S T N E

Decryption

f234v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 234v: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 onseruerle
     O=o N=n S=s E=e R=r U=u E=e R=r Q=l E=e
L02 unslesautr
     U=u N=n S=s Q=l E=e S=s A=a U=u T=t R=r
L03 siayrompu
     S=s I=i A=a Y=y R=r O=o M30=m N14=p U=u
L04 coupmaisi
     E2=c O=o U=u N14=p M30=m A=a I=i S=s I=i
L05 estbesoinl
     E=e S=s T=t SQ=b E=e S=s O=o I=i N=n Q=l
L06 urassisterm
     U=u R=r A=a SSf=ss I=i S=s T=t E=e R=r M30=m
L07 meslepaure
     M30=m E=e S=s N18le=le N14=p A=a U=u R=r E=e
L08 uplequiestr
     U=u N14=p Q=l E=e QUI=qui E=e S=s T=t R=r
L09 inedecontr
     I=i N=n E=e DA=de E2=c O=o N=n T=t R=r
L10 butionsdl
     SQ=b U=u T=t I=i O=o N=n S=s X6=d Q=l
L11 huguenosl
     N10=h U=u N237=g U=u E=e N=n O=o S=s Q=l
L12 uentsureu
     U=u E=e N=n T=t S=s U=u R=r E=e U=u
L13 aquoylaue
     A=a QC=q U=u O=o Y=y Q=l A=a U=u E=e
L14 atenexpen
     A=a T=t E=e N=n E=e QV=x N14=p E=e N=n
L15 etoutesco
     Z= E=e T=t O=o U=u T=t E=e S=s E2=c O=o
L16 mmissions[DASH]etn
     M30=mm I=i SS=ss I=i O=o N=n S=s DASH=[DASH] E=e T=t N=n
L17 faultespe
     FD=f A=a U=u Q=l T=t E=e S=s N14=p E=e
L18 rquecerendeu
     R=r QUI=que E2=c E=e R=r E=e N=n D=d E=e PU=u
L19 lquidoitale
     Q=l QUI=qui D=d O=o I=i T=t A=a Q=l E=e
L20 drotdusieurdelaf
     D=d R=r O=o T=t D=d U=u SR=sieur DA=de C20=la FD=f
L21 ntainesiln
     N=n T=t A=a I=i N=n E=e S=s I=i Q=l N=n
L22 cesentplus
     E2c=c E=e S=s E=e N=n T=t N14=p Q=l U=u S=s
L23 almenequi
     A=a Q=l M30=m E=e N=n E=e QC=q U=u I=i
L24 nyest[X8]pourlesien
     N=n Y=y E=e S=s T=t X8=[X8] POUR=pour N18=le SX=s I=i E=e N=n
L25 uditsieurdelafona
     U=u D=d I=i T=t SR=sieur DA=de C20=la FD=f O=o N=n A=a
L26 ineilestne
     I=i N=n E=e I=i Q=l E=e S=s T=t N=n E=e

Reading

f234v_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 234v

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

onseruer le uns les [?autres] [?i] [?a] [?y] rompu [?coup]. Mais i[l] est besoin l[e]ur assister, [?mesmes] le paure [?peuple] qui est [?ruine] de [?contributions] d[e] l'huguenos, [?leuent] sur eu[x], a quoy la [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?expen] e toutes commissions; et [?n] fault esper que ce rende [?] [?] qui doit ale drot du sieur de la F[o]ntaine; s'il n[e] ce sent plus [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] qui n'y est pour le sien, [?] dit sieur de la Fon[t]aine, il est ne-

Translation

f234v_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 234v

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

-onserve one another [?autres] [?i] [?a] [?y] broken [?coup]. But it is necessary to assist them, [?even] the poor [?people] who are [?ruined] by [?contributions] of the Huguenots, [?who levy] on them; to which the [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?expense] and all commissions; and [?n] one must hope that [?] [?] who must go straight to the sieur de la Fontaine; if he no longer feels [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] who is not there for his own, [?] said sieur de la Fontaine, it is ne-

f. 235r read in part

La Saussaie's devotion to the sieur de la Chassée(?) and his people; the sieur du Puis and the remonstrances made to the captains of Gascony to keep...

