Rákóczi to an envoy, Lwów, 27 June 1711

At a glanceExisting decipherment · partial (100% of the cipher)

The letter: Ferenc Rákóczi II to an unnamed envoy on his way to Holland, Lwów, 27 June 1711, six pages signed in autograph “Franciscus Princeps”.
Where: Magyar Nemzeti Levéltár, P237 Festetics 10. d. 2. 42–44; DECODE R483, dated there 7 June. It was catalogued with three French letters to Rákóczi (catalogue 44).
The cipher: A numerical Latin syllabary with homophones: several numbers for each common letter, codes for open syllables, a few for words and names. Cipher and clear alternate within the lines.
How it was deciphered: A clerk wrote the decipherment above every ciphered stretch. It was transcribed with the cipher, and an alignment of the two rebuilt 224 codes of the key, which reproduce 70% of the clerk’s letters.
What it says: Rákóczi rejects the Peace of Szatmár and a king proclaimed outside a free diet, asks the Tsar and Poland to mediate, and reports Pálffy’s guns before Munkács.
Still open: Five words of the clear opening on page 1, and about a dozen doubtful words on groups seen once or not at all in the rebuilt key. With them the running text builds coherent sentences but reads at 94.9% of its words (measured 24 October 2026), under the 95% a complete reading needs.

This letter was filed with three French reports sent to Rákóczi, which use the Bonac–Groffey key DECODE R639. It is in a different cipher; those letters have their own page: three letters to Rákóczi, 1706–1707.

01 The letter

The letter is signed in autograph “Franciscus Princeps” and dated in clear “Leopoli die 27. Junii Anno 1711”; DECODE’s 7 June is a misreading. It is addressed to “Fidelis nobis sincere dilecte”, an envoy on his way to Holland, who is in poor health and handles money and the mathematical instruments ordered from Mangold. A clear postscript deals with those instruments. Thaly’s Archivum Rákóczianum I/3 (the letter-books of 1710–1712) does not print the letter, but its no. 44, an order to Mihály Klement about the Hegyi wines, makes Klement the likely addressee (searched 23 October 2026). The six pages carry 2,531 cipher groups in 180 lines, transcribed here from the images; cipher and clear alternate within the lines.

02 What it says

Rákóczi sends a copy of the “Tractatus sic dictae Pacis Carolianae”, the Peace of Szatmár, which he calls a fraud worked out in Vienna, and reports that Archduke Charles was proclaimed king in every Hungarian county, contrary to the 1687 article of the Pozsony diet. He will not recognise a king proclaimed outside a free diet:

nos Regem extra dietam promulgatum, non deposito praevio modo juramento suo, agnoscere non posse sine [?totali] ruina libertatum nostrarum

He appeals to the Tsar and the Polish Republic to mediate. He offers to come to a free diet in person or by plenipotentiaries and to recognise a lawfully crowned king, provided the confederates recover their estates. He says the Allies looked only to a “diversionem armorum domus Austriacae” once Hungary was quieted, not to Hungarian liberties, and asks for the war to go on. Page 4 reports Pálffy’s artillery before “arcem nostram Munkatsiensem” and the restitution of Transylvanian liberty. Page 5 turns to the general confederation in Poland, letters to go “per Saxoniam”, the Muscovite advance, a warning to trust only news sent directly from Rákóczi, and a complaint about the “Indiscretum procedendi modum Magni Cancellarii Regii Raday”, the Grand Chancellor Pál Ráday. Page 6 concerns receipts left with a Jew and a member of the Economic Council who took treasury money for his own use.

03 The decipherment and the key

The clerk wrote the decipherment above every ciphered stretch. Of the 2,531 groups, 2,524 lie on a line with an interlinear; the other seven continue words written on the neighbouring line (a one-group ending, a catchword repeated at the head of the next page, and three groups whose words stand on the line above).

The key is not preserved. Each cipher line was aligned with the Latin above it by an alignment algorithm (hard expectation-maximisation), with each code taking up to four letters. The result is a syllabic cipher with homophones. Single letters have several values (190 and 430 s; 140 and 380 n; 60 and 300 e; 20 and 260 a; 130 and 370 m), open syllables have their own codes (257 re, 428 ti, 68 se, 362 de, 96 no, 457 ri, 148 si, 92 ce, 152 co, 59 tu, 378 ta), and a few words and names are coded whole. Of 224 codes, 156 occur at least twice. Decoding the letter with this key reproduces 3,180 of the clerk’s 4,547 letters (69.9%). The mismatches are rare codes, homophones seen once and the clerk’s own abbreviations. Where the clerk’s handwriting is doubtful, the cipher often settles the word, as in the sentence quoted above and in “ne fors etiam”.

The running text (23 October 2026). The reading audit of 22 October 2026 had set the letter back to decoded, not read: the clerk’s interlinear merged with the clear passages line by line stood out of reading order, with doubts or alternatives on most lines. It is now written out as one running Latin text (R483_reading.md, English R483_en.md): the interlinear stretches and the clear passages interleaved as they stand in each line, every clear word and every doubtful interlinear word re-read on the six DECODE images, and the clerk’s doubts settled group by group with the rebuilt key. 72 changes are listed in R483_corrections.tsv: ab inimicitiis for the clerk’s ab Armistitiis, inimicitias suas for amicitiis fidis, tranquillos reddat animos for his letter-by-letter Transi- l w s re d da, domino Jablonski for Fablanski; juramento suo, which the clerk skipped, is restored from the figures. No word is supplied without figures under it. Counted by words, with the open and doubtful words as holes, the running text reads at 94.9%: just under the 95% a complete reading needs.

The Bonac–Groffey table R639, which deciphers the French letters once filed with this one, gives nonsense on it.

04 What remains uncertain

Five words of the clear opening on page 1 (“Supponimus redditas jam […] …”): fast cursive not settled on the DECODE images; a higher-resolution scan from the archive is the way on.
About a dozen doubtful words where the clerk and the key disagree and the group occurs once or not at all in the rebuilt key ([?concludendam], [?remediationis], [?possidere], [?commisso], domino Jablonski […]).
68 of the 224 rebuilt codes occur only once (C).
The recipient is not named; probably Mihály Klement (above).

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.

R483, Lwów, 27 June 1711 read in part

Rákóczi's own Latin letter, signed 'Franciscus Princeps', to an envoy bound for Holland: he sends a copy of the 'Pax Caroliana' (Szatmár), which he calls a fraud engineered in Vienna, reports Archduke Charles proclaimed king in the Hungarian counties, and deals with money and the mathematical instruments ordered from Mangold. The text is the clerk's contemporary interlinear decipherment merged with the clear passages (R483_clerk.txt); R483_key_read.txt is the control decode with the key rebuilt here.

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

R483_p1.txt

# R483 p.1 (IMG_R483_I3666_P1) - Rakoczi, Leopoli 27 June 1711. Numbers cross-checked with DECODE DOC_R483_D2172.
P: Leopoli vigesima septima Junii 1711mo Fideli
C: 573 498 640 464 150 795 560 386 25 439 373 148 125 68 400 428 125 404 340 1700 119 362 112 345 798
P: nobis sincere dilecte, | Supprimimus
C: 263 190 96 361 430 148 380 92 257 432 464 40 200 60 268 160 386 76 415
A: Supprimimus=[268 160 386 76 415]?
P: (none)
C: 430 {clear: reddita[s?] jam fecimus? Vobis fuisse Responsorias Literas nostras ad? Cz.? M.? Russorum?}
P: (none)
C: {clear: Vestras? transmissas, et quid continentis?, et annexis Carmodi? abunde percepimus?,}
P: ni quonam cardine vertentur negotia nostra
C: {clear: nistris} 340 140 187 445 370 22 300 409 60 140 59 420 36 260 194 100 461
P: quod tunc de-|fuerat adjungimus
C: {clear: his proinde} 187 50 59 380 280 362 343 60 207 440 51 384 140 403 415
P: copiam | Tractatus sic dictae Pacis
C: 190 152 160 204 130 {clear: nimirum} 478 20 59 430 148 280 432 280 378 300 286
P: Carolianae | aula Viennensi
C: 112 190 110 260 477 25 260 445 60 {clear: quam} 251 469 485 380 148 190
P: jam Puncta dubii? firmis? appellat, una
C: 204 130 127 380 280 378 208 30 315 430 148 150 76 190 20 400 356
P: cum adversionibus? | quae latens?/haerens? venenum
C: 360 424 200 210 445 302 130 20 76 125 50 409 100 150 76 30 149 157
P: vobis et alliatis manifestare poterunt
C: 60 74 140 190 379? 300 146 130 265 361 190 153 91 100 436 185 20 257 _
P: ob quae illa acceptare
C: 426_ 18 140 44? 166 187 50 340 126 424 31 40 378 257 {clear: obligationi? nostrae?}
P: ni? Patriam? consentaneum esse haud
C: 340 380 346 101_ 152 140 68 380 376 485 210 370 60 190 68 14 450 290 43
P: duximus | minister quidam
C: 189 415 190 {clear: nec nos fefellit opinio, quid enim} 335 60 180 177 312 130 190 40 457 281
P: scribat Viennae? hisce audivimus? | alliatas
C: 260 469 445 114 190 92 20 280 40 105 432 415 190 {clear: et ex his omnibus} 91 20 190 187
P: quoque Potentias agnituras speramus
C: 167 476 204 430 20 80 76 59 207 190 430 356 207 415 190 {clear: justas et aequas ra-}
P: ob quas ad convenientiam? illam mente
C: {clear: tiones? nostras} 166 157 190 51 152 140 280 105 362 140 312 370 100 360 424 130 _
P: Imperatoris subjecta | fraudulosam
C: |: 345 180 440 300 254 20 438 457 190 268 36 428 112 378 :| 310 207 210 43 85 38
A: (vertical strokes |: ... :| written in the line around the first 14 groups)
P: negotiationem | renuimus verum
C: 130 36 260 428 150 485 370 {clear: ultimam manum admovere} 257 146 340 415 430 359 18 130
P: ante Capi-
C: {clear: Gerons? Vobis in memoratis Literis nostris Contenta? Literas?} 121 60 300 460 190 160 340 {clear: ratio?}
P: nem amnistitii Grati? Palffio?
C: 485 370 191 340 3890? 383 20 25 316 150 {clear: missas transmisimus, ita nunc quoque Ro-?}
P: non propias? quidem
C: {clear: streme? scriptas? Copiam Communicamus, quae ipsi} 340 380 47 160 457 260 190 177 _
P: manus | sed Ja- | nius? denegatu[r?]
C: 362 130 125 146 430 {clear: traditae fuere,} 68 290 378 {clear: Bella} 457 149 362 485 353 438
P: responso? reversus est | certum est Pa-
C: 417_ 386 140 178 257 409 149 60 430 200 {clear: interea vero} 92 180 59 370 60 430
P: latinum in omnibus Hungariae Comitatibus
C: 440 306 450 370 100? 380 150 130 76 38? 149 194 340 20 30 172 340 378 428
A: (a struck-out start of "Hungariae" at the end of 'omnibus')
P: Carolum archiducem pro Rege promulgasse
C: 270 149 461 477 105 130 161 340 43 92 370 47 257 373 47 415 360 353 190 68
P: contra | quae similem Pro-
C: 152 140 488_ {clear: manifesta Jura et Libertates Regni} 157 60 148 315 464 130 47 415
P: mulgationem | Statuum? prius | animus in
C: 120 353 428 150 485 130 286 461 428 430 27 149 121 340 315 190 340 140
A: (DECODE marks 12__ 1__ ; in the image 121 has a stroke under it)
P: | Dieta Regni | debere rescribunt
C: {clear: universali} 442 257 80 76 {clear: fieri;} 362 321 257 17 430 40 457 30 450 380 200 {clear: Et ipse=? / Etipre=?}
P: articulus Dietae Posoniensis anni millesimi
C: {clear: mer?} 20 180 428 302 129 149 68 302 140 43 190 442 300 386 178 76 300 140 148
P: sexcentesimi octogesimi septimi hic | liter annexus, quidnam
C: 190 260 380 76 1687 114 280 {clear: Copia} 25 200 300 420 260 380 485 209 430 177 290
A: sexcentesimi octogesimi septimi=[1687]? (the year written as a plain number; interlinear spells it out)
P: praescribat fieri debere ante Promulgationem
C: 445 130 17 190 280 457 281 440 253 60 457 362 321 257 121 300 47 415 360 _
P: et agnitionem Regis | ____ (a stroke in place of words over 390..430)
C: 353 428 150 485 370 60 440 260 320 76 428 390 485 130 257 403 430 {clear: abunde}
A: (folio number 42 at foot)