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (96% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f235r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 235r: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
C20 S A U SSf A I E A
T A N T D O SQ Q I
N237 A T I O N E T D
A FF E E2 T I O N A
N60 S E R U I E2 E A
U CD DA C20 E2 N19 A SS E E
T A U QV S I E N
S QUI N18 S U M1 Q I E
E2 R O I R E E T
S A SS E U R E R QUI
N DQ M30 A N QC U E
R A I A M30 A I
S N18 CD D U N14 U I S
T O U T E S Q E
S R E M30 O N T R A N
E2 NUL E S QC U O N A
N13 Q E S E2 A N14 I T A
I N E S DA N237 U A S E2 O
N237 N E E T A U T R E S
DA T E N I R T O U S I

Decryption

f235r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 235r: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 lasaussaiea
     C20=la S=s A=a U=u SSf=ss A=a I=i E=e A=a
L02 tantdobli
     T=t A=a N=n T=t D=d O=o SQ=b Q=l I=i
L03 gationetd
     N237=g A=a T=t I=i O=o N=n E=e T=t D=d
L04 affectiona
     A=a FF=ff E=e E2=c T=t I=i O=o N=n A=a
L05 faireseruicea
     N60=faire S=s E=e R=r U=u I=i E2=c E=e A=a
L06 usieurdelachassee
     U=u CD=sieur DA=de C20=la E2=c N19=h A=a SS=ss E=e E=e
L07 tauxsien
     T=t A=a U=u QV=x S=s I=i E=e N=n
L08 squelesupplie
     S=s QUI=que N18=le S=s U=u M1=pp Q=l I=i E=e
L09 croireet
     E2=c R=r O=o I=i R=r E=e E=e T=t
L10 sasseurerqui
     S=s A=a SS=ss E=e U=u R=r E=e R=r QUI=qui
L11 nemanque
     N=n DQ=e M30=m A=a N=n QC=q U=u E=e
L12 raiamai
     R=r A=a I=i A=a M30=m A=a I=i
L13 slesieurdupuis
     S=s N18=le CD=sieur D=d U=u N14=p U=u I=i S=s
L14 toutesle
     T=t O=o U=u T=t E=e S=s Q=l E=e
L15 sremontran
     S=s R=r E=e M30=m O=o N=n T=t R=r A=a N=n
L16 c[NUL]esquona
     E2=c NUL=[NUL] E=e S=s QC=q U=u O=o N=n A=a
L17 alescapita
     N13=a Q=l E=e S=s E2=c A=a N14=p I=i T=t A=a
L18 inesdeguasco
     I=i N=n E=e S=s DA=de N237=g U=u A=a S=s E2=c O=o
L19 gneetautres
     N237=g N=n E=e E=e T=t A=a U=u T=t R=r E=e S=s
L20 detenirtousi
     DA=de T=t E=e N=n I=i R=r T=t O=o U=u S=s I=i

Reading

f235r_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 235r

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

La Saussaie a tant d'obligation et d'affection a faire seruice au sieur de la [?Chassee] et aux siens, que le supplie croire et s'asseurer qui ne manquera iamais. Le sieur du Puis toutes les remontrances qu'on a [faict] a les capitaines de Guascogne et autres de tenir tousi-

Translation

f235r_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 235r

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

La Saussaie has so much obligation and affection to do service to the sieur de la [?Chassee] and his people, that I beg him to believe and be assured that he will never fail. The sieur du Puis all the remonstrances that have been [made] to the captains of Gascony and others to keep alw-

f. 235v read in part

...five hundred horse with the army if it is led beyond the Garonne; 'maistre Jehan Durant' ordered an attack on Castillon-sur-Dordogne instead, and the Gascon captains left discontented; the friends of La Roussière.

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

Transcription

f235v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 235v: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
O U R S E2c I N E2c E2c E
N T S E2 N19 E U A U QV
D A N S Q A R M30 E E N14
O U R U E U QC U
E LL E FD E U S T E2 O N
D U I T E A U N18de C20
N18de C20 N237 A R O M30 N E E2 E
S T R E S O Q U S U
R C20 Q E DT R E CNS M30 A I S
T R E I E N19 A N D U
R A N T Q U BQ2 A E S E2 R
I T A Q E R A SS A I LL I
R E2c A S T I Q O N S U R
C20 D NUL O R D O N237 N E QUI E S
T E2 A U S E CU T O U S
Q E S E2 A N14 I T A I N
E S N237 A S E2 O N S S E
N S O N T A Q E S FD O R
T M30 A Q E2 O N T A N S N18de
N14 U I DV PAR C20 S O Q I E2 I
T A T I O N FX A M30 I S DA
C20 R O U SSf I E R E A N237 U
U I O Q E S I Q A U O