Transcription

R483_p2.txt

# R483 p.2 (IMG_R483_I3667_P2)
P: agnoscent | si qui sine Prae-
C: {clear: videre poterunt.} 260 320 96 190 92 140 440 {clear: Speramus} 340 100 177 148 485 17 {clear: ju-}
P: sana conscientia de rebus nostris judicare
C: {clear: dicio} 38 445 152 140 190 112 300 380 428 20 362 257 370 149 116 340 190 384 432
P: voluerint | nos Regem extra dietam promul-
C: 461 257 265 105 300 {clear: sint? (struck through)} 96 190 257 373 370 203 260 442 130 47 415 120 353 59
P: gatum non deposito | agnoscere non
C: 130 96 140 362 446_ 150 {clear: praevio modo} 384 207 295 390 268 150 260 80 96 190
P: posse sine | a ruina?
C: 92 257 96 140 386 190 68 148 485 ?0? 20 25 18 100 445 {clear: libertatum nostrarum}
A: (group after 485 illegible, looks like "rot"/"ro?"; DECODE "? 0 ?")
P: per haereditariae successionis praetentio-? (word hard: "metentio-")
C: {clear: quae profecto} 356 180 74 432 348 457 20 300 278 60 190 148 390 76 430 17 200
P: nem et ne fors etiam | in ag-
C: 60 380 148 150 485 370 300 440 485 313 190 153 204 130 {clear: futura} 370 260 320
P: ria?/rip? tantum non crederentur?/haererentur?
C: 76? 428 150 485 370 340 140 388 210 370 96 140 424 300 362 257 140 69_ {clear: aut}
A: (first group read 76 in image; DECODE "7/2? 6"; the first P word is unclear - continues "in ag-" of the line above)
P: an | lacerentur?/carerentur? quam per actum hunc
C: 20 380 {clear: nihil} 260 257 140 59 180 157 130 356 180 260 40 59 130 184 380 280 {clear: Per?}
P: juri suo Regibus Con- | praescribendi?
C: {clear: quem} 384 457 268 150 257 403 30 149 152 140 {clear: Divinis?} 17 190 280 457 321 140
P: et illos super eas | ad nos? cederet
C: 432 153 100 120 85 430 298 300 426 300 260 430 51 {clear: jura} 380 432 92 362 257
P: natio | Czaro Moscoviae et Rege
C: 200 465 {clear: Ac proinde} 292 150 405 20 60 153 257 373 416 260 18 130 114 280
P: Poloniarum (a struck "A") existentibus reipublicae
C: 300 189 190 440 300 140 428 270 149 257 340 137 266 300 416_ 260 300 340
P: Poloniae in Senatus consultum convocatae duo? | mis-?
C: 380 98 190 222 210 370 152 380 265 461 378 300 268 150 {clear: modo} 340 380 430
P: (mi-)timus ut | re mediationis Reassumpta?/Reassumpto?
C: 428 428 415 190 159 {clear: ope} 257 285 100 256 340 430 257 20 430 268 130 400
P: Decla- | nem nostram pro justa agnoscere
C: 438 362 40 424 {clear: ratio} 485 130 116 260 370 47 414 20 260 80 96 190 92 257
P: velint? qua | n te | nos ab Armistitiis?
C: 369 340 380 440 157 {clear: media} 140 200 300 96 190 11_ 340 76 315 112 428 354_ 362
P: desistere velle (a word struck out: "abdicavimus"?) | ad id usque Tempus
C: 148 190 200 300 257 369 464 {clear: affidavimus} 51 340 290 149 167 498_ 149 482 485
P: donec | de nobis? lati? publicis?
C: 280 {clear: Libertates et Leges? nostras} 362 96 265 424 300 432 137 340 190 260 40
P: actibus cum | (a struck word, "tamen"?) non fuerit
C: 428 30 149 172 {clear: per} 59 130 96 380 343 60 457 440 {clear: Appromisimus Praeterea}
P: nos in promulganda libera dieta habita suffici-
C: 96 190 340 380 47 415 120 353 140 312 35_ 20 442 14 361 378 268 70 253 112 -
P: ente securitate vel personaliter vel per
C: 300 140 420 68 302 457 378 440 60 369 356 180 178 445 25 440 60 420 369
P: plenipotentiarios nostros comparere velle et
C: 356 180 160 464 76 476 204 457 276 116 276 172 286 257 257 369 464 153
P: eum pro Rege agnituros qui legaliter agni-
C: 60 450 370 47 257 373 20 80 76 59 477 430 177 474_ 25 440 60 420 260
P: tus et coronatus | eique | mentum
C: 320 76 200 149 153 242 260 59 190 {clear: fuerit,} 300 100 167 {clear: jura} 295 276 130
A: (ju-ra-mentum: clear "jura" + cipher 295 276 130 = "mentum")
P: praestiturus, | Petimus
C: 17 190 428 59 477 430 _ 356 428 340 415 190 {clear: proinde ut hacce declara-}
P: omnes in confoederatione nostra
C: {clear: tione nostra facta} 150 130 485 430 100 140 192 374 485 116 260 356 180 68
P: perseverantes restituantur in integrum
C: 359 207 140 440 300 190 257 190 428 59 101_ 139 340 380 100 140 440 60 320
A: (a struck "in" over 101 139 before "in integrum")
P: et bona nostra | pro securitate per-
C: 18 370 153 381 445 116 20 {clear: interea quoque} 47 68 302 457 378 440 300 356
P: sonarum nostrarum in Polonia de | providere
C: 180 178 445 18 130 116 260 18 370 340 140 416 20 362 {clear: gente} 430 386 190 148 362
P: valeamus | (a struck word) | sinimus? / ...timus | Poten-
C: 257 249 464 20 415 190 _ 324_ 100 428 415 190 {clear: prout dictum ut} 476 340
P: tiis | memoratae | velint quae
C: 20 60 {clear: supra} 235 345 207 378 60 {clear: haec effectuare} 369 340 380 440 157 60
P: operanda suis ministris quoque commiserunt
C: {clear: Et} 150? 356 207 140 312 268 100 190 187 167 335 457 430 172 315 68 18 380

Transcription

R483_p3.txt

# R483 p.3 (IMG_R483_I3668_P3)
P: et | in nostram pacisque conciliationem
C: 440 153 {clear: Securitate} 130 116 20 370 286 112 190 167 152 140 112 25 260 428 256 60
P: R[es]p[ubli]ca | Senatusconsulti statuto sanxit.
C: 370 397 20 {clear: Ex Resso? / Et Resso?} 98 190 152 140 268 120 428 218 159 390 38 380 189 200 943 -
P: generalium ordinum? i
C: {clear: Ex adjuncta Literis Vestris Copia? Literas} 383 20 25 210 130 150 180 432 146 370 439 {clear: Du[a]e?}
P: Imperatrici regnanti | profectus? at do- / prosecutas? ad do-
C: 254 260 29 340 112 257 80 140 121 340 {clear: scriptas} 47 233 40 438 38 440 482
P: r | videmus praecipitatam agnitionem archi-
C: {clear: lente?} 180 439 432 415 190 17 112 160 340 378 378 370 260 320 76 428 256 300
P: ducis pro Rege (Hungariae struck through) | potius pera-?/nega-?
C: 161 340 43 112 430 47 257 373 194 340 20 60 {clear: ubi} 386 428 149 190 356 207 190
A: (a struck-out "Hungariae" above 194 340 20 60)
P: semus | omnes per acta
C: 68 415 430 {clear: praefato} 190 390 420 432 485 430 356 20 40 378 {clear: Mediationis ne-}
P: Tirnavii? | debuisse Cor-?
C: {clear: gotiationum} 89 {clear: Ex simul? Literis? abunde informati esse} 362 30 210 340 430
P: Regem in (Hungaria struck through) | sine
C: 68 300 276 257 373 130 240? 140 194 204 148 485 {clear: observantia praemissorum}
A: (DECODE 240; image shows a group like 340/240 overwritten)
P: promulgatum pro aequanimitate mediationis
C: 47 415 120 353 59 130 47 260 300 157 76 315 378 200 60 285 340 256 340 190 268
P: sunt? agnoscere non potuisse | hac
C: 260 300 20 320 96 190 92 257 96 140 386 59 354_ 68 {clear: Sperabamus enim eo} 14 40
P: ce quatione? eos? teneri? ad restitutionem Libertatum
C: 92 206? 485 149 139 276 51 417 100 59 428 256 60 370 35 260 59 136? 116 20 18? 340
A: (first word likely "(hac) cessatione"? - unclear)
P: nostrarum in quibus nos manutenere velle (a struck word "sp..") | appro-
C: 140 177 30 149 96 190 125 146 200 300 485 257 369 464 38 60 160 {clear: ius} 20 400 47
P: miserunt nec medium (fo- struck) fortius ad | ad
C: 315 68 18 140 440 485 280 235 432 210 130 313 428 149 51 {clear: inveniri possimus?} 51 51
A: (the two groups 51 51 at line end under 'ad')
P: adjuvandos Nos quam dilatio agnitionis hujus
C: 384 249 140 482 190 96 430 157 130 432 424 428 150 20 320 76 428 256 100
P: ad usque effectuationem eorum
C: 190 184 384 430 51 149 167 63 210 260 420 256 60 130 60 150 18 130 {clear: quae pro}
P: se[?]cummuni? et | securitate Religionum in
C: 257 172 415 76 153 {clear: exoptanda} 68 302 457 378 200 300 357 146 370 100 380 194
P: Hungaria juste Regi debere agnoverunt
C: 340 20 414 300 253 60 457 362 321 257 20 320 96 359 18 140 440 {clear: interim pro-}
P: suspicari posse credimus non satis
C: {clear: pterea Nos} 318 340 461 457 386 190 68 40 257 432 415 190 96 140 38 428 190
P: sinceras fuisse | assecurationes
C: 148 380 92 207 190 343 340 430 68 {clear: toties repetitas} 211 302 207 428 256 60
P: alliatorum de restituendis et solidandis liber-
C: 190 91 150 18 370 362 417 340 59 60 140 432 430 153 178 25 312 140 432 430
P: tatibus nostris sed tantum modo
C: 35 20 428 270 149 116 340 430 68 290 388 450 370 345 482 {clear: in id intendisse,}
P: quoquo modo rebus Hungaricis diversi-
C: {clear: ut pacatis} 187 187 345 482 257 270 149 194 100 112 430 432 409 100 256 60
P: sionem armorum domus Austriacae fecerit? necessarium
C: 130 181 390 18 130 13 149 261 340 20 461 60 68 362 140 200 26 20 457 210 370
P: judicamus ut abunde demonstratis? fa-
C: {clear: igitur} 384 432 461 415 190 159 {clear: iis} 260 30 450 380 362 362 375 238 150 340 190
P: cile illos in opinione sua falli posse
C: 213 112 464 340 360 85 190 340 380 150 400 340 76 256 300 268 20 213 120
P: qui nobis media non
C: 25 386 190 68 177 96 361 190 235 432 20 96 140 {clear: superesse credimus.}
P: belli in casu oppressioni natio-
C: {clear: At continuationem} 321 120 25 340 140 461 268 150 17 190 148 256 340 430
P: nalis subsequuturae? et qui imaginantur nationem
C: 465 445 25 190 268 30 68 302 59 477 153 177 100 125 403 445 380 69_ 465
P: ita a nobis alienatam esse | ut? | ita
C: 485 130 364 260 96 361 190 20 270 91 60 445 378 370 60 190 68 159 110 20
P: nelius? / melius? | potuisset dict? millium?
C: 477 25 149 {clear: Exoptam?} 386 59 354_ 68 200 438 315 120 25 210 370 134 315
A: (page foot: folio 43; line continues on the next page, not supplied)

Transcription

R483_p4.txt

# R483 image 3669 (P4). Transcribed from img/IMG_R483_I3669_P4.png. P = clerk's interlinear; C = cipher line.
P: hominum fidefragorum nisi eos consensu nostro
C: 146 130 253 362 70 207 403 450 370 76 148 {clear: eos} 152 140 68 380 268 116 150 424
P: lactasset qui se deceptos esse
C: 40 378 190 68 200 177 {clear: jam} 68 362 92 168? 438 430 300 190 {clear: Gaudent?}
P: Et in effectu hoc tempore reassument animum
C: 300 430 47 233 280 438 268 390 408 150 257 2000 257 260 190
P: vindicandae libertatis — nisi
C: 268 295 20 76 415 130 489 260 140 312 60 35 260 428 190 76 148
P: e a ut et nostros et e o ru m Transi-
C: 60 260 {clear: ita assecurata fuerit} 159 153 116 276 153 60 150 18 130 29 177
P: l w? s? re d da f a ni m os magna
C: 120 85 430 257 290 312 200 20 76 345 190 {clear: Patefacta sunt} 125 80 445
P: ex parte aulae Viennensis consilia per
C: 203_ 286 180 440 60 222 260 251 300 409 485 146 148 430 356 420
P: in? inimicitiae? Comitis Palfi contra
C: {clear: continuatione} 130 100 76 315 112 428 260 300 172 340 428 190 316 152
P: arcem nostram Munkatsiensem Spe-
C: 140 29 260 161_ 300 130 116 20 370 435 340 300 380 68 130 {clear: facta,} 190
P: sa? et? pue? fidi?
C: 14 378 {clear: declaratione Nostra} 153 17 148 432 340 {clear: jussu Nostro facta, quam}
P: non obstantibus ami-
C: {clear: Vobis praesentibus adjungimus, quibus} 96 140 166 208 428 270 149 340
P: micitiis? fidis? sub Arce vit
C: 76 315 112 428 20 190 268 260 190 268 30 20 180 92 {clear: Continua} 439
P: Tormenta contra eam adduxit et ad dedi-
C: 200 458 260 152 140 488_ 300 260 130 51 43 189 200 153 51 362 432
P: tionem cogens? contra mem?
C: 428 256 60 370 452 373 140 430 152 140 29 260 {clear: omnis legis?} 20 420
P: illam violenter a nobis accu-
C: 92 130 340 120 424 370 439 150 464 380 440 60 420 29 96 361 190
P: pavit minentis? igitur allati?
C: 150 40 302 286 439 200 {clear: Nec} 315 257 140 69_ 100 403 59 440 91 340
P: conservationem libertatum
C: {clear: in omnibus iis quae ad} 152 140 18_ 20 428 256 300 130 35 260 59 370 116
P: nostrarum apta piis? caverimus? ance?
C: 260 18 130 260 160 378 384 432 461 399_ 100 415 190 {clear: Secure?} 47 92
P: dere velle et nos in Statu
C: 362 257 369 464 153 96 190 340 380 218 450 {clear: Conservarent Casul-?}
P: nisi nobis quanto-
C: {clear: trius? quoque manutenere persolvimus?} 76 148 96 361 430 157 380 440
P: cius media assecurantur
C: 150 40 470 149 235 432 20 {clear: suppeditaverint?} 51 211 302 207 140 312
P: eas per quae me-
C: 190 60 260 190 356 180 {clear: firmam et stabilem securitatem} 157 235 25 150
P: lior? sit? haberi? potest quam per Res-
C: 420 439 220 268 160 356 432 378 457 386 440 60 190 200 157
P: titutionem libertatis Transylvaniae
C: 130 356 180 417 340 59 428 150 485 370 35 76 428 190 39 340
P: difficultatis?
C: 260 300 {clear: quam in modernis rer(um) conjuncturis} 432 70 253 302 120 378
# note: 260 carries a stroke above it (not underlined)
P: haud deberet Archidux ut conciliari? et de-
C: 257 14 210 50 362 321 257 440 161 340 43 460 159 152 380 112 25 20
P: cipi? et Sistemi? [a word struck through] Hungarorum ani-
C: 428 430 153 362 439 380 280 428 190 60 220 340 140 200 300 320
P: mis Exercitum [struck?] suum
C: 477 194 150 18 370 260 76 315 430 183 100 59 430 268 276 {clear: pro}
P: applicare pot-
C: {clear: necessitate et exigentia rer(um) sua(rum)?} 20 160 400 25 461 257 386 190
P: est
C: 68 440 {clear: Quod digiti? vosmetipsi ob statum Vestrum valetudinarium} (clear words underlined with a long stroke)
C: 100 440 (catchword at foot of page, repeated as the first groups of P5; followed by a flourish)