Decryption

f235v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 235v: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 ourscincce
     O=o U=u R=r S=s E2c=c I=i N=n E2c=c E2c=c E=e
L02 ntscheuaux
     N=n T=t S=s E2=c N19=h E=e U=u A=a U=u QV=x
L03 danslarmeep
     D=d A=a N=n S=s Q=l A=a R=r M30=m E=e E=e N14=p
L04 ourueuqu
     O=o U=u R=r U=u E=e U=u QC=q U=u
L05 ellefeustcon
     E=e LL=ll E=e FD=f E=e U=u S=s T=t E2=c O=o N=n
L06 duiteaudela
     D=d U=u I=i T=t E=e A=a U=u N18de=de C20=la
L07 delagaronnece
     N18de=de C20=la N237=g A=a R=r O=o M30=n N=n E=e E2=c E=e
L08 stresolusu
     S=s T=t R=r E=e S=s O=o Q=l U=u S=s U=u
L09 rlalettresmais
     R=r C20=la Q=l E=e DT=tt R=r E=e CNS=s M30=m A=a I=i S=s
L10 treiehandu
     T=t R=r E=e I=i E=e N19=h A=a N=n D=d U=u
L11 rantluiaescr
     R=r A=a N=n T=t Q=l U=u BQ2=i A=a E=e S=s E2=c R=r
L12 italerassailli
     I=i T=t A=a Q=l E=e R=r A=a SS=ss A=a I=i LL=ll I=i
L13 rcastilonsur
     R=r E2c=c A=a S=s T=t I=i Q=l O=o N=n S=s U=u R=r
L14 lad[NUL]ordognequies
     C20=la D=d NUL=[NUL] O=o R=r D=d O=o N237=g N=n E=e QUI=qui E=e S=s
L15 tcausedetous
     T=t E2=c A=a U=u S=s E=e CU=de T=t O=o U=u S=s
L16 lescapitain
     Q=l E=e S=s E2=c A=a N14=p I=i T=t A=a I=i N=n
L17 esgasconsse
     E=e S=s N237=g A=a S=s E2=c O=o N=n S=s S=s E=e
L18 nsontalesfor
     N=n S=s O=o N=n T=t A=a Q=l E=e S=s FD=f O=o R=r
L19 tmalcontansde
     T=t M30=m A=a Q=l E2=c O=o N=n T=t A=a N=n S=s N18de=de
L20 puisparlasolici
     N14=p U=u I=i DV=s PAR=par C20=la S=s O=o Q=l I=i E2=c I=i
L21 tationdamisde
     T=t A=a T=t I=i O=o N=n FX=d A=a M30=m I=i S=s DA=de
L22 laroussiereagu
     C20=la R=r O=o U=u SSf=ss I=i E=e R=r E=e A=a N237=g U=u
L23 uiolesilauo
     U=u I=i O=o Q=l E=e S=s I=i Q=l A=a U=u O=o

Reading

f235v_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 235v

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

ours cinc cents cheuaux dans l'armee pourueu qu'elle feust conduite au dela de la Garonne; c'est resolu sur la lettre [?]. Maistre Iehan Durant lui a escrit aler assaillir Castilon sur la Dordogne, qui est cause de tous les capitaines gascons s'en sont ales fort malcontans; depuis par la solicitation d'amis de La Roussiere [?a] [?Guiole] s'il a uo-

Translation

f235v_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 235v

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

-ays five hundred horse in the army, provided that it were led beyond the Garonne; it is resolved on the letter [?]. Master Jehan Durant has written to him to go and attack Castillon on the Dordogne, which is the cause that all the Gascon captains have gone away very discontented; since then, at the solicitation of friends of La Roussiere, [?at] [?Guiole], if he has w-

f. 236r read in part

Someone should order his people to act more keenly; the procureurs and the friends of la Magdaleine are cold; the sieur de la Mare and le Bois; the trade and revenue of the country (second half largely unread).

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (72% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f236r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 236r: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
E SSL A I R E QUI E2 O N15 A N
D E A U QV S NUL I E N S DA
S I E M30 N14 Q O I E R
N14 Q U S U I U E M30
E N T CN Q O N N E FD A
I T I Q S E M30 SF Q E
E N T R E C20 N14 Q U S PAR
DES N14 R O E2 U R E U R S CN
E2 E S T E EH N E E2 E N25
PAR A QC U I T E Q E
S A M30 I S DA C20 M30 A FS BAR N237
D A Q E I N E ET S O
N T E N E2 O R E N14 Q U
U S FD R O I S CN Q E S
A U T R E S N18 CD DA C20 M30 A
R E E T Q E SQ O I S
D E S I R E N T E2 E
U O I R E2 E QUI M30 E SEMBLE
M30 E S M30 E SQ Q E APROPOS
R O N14 O U R E U Q L E S
T R A G_FFIQUES D U N14 A Y S
E S G_LEREVENU D U CD DA C20 M30
E U E R T R E M30 E U DA C20 E2 N19 A M30
SQ R E Q O N A E2 O N N
SSL E I LL E A U N14 U E2 U

Decryption

f236r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 236r: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 essairequecomman
     E=e SSL=ss A=a I=i R=r E=e QUI=que E2=c O=o N15=mm A=a N=n
L02 deauxs[NUL]iensde
     D=d E=e A=a U=u QV=x S=s NUL=[NUL] I=i E=e N=n S=s DA=de
L03 siemploier
     S=s I=i E=e M30=m N14=p Q=l O=o I=i E=e R=r
L04 plusuiuem
     N14=p Q=l U=u S=s U=u I=i U=u E=e M30=m
L05 entquelonnefa
     E=e N=n T=t CN=que Q=l O=o N=n N=n E=e FD=f A=a
L06 itilsemble
     I=i T=t I=i Q=l S=s E=e M30=m SF=b Q=l E=e
L07 entrelapluspar
     E=e N=n T=t R=r E=e C20=la N14=p Q=l U=u S=s PAR=par
L08 desprocureursque
     DES=des N14=p R=r O=o E2=c U=u R=r E=e U=u R=r S=s CN=que
L09 ceste[EH]neces
     E2=c E=e S=s T=t E=e EH=[EH] N=n E=e E2=c E=e N25=s
L10 paraquitele
     PAR=par A=a QC=q U=u I=i T=t E=e Q=l E=e
L11 samisdelama[FS][BAR]g
     S=s A=a M30=m I=i S=s DA=de C20=la M30=m A=a FS=[FS] BAR=[BAR] N237=g
L12 daleineetso
     D=d A=a Q=l E=e I=i N=n E=e ET=et S=s O=o
L13 ntencoreplu
     N=n T=t E=e N=n E2=c O=o R=r E=e N14=p Q=l U=u
L14 usfroisqueles
     U=u S=s FD=f R=r O=o I=i S=s CN=que Q=l E=e S=s
L15 autreslesieurdelama
     A=a U=u T=t R=r E=e S=s N18=le CD=sieur DA=de C20=la M30=m A=a
L16 reetlebois
     R=r E=e E=e T=t Q=l E=e SQ=b O=o I=i S=s
L17 desirentce
     D=d E=e S=s I=i R=r E=e N=n T=t E2=c E=e
L18 uoircequinesemble
     U=u O=o I=i R=r E2=c E=e QUI=qui M30=n E=e SEMBLE=semble
L19 mesmebleapropos
     M30=m E=e S=s M30=m E=e SQ=b Q=l E=e APROPOS=apropos
L20 ropoureulees
     R=r O=o N14=p O=o U=u R=r E=e U=u Q=l L=e E=e S=s
L21 traffiquesdupays
     T=t R=r A=a G_FFIQUES=ffiques D=d U=u N14=p A=a Y=y S=s
L22 eslereuenudusieurdelan
     E=e S=s G_LEREVENU=lereuenu D=d U=u CD=sieur DA=de C20=la M30=n
L23 euertreneudelacham
     E=e U=u E=e R=r T=t R=r E=e M30=n E=e U=u DA=de C20=la E2=c N19=h A=a M30=m
L24 brelonaconn
     SQ=b R=r E=e Q=l O=o N=n A=a E2=c O=o N=n N=n
L25 seilleaupueu
     SSL=s E=e I=i LL=ll E=e A=a U=u N14=p U=u E2=e U=u

Reading

f236r_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 236r

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

[nec]essaire, que commande aux siens de s'iemploier plus uiuement que l'on ne fait. Il semble entre la pluspar des procureurs, que c'este [?necessaire] par aquite les amis de la Magdaleine, et sont encore [?plus] frois que les autres; le sieur de la Mare et le Bois desirent ce uoir, ce qui ne semble mesme [?] [?] [?] a propos [?] [?] pour [?] [?] [?les] traffiques du pays, [?es] le reuenu du sieur de la [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] de la Chambre, l'on a [?conseille] au [?] [?] [?] [?]

Translation

f236r_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 236r

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

[nec]essary, that he command his people to employ themselves more keenly than is done. It seems among most of the procureurs that it is [?necessary] by acquittal the friends of la Magdaleine, and they are still [?more] cold than the others; the sieur de la Mare and le Bois wish to see this, which does not even seem [?] [?] [?] to the purpose [?] [?] for [?] [?] [?the] trades of the country, [?and] the revenue of the sieur de la [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] of the Chamber, one has [?advised] the [?] [?] [?] [?]

f. 236v decoded, not read

Fragments only: Saint-Lô(?), a curé, a peace to be made, priests, a campaign, a company; the page does not yet build sentences.

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

f236v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 236v: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
N E S E Q O N237 N E R T
DA S A I N T Q O S I Q
Q U R E S T N14 O TT2 I
Q E E2 U R E R E M30 O
T R A N T S I Q E2 E
D A I S O N O SEFAISOIT U N
E PAIX N25 U I CN E N S
E R O I T M I E S
U QV N14 R E S T CNR E S
L O N237 N E P U I S E
S CNPOUR N E XT E S T A N237 R
E A B L E CNS MESME D N19S A
L I RECOUVRER N SAZDOIN CAMPAGNE A T E
S T U N E E2 O M30 N14
A N237 N I E SILVENOIT N14 L A
PN I Z S T T R O U2 E R
O E2 O N15 E I Q M30 E
S E M30 SQ Q E E S T
R E N14 Q U S X9 R A I
SONNABLE QUELART E2 O U B CN U T R A I T I
E S T E2 N19 A R N237 E I U
E Q U DY SQ A LL E R A
DY U N E SQ A R T I