Transcription

R483_p5.txt

# R483 image 3670 (P5). Transcribed from img/IMG_R483_I3670_P5.png. P = clerk's interlinear; C = cipher line.
P: iter vestrum in Hollandiam continuare non
C: 100 440 60 180 419 210 130 100 140 144 340 20 130 152 140 428 146 260
P: possetis bene faventibus et iisdem
C: 257 96 380 386 190 68 428 190 321 485 213 379 428 270 149 153 340
P: quibus fuerit hic? pro? Exi-
C: 100 190 177 30 149 {clear: necesse} 343 60 457 200 14 60 280 47 300 189 {clear: genti}
P: a et interesse? nostro hic mora communicato?
C: 260 153 340 380 440 60 180 300 430 68 116 390 148 485 345 207 172
P: sentimenta ad Regis Poloniae
C: 415 76 461 438 68 140 428 295 260 {clear: eod(em)?} 51 257 403 430 416 20 300 383
P: Generalem Confoederationem? hic in Polonia
C: 260 464 130 177? 315 190 38 457 210 130 114 40 340 140 416 20 {clear: existen-}
P: m Spigel? nomina transmittito? li-
C: {clear: te} 130 190 400 340 373 120 96 315 445 {clear: tum?} 25 200 3000 60 457 190
P: teris per Saxoniam
C: 356 180 58 76 20 370 {clear: directis quantocius transcribito, ut modernas?}
P: adaequata
C: {clear: rer(um) conjuncturas seu in Pacem |: di?} 51 20 60 157 378 {clear: conciliari potest :|}
C: {clear: seu in Bellum tendentes rebus et interesse Patriae appropriare possimus.}
P: de progressi-
C: {clear: Quae de reliquo laetiores? Correspondentiae Nostrae} 362 47 80 257 190
P: bus armorum Muscoviticorum?
C: 148 30 149 181 150 18 130 405 428 152 18 130 {clear: attulerunt annuntiamus,}
C: {clear: ex quibus sibimet? sperari posse Bellum illud facili opere confe-}
P: Czar desiderante.
C: {clear: ctum iri} 292 150 362 148 362 207 140 440 60 1380 (followed by a long line-filling stroke)
P: Sumptus vestros
C: {clear: Quod} 268 130 160 59 190 419 276 {clear: attinet, circa illa quae reprobavimus, hac-?}
C: {clear: ms? abunde Vobis constare credimus, accomodare vos in posterum quoque}
P: qui? cujus? angustiae? nos
C: {clear: pro ratione Status et temporis} 302 384 190 20 380 453 430 428 260
P: quoque circumscribunt
C: 60 96 430 187 167 112 180 302 370 190 40 457 270 450 140 200 {clear: Sitis?}
P: particularium minime fidi-
C: 286 180 428 302 424 457 210 130 {clear: & informationibus} 315 76 235 253 432
P: te nisi directe a nobis venerint? in moder-
C: 200 60 76 148 432 257 40 440 300 20 96 361 190 379 300 457 140
P: nis enim circumstantiis cui fidendum
C: 440 340 380 {clear: modernis} 123 112 420 302 370 208 428 340 190 302 340 253
P: vix? decerni potest.
C: 362 140 43 130 300 430 200 439 220 362 92 180 76 386 440 60 190 200
P: indiscretum Magni Cancellarii? Regii
C: 340 380 432 430 40 257 59 130 {clear: procedendi modum} 145 457 92 120 424 457 100 257
P: Raday domino? Fablanski?
C: 403 340 207 312 230 {clear: ex Mandato Nostro} 13 340 96 204 30 85 140 190 480
P: (none)
C: 110 340 390 {clear: jam pridem praescribere debuit, supponendo vos iter Vestrum}
# note: a short stroke is written above 340 in this line
P: in Hollandiam continuasse
C: 340 380 144 100 260 370 152 140 428 146 20 190 68 {clear: ab eodem tamen}
P: cellarii Magni? ex?
C: {clear: etiam tempore Literas P(rae)dicti? Can-?} 92 120 424 457 340 145 457 {clear: ex} 43 350
P: Duklya se? ...jam?
C: 120 470 20 {clear: scripta accepimus, in quibus notificat} 68 439 445 204
P: semel vindemiae? acceptata
C: 130 68 235 120 {clear: adhuc tempore} 439 380 362 315 20 300 31 160 378
P: emanatis originalibus apud
C: 378 60 125 445 428 190 {clear: superinde} 390 457 403 445 25 30 149
# note: a stroke is written above 190; a long curved stroke under the end of the last line and a flourish below.
# foot of page: pencil/ink number "44" over "7" (archival foliation?); archive stamp "Országos Levéltár P szekció"; MNL sticker at left.

Transcription

R483_p6.txt

# R483 image 3671 (P6). Transcribed from img/IMG_R483_I3671_P6.png. P = clerk's interlinear; C = cipher line.
P: nos habitis? quietantiis? uti? nec? nolle sed? cum
C: 20 177 50 96 190 14 361 428 190 177 153 121 340 100 430 257 428_ 485_ 257 96 362
P: cujusdam Judaei? relinquere
C: 464 68 290 302 207 384 312 60 340 302 384 430 312 130 257 25 140 167
P: quia tamen
C: 257 {clear: ut adveniente Deputato Homine Nostro, eidem resignend(a).} 177 260 378 295_ 96
# note: a short stroke is written above the first 257
P: nos Authoritati? Consilii? nostri Oeconomici
C: 190 152 380 478 210 100 222 340 116 340 150 300 152 96 315 112 {clear: superinde}
P: emanato vinis? cistu?
C: 300 125 445 438 {clear: Nos ex integro satisfecisse credimus} 439 76 430 302 430 438
P: sic? ipsius a emanatio-
C: 432 20 60 134 315 76 430 340 160 148 149 260 {clear: tempore} 300 125 465 76 430
# note: a stroke is written above 160
P: nis quietantiarum? resignatis
C: 177 153 121 100 20 18 370 257 148 80 445 428 190 {clear: in locum destinatum} 268
P: sumptibus nostris transvectis et custodiae
C: 130 400 428 270 149 116 100 430 19 359 280 428 430 153 302 190 438 432
P: pure? relictis si quid damni ce? l-
C: 260 300 268 20 60 257 25 40 428 190 148 177 50 312 130 76 92 260
P: lani? Regio incuriam custodien-
C: 424 457 150 257 403 390 {clear: inde ob} 340 380 302 457 20 370 302 190 438
P: tium devenit nos illius reos esse
C: 432 60 140 428 210_ 370 60 379 340 440 96 190 340 120 25 149 257
P: minime vinis? Consili-
C: 276 60 190 68 315 76 235 {clear: arbitramur. Pro} 439 76 430 222 100 257
P: Regni Oeconomici
C: 80 76 150 300 152 96 315 112 {clear: Hegyio? anticipatam pecuniam ab eo}
P: cum
C: {clear: cui praeter ordines nostros debiti? praetendere potest, is enim} 172
P: misit? cum ceteris [a word struck through] e Erario?
C: 312 190 178 302 130 461 60 440 300 457 190 253 362 310 207 403
P: et nostro minime
C: 390 {clear: et pecuniam in proprios convertit usus} 153 116 20 300 315 76 235
P: subjacet potestati? (followed by a long stroke)
C: 268 30 204 92 200 386 440 300 218 340 1491 {clear: Caeterum gratia N(ost)ra}
C: {clear: Principali Vobis benigne propensi manemus. Leopoli die 27. Junii A(nn)o 1711.} (date underlined)
# Signature (autograph, large, with paraph): Franciscus Princeps
# Postscript, all in clear, below the signature (4 lines):
C: {clear: Stupemus de Instrumentis Mathematicis et ceteris Mangolio commissis, ad quorum so-?}
C: {clear: lutionem Assignatio quoque Vestra expedita est, nullam in literis Vestris mentio-}
C: {clear: nem fieri; ut ipsi ea omnia, quae ibidem conficienda commisimus, sine? mora tem-}
C: {clear: poris executioni mandentur, et huc transmittantur, Vobis serio injungere volumus.}
# No address on this page (lower part blank apart from the MNL sticker).