Decryption

f236v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 236v: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 neselognert
     N=n E=e S=s E=e Q=l O=o N237=g N=n E=e R=r T=t
L02 desaintlosil
     DA=de S=s A=a I=i N=n T=t Q=l O=o S=s I=i Q=l
L03 lurestpossi
     Q=l U=u R=r E=e S=s T=t N14=p O=o TT2=ss I=i
L04 lecurereno
     Q=l E=e E2=c U=u R=r E=e R=r E=e M30=n O=o
L05 trantsilce
     T=t R=r A=a N=n T=t S=s I=i Q=l E2=c E=e
L06 daisonosefaisoitun
     D=d A=a I=i S=s O=o N=n O=o SEFAISOIT=sefaisoit U=u N=n
L07 epaixsuieens
     E=e PAIX=paix N25=s U=u I=i CN=e E=e N=n S=s
L08 eroitsies
     E=e R=r O=o I=i T=t M=s I=i E=e S=s
L09 uxprestres
     U=u QV=x N14=p R=r E=e S=s T=t CNR=r E=e S=s
L10 cognepuise
     L=c O=o N237=g N=n E=e P=p U=u I=i S=s E=e
L11 senetestagr
     S=s CNPOUR=e N=n E=e XT=t E=e S=s T=t A=a N237=g R=r
L12 eablesmesmedsa
     E=e A=a B=b L=l E=e CNS=s MESME=mesme D=d N19S=s A=a
L13 direcouurernsazcampagneate
     L=d I=i RECOUVRER=recouurer N=n SAZDOIN=saz CAMPAGNE=campagne A=a T=t E=e
L14 stunecomp
     S=s T=t U=u N=n E=e E2=c O=o M30=m N14=p
L15 agniesiluenoitpla
     A=a N237=g N=n I=i E=e SILVENOIT=siluenoit N14=p L=l A=a
L16 isttrouuer
     PN= I=i Z= S=s T=t T=t R=r O=o U2=uu E=e R=r
L17 ocommeilme
     O=o E2=c O=o N15=mm E=e I=i Q=l M30=m E=e
L18 sembleest
     S=s E=e M30=m SQ=b Q=l E=e E=e S=s T=t
L19 replus[X9]rai
     R=r E=e N14=p Q=l U=u S=s X9=[X9] R=r A=a I=i
L20 sonnablequelarteoubeutraiti
     SONNABLE=sonnable QUELART=quelart E2=e O=o U=u B=b CN=e U=u T=t R=r A=a I=i T=t I=i
L21 estchargeiu
     E=e S=s T=t E2=c N19=h A=a R=r N237=g E=e I=i U=u
L22 eluyballera
     E=e Q=l U=u DY=y SQ=b A=a LL=ll E=e R=r A=a
L23 yunebarti
     DY=y U=u N=n E=e SQ=b A=a R=r T=t I=i

Reading

f236v_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 236v

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

ne s'elogner [?] de Saint [?Lo] s'il l[e]ur est possi[b]le, cure remo[ns]trant s'il ce [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] se faisoit une paix [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?aux] prestres [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] puise se [?n'est] agreables mesme [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] recouurer [?] [?] campagne [?] [?] est une compagnie s'il uenoit plaist trouuer [?ou] comme il me semble estre plus raisonnable que l'art [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] est charge [?] [?] [?] luy ballera y une [?partie]

Translation

f236v_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 236v

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

not go away [?] from Saint [?Lo], if it is possible for them, curé remo[ns]trating if he [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] a peace were made [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?to the] priests [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] could, it [?is not] agreeable, even [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] recover [?] [?] campaign [?] [?] is a company, if he came, please find [?or] as it seems to me more reasonable that the art [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] is charged [?] [?] [?] will give him there a [?part]

f. 237r read in part

Praise of a gentleman chosen by the King: extremely jealous that anyone else should step before him; no better choice could have been made.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (94% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f237r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 237r: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
DA C20 M30 I E N E Q A
QC U E LL E D E M30 E
U R E R A N14 O U
R QC U E Q QC U E
N14 DA T E M30 N14 S E N
U N E E T X4 S U
HASH Q I E E2c R O I R
E CN E N R E E2c E U
R E N46z T O U T
E2c O N T ANOP T E M30 E
N T I Q A U N E QV
T R E M30 E I A
Q O U S I E CA N
U Q A U T R E M30
E DT E N18le N14 I E D
D E U A N T Q U Y
V7 N E U SSL I E
N46z S E2c E U N60F U N E
M30m E Q E U R E
E Q E E2 T I O
N DA N237 E N T I Q N19
O N15 E N E QUI E U
S T E S T E N14 Q U