Decryption

R483_reading.md

# R483: Ferenc Rákóczi II to an envoy bound for Holland, Lwów (Leopoli), 27 June 1711 (MNL OL P237 Festetics 10. d. 2. 42-44), reading

Re-read 23 Oct 2026 (Claude Opus 5.5, REREAD_BRIEF batch b33); log in `R483_reread_log.md`. **Rests on the
contemporary clerk's interlinear decipherment** written over every ciphered stretch (2,524 of 2,531 groups), read
again on the six DECODE images (`IMG_R483_I3666_P1` .. `I3671_P6`), **with the clear passages of the letter read on
the same images and put in their place in each line**, and **the clerk's doubtful words settled by the key rebuilt
from his decipherment** (`R483_key_rebuilt.json`, decode by `research/reading_audit/b33_rk_dec.py`). Where the clerk
and the figures disagree the figures win and the change is listed in `R483_corrections.tsv` (e.g. *ab inimicitiis*
for the clerk's *ab Armistitiis*, *inimicitias suas* for *amicitiis fidis*, *tranquillos reddat animos* for his
letter-by-letter *Transi- l w s re d da f a ni m os*, *sine mora* for *hic mora*).

Several words are made of a cipher piece and a clear piece written side by side (*Ta*-**Bella**-*rius*,
**Copia**-*liter*, *ad*-**inveniri**, *an*-**nihil**-*arentur*, *jura*: **jura**-*mentum*, *ad*-**jura**-*ndi*,
*de*-**gente**-*s*, *saep*-**ius**, *nomina*-**tum**, *Exi*-**genti**-*a*, *do*-**lente**-*r*, *vi*-**duae**); they
are written as one word. Spelling as on the leaf; *rer(um)*, *N(ost)ra*, *P(rae)dicti*, *A(nn)o* expanded.
Conventions: `[?word]` partly carried (a doubtful clerk word or clear word the image does not settle); `[…]` unread;
`[word]` supplied (none). Struck words of the clerk (*Hungariae*, *sint*, *tamen*) are left out where the cipher has
nothing under them; where the cipher carries the word (*Hungariae*, *Hungaria* on p. 3) it is kept.

## Reading

Leopoli vigesima septima Junii 1711mo. Fideli nobis sincere dilecte. Supponimus redditas jam […] Vobis fuisse
Responsorias Literas nostras ad […] […] Vestras transmissas, et quid [?contineant], et annexis [?earundem] abunde […]
[…]nistris, in quonam cardine vertentur negotia nostra. His proinde quod tunc defuerat adjungimus, copiam nimirum
Tractatus sic dictae Pacis Carolianae, quam aula Viennensis jam Puncta [?Submissionis] appellat, una cum
[?animadversionibus], quae [?latens] venenum vobis et alliatis manifestare poterunt, ob quae illa acceptare obligationi
nostrae in Patriam consentaneum esse haud duximus. Nec nos fefellit opinio, quid enim minister quidam scribat
[?Viennae] hisce [?audivimus], et ex his omnibus alliatas quoque Potentias agnituras speramus justas et aequas rationes
nostras, ob quas ad [?concludendam] illam mente Imperatoris subjecta fraudulosam negotiationem ultimam manum admovere
renuimus. Verum prout Vobis in memoratis Literis nostris [?…] Literas ante [?Capitulationem] [?armistitii]
[?Generali] Palffio missas transmisimus, ita nunc quoque [?postreme] scriptas copiam communicamus, quae ipsi in
proprias quidem manus traditae fuere, sed Tabellarius denegato responso reversus est. Interea vero certum est
Palatinum in omnibus Hungariae Comitatibus Carolum archiducem pro Rege promulgasse, contra manifesta Jura et
Libertates Regni, quae similem Promulgationem pacatis [?prius] animis in universali Dieta Regni fieri debere
praescribunt. Et ipsemet articulus Dietae Posoniensis anni millesimi sexcentesimi octogesimi septimi, hic copialiter
annexus, quidnam praescribat fieri debere ante Promulgationem et agnitionem Regis abunde videre poterunt.

Agnoscent, speramus, si qui sine praejudicio sana conscientia de rebus nostris judicare voluerint, nos Regem extra
dietam promulgatum, non deposito praevio modo juramento suo, agnoscere non posse sine [?totali] ruina libertatum
nostrarum, quae profecto per haereditariae successionis praetensionem, et ne fors etiam futura [?in] [?agnitionem],
in tantum non laederentur aut annihilarentur quam per actum hunc, per quem juri suo Regibus Conditiones praescribendi
et illos super eas adjurandi cederet natio. Ac proinde Czaro Moscoviae et Rege Poloniarum hic existentibus,
Reipublicae Poloniae in Senatus consultum convocatae suo modo institimus, ut ope [?remediationis] reassumpta
Declarationem nostram pro justa agnoscere velint, qua mediante nos ab inimicitiis desistere velle affidavimus ad id
usque Tempus, donec Libertates et Leges nostras de novo [?latis] publicis actibus compertum non fuerit. Appromisimus
praeterea nos in promulganda libera dieta, habita sufficiente securitate, vel personaliter vel per plenipotentiarios
nostros comparere velle et eum pro Rege agnituros, qui legaliter agnitus et coronatus fuerit, eique juramentum
praestituros. Petimus proinde ut hacce declaratione nostra facta omnes in confoederatione nostra perseverantes
restituantur in integrum et bona nostra, interea quoque pro securitate personarum nostrarum in Polonia degentes
[?possidere] valeamus. Institimus prout dictum ut Potentiae supra memoratae haec effectuare velint, quae et operanda
suis ministris quoque commiserunt, et Securitatem nostram pacisque conciliationem Respublica expresso Senatusconsulti
statuto sanxit.

Ex adjuncta Literis Vestris Copia Literas generalium ordinum viduae Imperatrici regnanti scriptas profecto sat
dolenter videmus praecipitatam agnitionem Archiducis pro Rege Hungariae, ubi potius sperassemus praefatos omnes per
acta Mediationis negotiationum [?Tirnavii] [?ex] […] abunde [?informatos] esse debuisse […] Regem in Hungaria sine
observantia praemissorum promulgatum pro aequanimitate mediationis suae agnoscere non potuisse. Sperabamus enim eo
[?hacce] […] [?eos] [?teneri] ad restitutionem Libertatum nostrarum, in quibus nos manutenere velle saepius
appromiserunt, nec medium fortius adinveniri [?possibile] ad adjuvandos Nos, quam dilatio agnitionis hujus ad usque
effectuationem eorum, quae pro re communi et exoptanda securitate Religionum in Hungaria juste fieri debere
agnoverunt. Interim praeterea Nos suspicari posse credimus non satis sinceras fuisse toties repetitas assecurationes
alliatorum de restituendis et solidandis libertatibus nostris, sed tantum modo in id intendisse, ut pacatis quoquo
modo rebus Hungaricis diversionem armorum domus Austriacae [?ferrent]. Necessarium igitur judicamus, ut iis abunde
[?demonstretis] facile illos in opinione sua falli posse, qui nobis media non superexistere [?credunt]. At
continuationem belli in casu oppressionis nationalis [?subsecuturam], et qui imaginantur nationem ita a nobis
alienatam esse, ut ita melius exoptari potuisset […] millium hominum fidefragorum, nisi eos consensu nostro
lactasset, qui jam se deceptos esse [?credunt].