Decryption

f237r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 237r: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 dlamienela
     DA=d C20=la M30=m I=i E=e N=n E=e Q=l A=a
L02 quelledeme
     QC=q U=u E=e LL=ll E=e D=d E=e M30=m E=e
L03 urerapou
     U=u R=r E=e R=r A=a N14=p O=o U=u
L04 rquelque
     R=r QC=q U=u E=e Q=l QC=q U=u E=e
L05 pdetempsen
     N14=p DA=de T=t E=e M30=m N14=p S=s E=e N=n
L06 uneetiesu
     U=u N=n E=e E=e T=t X4=ie S=s U=u
L07 ppliecroir
     HASH=pp Q=l I=i E=e E2c=c R=r O=o I=i R=r
L08 equenreceu
     E=e CN=qu E=e N=n R=r E=e E2c=c E=e U=u
L09 reztout
     R=r E=e N46z=z T=t O=o U=u T=t
L10 contanteme
     E2c=c O=o N=n T=t ANOP=an T=t E=e M30=m E=e
L11 ntilaunex
     N=n T=t I=i Q=l A=a U=u N=n E=e QV=x
L12 tremeia
     T=t R=r E=e M30=m E=e I=i A=a
L13 lousiequen
     Q=l O=o U=u S=s I=i E=e CA=que N=n
L14 ulautrem
     U=u Q=l A=a U=u T=t R=r E=e M30=m
L15 etelepied
     E=e DT=t E=e N18le=le N14=p I=i E=e D=d
L16 deuantluy
     D=d E=e U=u A=a N=n T=t Q=l U=u Y=y
L17 uousneussie
     V7=uous N=n E=e U=u SSL=ss I=i E=e
L18 zsceufaireune
     N46z=z S=s E2c=c E=e U=u N60F=faire U=u N=n E=e
L19 meleure
     M30m=m E=e Q=l E=e U=u R=r E=e
L20 electio
     E=e Q=l E=e E2=c T=t I=i O=o
L21 ndegentilh
     N=n DA=de N237=g E=e N=n T=t I=i Q=l N19=h
L22 ommenequieu
     O=o N15=mm E=e N=n E=e QUI=qui E=e U=u
L23 stesteplu
     S=s T=t E=e S=s T=t E=e N14=p Q=l U=u

Reading

f237r_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 237r

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

de la miene, la quelle demeurera pour quelque [?peu] de temps en [?une] et ie supplie croire qu'en receurez tout contantement. Il a une [e]xtreme ialousie que nul autre mete le pied deuant luy. Uous n'eussiez sceu faire une meleure election de gentilhomme, ne qui eust este plu-

Translation

f237r_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 237r

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

of mine, which will stay for some [?little] time in [?a], and I beg you to believe that you will receive full satisfaction from it. He has an extreme jealousy that any other should set foot before him. You could not have made a better choice of gentleman, nor one who had been mo-

f. 237v read in part

Alincourt and Gouffiers; Jehan Durant should reward the baron de Vaillac with two thousand muids of salt or three offices of Huguenot councillor.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (93% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f237v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 237v: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
S A FF E E2 T I O N DA
R E E S T R E A U N14
R E N18 SR D A Q I N E2
O U R T A SR DA N237 O U
FF I E R S I L E S T
A N14 R O N14 O S I
Q N14 Q A I S T A M30
A I S T R E I E
N19 A N D U R A N T
D O NN E R QC U E
Q QC U E R E E2 O M30
N14 E N E2 E A U
SQ A R O N N18 U A I
Q A E2c I E2gl N14 O U
HASH A N60 POUR D E U QV M30 I
LL E S M30m U I S DA S E
Q O U POUR T R O I S
O FF I E2 E S DA E2 O N ZG E
I Q E R N19 U N237 U
E N O S D O N T I
E FD E R A Y N60 N14
A R T I S I Q N14 Q A

Decryption

f237v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 237v: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 saffectionde
     S=s A=a FF=ff E=e E2=c T=t I=i O=o N=n DA=de
L02 reestreaup
     R=r E=e E=e S=s T=t R=r E=e A=a U=u N14=p
L03 redesieurdalinc
     R=r E=e N18=de SR=sieur D=d A=a Q=l I=i N=n E2=c
L04 ourtasieurdegou
     O=o U=u R=r T=t A=a SR=sieur DA=de N237=g O=o U=u
L05 ffiersilest
     FF=ff I=i E=e R=r S=s I=i L=l E=e S=s T=t
L06 aproposi
     A=a N14=p R=r O=o N14=p O=o S=s I=i
L07 lplaistam
     Q=l N14=p Q=l A=a I=i S=s T=t A=a M30=m
L08 aistreie
     A=a I=i S=s T=t R=r E=e I=i E=e
L09 handurant
     N19=h A=a N=n D=d U=u R=r A=a N=n T=t
L10 donnerque
     D=d O=o NN=nn E=e R=r QC=q U=u E=e
L11 lquerecom
     Q=l QC=q U=u E=e R=r E=e E2=c O=o M30=m
L12 penceau
     N14=p E=e N=n E2=c E=e A=a U=u
L13 barondeuai
     SQ=b A=a R=r O=o N=n N18=de U=u A=a I=i
L14 lacilepou
     Q=l A=a E2c=c I=i E2gl=le N14=p O=o U=u
L15 rrafairepourdeuxmi
     HASH=rr A=a N60=faire POUR=pour D=d E=e U=u QV=x M30=m I=i
L16 llesmuisdese
     LL=ll E=e S=s M30m=m U=u I=i S=s DA=de S=s E=e
L17 loupourtrois
     Q=l O=o U=u POUR=pour T=t R=r O=o I=i S=s
L18 officesdeconse
     O=o FF=ff I=i E2=c E=e S=s DA=de E2=c O=o N=n ZG=s E=e
L19 ilerhugu
     I=i Q=l E=e R=r N19=h U=u N237=g U=u
L20 enosdonti
     E=e N=n O=o S=s D=d O=o N=n T=t I=i
L21 eferayfairep
     E=e FD=f E=e R=r A=a Y=y N60=faire N14=p
L22 artisilpla
     A=a R=r T=t I=i S=s I=i Q=l N14=p Q=l A=a