Et profecto hoc tempore reassument animum vindicandae libertatis, nisi ea ita assecurata fuerit, ut et nostros et
eorum tranquillos reddat animos. Patefacta sunt magna ex parte aulae Viennensis consilia per continuationem
inimicitiae Comitis Palfi contra arcem nostram Munkatsiensem facta. Spreta declaratione Nostra et praesidii jussu
Nostro facta, quam Vobis praesentibus adjungimus, quibus non obstantibus inimicitias suas sub Arce continuavit,
Tormenta contra eam adduxit et ad deditionem cogens contra omnis Leges arcem illam violenter a nobis occupavit. Nec
mirentur igitur alliati, in omnibus iis quae ad conservationem libertatum nostrarum apta [?judicaverimus] secure
procedere velle et nos in Statu conservarent […] quoque manutenere [?possimus], nisi nobis quantocius media
suppeditaverint ad assecurandas eas per firmam et stabilem securitatem, qua [?meliorem] vix suppeditari potest quam
per restitutionem libertatis Transylvaniae, quam in modernis rerum conjuncturis difficultare haud deberet Archidux, ut
conciliatis et devinctis ex integro Hungarorum animis Exercitum suum pro necessitate et exigentia rerum suarum
applicare posset.

Quod [?si] [?igitur] vosmetipsi ob statum Vestrum valetudinarium iter vestrum in Hollandiam continuare non possetis,
bene faventibus et iisdem quibus necesse fuerit haec pro Exigentia et interesse nostro sine mora communicato.
Sentimenta [?eodem] ad Regis Poloniae Generalem Commissarium hic in Polonia existentem Spigel nominatum transmittito,
[?literis] per Saxoniam directis quantocius transcribito, ut modernas rerum conjuncturas seu in Pacem, si adaequata
conciliari potest, seu in Bellum tendentes rebus et interesse Patriae appropriare possimus. Quae de reliquo
[?laetiores] Correspondentiae Nostrae de progressibus armorum Moscoviticorum attulerunt annuntiamus, ex quibus
firmiter sperari posse Bellum illud facili opere confectum iri, Czaro desiderante. Quod sumptus vestros attinet,
circa illa quae reprobavimus hactenus abunde Vobis constare credimus, accomodare vos in posterum quoque pro ratione
Status et temporis, cujus angustiae nos quoque circumscribunt. [?Literis] particularium et informationibus minime
fidite, nisi directe a nobis venerint; in modernis enim circumstantiis cui fidendum [?est] vix decerni potest.
Indiscretum procedendi modum Magni Cancellarii Regii Raday ex Mandato Nostro domino Jablonski […] jam pridem
[?perscribere] debuit, supponendo vos iter Vestrum in Hollandiam continuasse; ab eodem tamen etiam tempore Literas
praedicti Cancellarii Magni ex Duklya scriptas accepimus, in quibus notificat se vina jam semel adhuc tempore
vindemiae [?acceptata], emanatis superinde originalibus apud nos habitis quietantiis, retinere nolle, sed cura Judaei
cujusdam relinquere, ut adveniente Deputato Homine Nostro eidem resignenda.

Quia tamen nos […] Consilii nostri Oeconomici superinde emanato Nos ex integro satisfecisse credimus, vinis custodiae
hominis ipsius a tempore emanationis quietantiarum resignatis, in locum destinatum sumptibus nostris transvectis et
custodiae suae relictis, si quid damni cellario regio inde ob incuriam custodientium evenit, nos illius reos esse
minime arbitramur. Pro vinis [?Consilii] Regni Oeconomici Hegyio anticipatam pecuniam ab eo, cui praeter ordines
nostros debiti praetendere potest; is enim [?commisso] cum ceteris fidefragio et pecuniam in proprios convertit usus,
et nostrae minime subjacet potestati. Caeterum gratia Nostra Principali Vobis benigne propensi manemus. Leopoli die
27. Junii Anno 1711. Franciscus Princeps.

Stupemus de Instrumentis Mathematicis et ceteris Mangolio commissis, ad quorum solutionem Assignatio quoque Vestra
expedita est, nullam in literis Vestris mentionem fieri; ut ipsi ea omnia, quae ibidem conficienda commisimus, sine
mora temporis executioni mandentur, et huc transmittantur, Vobis serio injungere volumus.

## Notes

- Page breaks: p. 2 begins *videre poterunt*, p. 3 *commiserunt et Securitatem*, p. 4 *hominum fidefragorum*, p. 5
  *iter vestrum* (catchword `100 440` at the foot of p. 4), p. 6 *nos habitis quietantiis*.
- The p. 1 clear opening (*Supponimus redditas jam … abunde … -nistris*) is in a fast cursive hand that the DECODE
  image (2304 px wide) does not settle; five words stay open there.
- Names: *Palffio*, *Comitis Palfi* (János Pálffy); *Spigel*; *Raday* (Pál Ráday); *domino Jablonski* (key: `204` ia,
  `30` b, `85` lo, `140` n, `190` s, `480` ki; the clerk wrote *Fablanski*), the Polish Grand Chancellor, whose letters
  come *ex Duklya*; *Hegyio* (clear); *Mangolio* (clear, postscript).