Reading

f237v_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 237v

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

s'affection de [?] [?] estre [?aupres] de monsieur d'Alincourt, a monsieur de Gouffiers. Il est a propos, il plaist a maistre Iehan Durant donner quelque recompence au baron de Uailac; i[l] le pourra faire pour deux milles muis de sel, ou pour trois offices de conseiler huguenos, dont ie feray faire partis, il pla-

Translation

f237v_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 237v

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

his affection [?] [?] to be [?near] Monsieur d'Alincourt, to Monsieur de Gouffiers. It is fitting, if it please master Jehan Durant, to give some reward to the baron de Vaillac; he can do it with two thousand muids of salt, or with three offices of Huguenot councillor, of which I shall have parties made, if it plea-

f. 238r read in part

A reward for the sieur de la Fontaine would take away the pretext of La Roussière's friends for attempting the place, as they had also attempted against the writer himself; the troops and 'la crois lartie'.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (84% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f238r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 238r: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
P I T A U CD DA C20 FD O
N T A I N E E2 E S E
R A O S T E R U
N N237 R A N D N14 R E T
E QV T E A T O U
S Q E S A M30 I Z DA
C20 R O U SSs I E R E
DA N E N T R E N14 R E
N D R E S U R C20 N14
Q A E2 E QC U I
Q A U O I T O U
U I Q S O N T A T O
U S I O U R S E T
R E N14 R I S E E2 O N15
E I Q S O N T A U
SS2 I S U S M30 A N14 E
R S O N N E M30 E S M30 E
S E S T A N T N14 O U
ZG E TROUPES QUAND C20 E2 R O I S
Q A R T I E M30 A D
I T A U O I R E2
N19 A R N237 E D N14 U Q2

Decryption

f238r.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 238r: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 pitausieurdelafo
     P=p I=i T=t A=a U=u CD=sieur DA=de C20=la FD=f O=o
L02 ntainecese
     N=n T=t A=a I=i N=n E=e E2=c E=e S=s E=e
L03 raosteru
     R=r A=a O=o S=s T=t E=e R=r U=u
L04 ngrandpret
     N=n N237=g R=r A=a N=n D=d N14=p R=r E=e T=t
L05 exteatou
     E=e QV=x T=t E=e A=a T=t O=o U=u
L06 slesamisde
     S=s Q=l E=e S=s A=a M30=m I=i Z=s DA=de
L07 laroussiere
     C20=la R=r O=o U=u SSs=ss I=i E=e R=r E=e
L08 denentrepre
     DA=de N=n E=e N=n T=t R=r E=e N14=p R=r E=e
L09 ndresurlap
     N=n D=d R=r E=e S=s U=u R=r C20=la N14=p
L10 lacequi
     Q=l A=a E2=c E=e QC=q U=u I=i
L11 lauoitou
     Q=l A=a U=u O=o I=i T=t O=o U=u
L12 uilsontato
     U=u I=i Q=l S=s O=o N=n T=t A=a T=t O=o
L13 usiourset
     U=u S=s I=i O=o U=u R=r S=s E=e T=t
L14 reprisecomm
     R=r E=e N14=p R=r I=i S=s E=e E2=c O=o N15=mm
L15 eilsontau
     E=e I=i Q=l S=s O=o N=n T=t A=a U=u
L16 ssisusnape
     SS2=ss I=i S=s U=u S=s M30=n A=a N14=p E=e
L17 rsonnemesme
     R=r S=s O=o N=n N=n E=e M30=m E=e S=s M30=m E=e
L18 sestantpou
     S=s E=e S=s T=t A=a N=n T=t N14=p O=o U=u
L19 retrouppesquandlacrois
     ZG=r E=e TROUPES=trouppes QUAND=quand C20=la E2=c R=r O=o I=i S=s
L20 lartienad
     Q=l A=a R=r T=t I=i E=e M30=n A=a D=d
L21 itauoirc
     I=i T=t A=a U=u O=o I=i R=r E2=c
L22 hargedpur
     N19=h A=a R=r N237=g E=e D=d N14=p U=u Q2=r

Reading

f238r_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 238r

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

[?pit] au sieur de la Fontaine. Ce sera oster un grand pretexte a tous les amis de La Roussiere de n'entreprendre sur la place qui l'auoit, [?ou] ils ont a tousiours et reprise, comme ils ont aussi sus [?ma] personne mesme, s'estant pour [?les] trouppes quand la [?crois] [?lartie] m'a dit auoir charge [?] [?] [?] [?]

Translation

f238r_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 238r

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

[?pit] to the sieur de la Fontaine. This will take away a great pretext from all the friends of La Roussiere to make an attempt on the place that had it, [?where] they have always and recapture, as they have also on [?my] very person, having for [?the] troops when the [?crois] [?lartie] told me he had charge [?] [?] [?] [?]

f. 238v read in part

Someone with his company greatly wishes for peace, so as not to have deceived those his people had promised.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (76% here); the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

f238v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 238v: group labels, one line per cipher line (Michael Brackx, issue #86). Legend: ../legend.md
D A ZS E M30 SQ Q E S A
E2 O M30 N14 A N237 N I
E I Q M30 E S E M30
SQ Q E QUI N E S E R O
I T A N14 R O N14 O U
E U E2c E QUI E2 E S T
N14 A SS2 E DA PUIS DB D E
S I R E FD O R T C20
PAIX POUR N A U O I R T
R O ALPHA E E N P E2 X1 Q A T E
S NUL S I E N S Q U
Y A U O I E N T
N14 R O M30 I S

Decryption

f238v.txt

# BnF fr. 15572 f. 238v: decode per line, with label=value per group (Michael Brackx, issue #86)
L01 dansemblesa
     D=d A=a ZS=ns E=e M30=m SQ=b Q=l E=e S=s A=a
L02 compagni
     E2=c O=o M30=m N14=p A=a N237=g N=n I=i
L03 eilmesem
     E=e I=i Q=l M30=m E=e S=s E=e M30=m
L04 blequinesero
     SQ=b Q=l E=e QUI=qui N=n E=e S=s E=e R=r O=o
L05 itapropou
     I=i T=t A=a N14=p R=r O=o N14=p O=o U=u
L06 eucequecest
     E=e U=u E2c=c E=e QUI=que E2=c E=e S=s T=t
L07 passedepuis[DB]de
     N14=p A=a SS2=ss E=e DA=de PUIS=puis DB=[DB] D=d E=e
L08 sirefortla
     S=s I=i R=r E=e FD=f O=o R=r T=t C20=la
L09 paixpournauoirt
     PAIX=paix POUR=pour N=n A=a U=u O=o I=i R=r T=t
L10 rompeenpelate
     R=r O=o ALPHA=mp E=e E=e N=n P=p E2=e X1= Q=l A=a T=t E=e
L11 s[NUL]sienslu
     S=s NUL=[NUL] S=s I=i E=e N=n S=s Q=l U=u
L12 yauoient
     Y=y A=a U=u O=o I=i E=e N=n T=t
L13 promis
     N14=p R=r O=o M30=m I=i S=s

Reading

f238v_reading.md

# Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 238v

> Reading by Michael Brackx (issue #86, 23 Oct 2026), in the decrypted spelling; word division and punctuation added. `[?]` one unread group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied, letters in brackets inside a word supplied.

d'ansemble sa compagnie. Il me semble qui ne seroit a propo [?] [?] [?] ce que c'est passe depuis, desire fort la paix pour n'auoir trompe en [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] siens luy auoient promis.

Translation

f238v_en.md

# English: Matignon, despatch to Henri III, May 1586: BnF fr. 15572 f. 238v

> Translation by Michael Brackx (issue #86), with the same holes.

together his company. It seems to me that it would not be to the purpose [?] [?] [?] what has passed since, he greatly wishes for peace so as not to have deceived in [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] his people had promised him.

Key: legend.md

06 Sources

Bibliothèque nationale de France, fr. 15572 ff. 234r–238v, Gallica btv1b9061879d, canvases 240 (cover) to 247.
S. Tomokiyo, Henry III’s Cipher with Ambassadors, Cryptiana: “Matignon’s Tuple Cipher”.
Michael Brackx, issue #86 (22–23 October 2026): transcription, key, reading, translation and legend.

Files: targets/matignon1586tuple/ (transcription, legend and key, decryption, reading and English per page).

Matignon’s tuple cipher: a despatch to the King, May 1586

01 The letter

02 The cipher

03 The reading

04 How much reads

05 What remains open

Full texts

f. 234r

f. 234v read in part

f. 235r read in part

f. 235v read in part

f. 236r read in part

f. 236v decoded, not read

f. 237r read in part

f. 237v read in part

f. 238r read in part

f. 238v read in part

06 Sources