Decryption

R483_clerk.txt

# R483, Rakoczi, Lwow 27 June 1711: the clerk's contemporary interlinear decipherment (cipher stretches) merged with the clear passages, line by line, from tr/R483_p*.txt. [clear: ...] = written in clear on the leaf; ? = doubtful reading.
[p. 1]
Leopoli vigesima septima Junii 1711mo Fideli
nobis sincere dilecte, | Supprimimus
[clear: reddita[s?] jam fecimus? Vobis fuisse Responsorias Literas nostras ad? Cz.? M.? Russorum?]
[clear: Vestras? transmissas, et quid continentis?, et annexis Carmodi? abunde percepimus?,]
[clear: nistris] ni quonam cardine vertentur negotia nostra
[clear: his proinde] quod tunc de-|fuerat adjungimus
copiam | Tractatus sic dictae Pacis [clear: nimirum]
Carolianae | aula Viennensi [clear: quam]
jam Puncta dubii? firmis? appellat, una
cum adversionibus? | quae latens?/haerens? venenum
vobis et alliatis manifestare poterunt
ob quae illa acceptare [clear: obligationi? nostrae?]
ni? Patriam? consentaneum esse haud
duximus | minister quidam [clear: nec nos fefellit opinio, quid enim]
scribat Viennae? hisce audivimus? | alliatas [clear: et ex his omnibus]
quoque Potentias agnituras speramus [clear: justas et aequas ra-]
[clear: tiones? nostras] ob quas ad convenientiam? illam mente
Imperatoris subjecta | fraudulosam
negotiationem | renuimus verum [clear: ultimam manum admovere]
[clear: Gerons? Vobis in memoratis Literis nostris Contenta? Literas?] ante Capi- [clear: ratio?]
nem amnistitii Grati? Palffio? [clear: missas transmisimus, ita nunc quoque Ro-?]
[clear: streme? scriptas? Copiam Communicamus, quae ipsi] non propias? quidem
manus | sed Ja- | nius? denegatu[r?] [clear: traditae fuere,] [clear: Bella]
responso? reversus est | certum est Pa- [clear: interea vero]
latinum in omnibus Hungariae Comitatibus
Carolum archiducem pro Rege promulgasse
contra | quae similem Pro- [clear: manifesta Jura et Libertates Regni]
mulgationem | Statuum? prius | animus in
[clear: universali] | Dieta Regni | debere rescribunt [clear: fieri;] [clear: Et ipse=? / Etipre=?]
[clear: mer?] articulus Dietae Posoniensis anni millesimi
sexcentesimi octogesimi septimi hic | liter annexus, quidnam [clear: Copia]
praescribat fieri debere ante Promulgationem
et agnitionem Regis | ____ (a stroke in place of words over 390..430) [clear: abunde]
[p. 2]
[clear: videre poterunt.] agnoscent | si qui sine Prae- [clear: Speramus] [clear: ju-]
[clear: dicio] sana conscientia de rebus nostris judicare
voluerint | nos Regem extra dietam promul- [clear: sint? (struck through)]
gatum non deposito | agnoscere non [clear: praevio modo]
posse sine | a ruina? [clear: libertatum nostrarum]
[clear: quae profecto] per haereditariae successionis praetentio-? (word hard: "metentio-")
nem et ne fors etiam | in ag- [clear: futura]
ria?/rip? tantum non crederentur?/haererentur? [clear: aut]
an | lacerentur?/carerentur? quam per actum hunc [clear: nihil] [clear: Per?]
[clear: quem] juri suo Regibus Con- | praescribendi? [clear: Divinis?]
et illos super eas | ad nos? cederet [clear: jura]
natio | Czaro Moscoviae et Rege [clear: Ac proinde]
Poloniarum (a struck "A") existentibus reipublicae
Poloniae in Senatus consultum convocatae duo? | mis-? [clear: modo]
(mi-)timus ut | re mediationis Reassumpta?/Reassumpto? [clear: ope]
Decla- | nem nostram pro justa agnoscere [clear: ratio]
velint? qua | n te | nos ab Armistitiis? [clear: media]
desistere velle (a word struck out: "abdicavimus"?) | ad id usque Tempus [clear: affidavimus]
donec | de nobis? lati? publicis? [clear: Libertates et Leges? nostras]
actibus cum | (a struck word, "tamen"?) non fuerit [clear: per] [clear: Appromisimus Praeterea]
nos in promulganda libera dieta habita suffici-
ente securitate vel personaliter vel per
plenipotentiarios nostros comparere velle et
eum pro Rege agnituros qui legaliter agni-
tus et coronatus | eique | mentum [clear: fuerit,] [clear: jura]
praestiturus, | Petimus [clear: proinde ut hacce declara-]
[clear: tione nostra facta] omnes in confoederatione nostra
perseverantes restituantur in integrum
et bona nostra | pro securitate per- [clear: interea quoque]
sonarum nostrarum in Polonia de | providere [clear: gente]
valeamus | (a struck word) | sinimus? / ...timus | Poten- [clear: prout dictum ut]
tiis | memoratae | velint quae [clear: supra] [clear: haec effectuare]
[clear: Et] operanda suis ministris quoque commiserunt
[p. 3]
et | in nostram pacisque conciliationem [clear: Securitate]
R[es]p[ubli]ca | Senatusconsulti statuto sanxit. [clear: Ex Resso? / Et Resso?]
[clear: Ex adjuncta Literis Vestris Copia? Literas] generalium ordinum? i [clear: Du[a]e?]
Imperatrici regnanti | profectus? at do- / prosecutas? ad do- [clear: scriptas]
[clear: lente?] r | videmus praecipitatam agnitionem archi-
ducis pro Rege (Hungariae struck through) | potius pera-?/nega-? [clear: ubi]
semus | omnes per acta [clear: praefato] [clear: Mediationis ne-]
[clear: gotiationum] Tirnavii? | debuisse Cor-? [clear: Ex simul? Literis? abunde informati esse]
Regem in (Hungaria struck through) | sine [clear: observantia praemissorum]
promulgatum pro aequanimitate mediationis
sunt? agnoscere non potuisse | hac [clear: Sperabamus enim eo]
ce quatione? eos? teneri? ad restitutionem Libertatum
nostrarum in quibus nos manutenere velle (a struck word "sp..") | appro- [clear: ius]
miserunt nec medium (fo- struck) fortius ad | ad [clear: inveniri possimus?]
adjuvandos Nos quam dilatio agnitionis hujus
ad usque effectuationem eorum [clear: quae pro]
se[?]cummuni? et | securitate Religionum in [clear: exoptanda]
Hungaria juste Regi debere agnoverunt [clear: interim pro-]
[clear: pterea Nos] suspicari posse credimus non satis
sinceras fuisse | assecurationes [clear: toties repetitas]
alliatorum de restituendis et solidandis liber-
tatibus nostris sed tantum modo [clear: in id intendisse,]
[clear: ut pacatis] quoquo modo rebus Hungaricis diversi-
sionem armorum domus Austriacae fecerit? necessarium
[clear: igitur] judicamus ut abunde demonstratis? fa- [clear: iis]
cile illos in opinione sua falli posse
qui nobis media non [clear: superesse credimus.]
[clear: At continuationem] belli in casu oppressioni natio-
nalis subsequuturae? et qui imaginantur nationem
ita a nobis alienatam esse | ut? | ita
nelius? / melius? | potuisset dict? millium? [clear: Exoptam?]
[p. 4]
hominum fidefragorum nisi eos consensu nostro [clear: eos]
lactasset qui se deceptos esse [clear: jam] [clear: Gaudent?]
Et in effectu hoc tempore reassument animum
vindicandae libertatis — nisi
e a ut et nostros et e o ru m Transi- [clear: ita assecurata fuerit]
l w? s? re d da f a ni m os magna [clear: Patefacta sunt]
ex parte aulae Viennensis consilia per
[clear: continuatione] in? inimicitiae? Comitis Palfi contra
arcem nostram Munkatsiensem Spe- [clear: facta,]
sa? et? pue? fidi? [clear: declaratione Nostra] [clear: jussu Nostro facta, quam]
[clear: Vobis praesentibus adjungimus, quibus] non obstantibus ami-
micitiis? fidis? sub Arce vit [clear: Continua]
Tormenta contra eam adduxit et ad dedi-
tionem cogens? contra mem? [clear: omnis legis?]
illam violenter a nobis accu-
pavit minentis? igitur allati? [clear: Nec]
[clear: in omnibus iis quae ad] conservationem libertatum
nostrarum apta piis? caverimus? ance? [clear: Secure?]
dere velle et nos in Statu [clear: Conservarent Casul-?]
[clear: trius? quoque manutenere persolvimus?] nisi nobis quanto-
cius media assecurantur [clear: suppeditaverint?]
eas per quae me- [clear: firmam et stabilem securitatem]
lior? sit? haberi? potest quam per Res-
titutionem libertatis Transylvaniae
difficultatis? [clear: quam in modernis rer(um) conjuncturis]
haud deberet Archidux ut conciliari? et de-
cipi? et Sistemi? [a word struck through] Hungarorum ani-
mis Exercitum [struck?] suum [clear: pro]
[clear: necessitate et exigentia rer(um) sua(rum)?] applicare pot-
est [clear: Quod digiti? vosmetipsi ob statum Vestrum valetudinarium]
[p. 5]
iter vestrum in Hollandiam continuare non
possetis bene faventibus et iisdem
quibus fuerit hic? pro? Exi- [clear: necesse] [clear: genti]
a et interesse? nostro hic mora communicato?
sentimenta ad Regis Poloniae [clear: eod(em)?]
Generalem Confoederationem? hic in Polonia [clear: existen-]
[clear: te] m Spigel? nomina transmittito? li- [clear: tum?]
teris per Saxoniam [clear: directis quantocius transcribito, ut modernas?]
[clear: rer(um) conjuncturas seu in Pacem |: di?] adaequata [clear: conciliari potest :|]
[clear: seu in Bellum tendentes rebus et interesse Patriae appropriare possimus.]
[clear: Quae de reliquo laetiores? Correspondentiae Nostrae] de progressi-
bus armorum Muscoviticorum? [clear: attulerunt annuntiamus,]
[clear: ex quibus sibimet? sperari posse Bellum illud facili opere confe-]
[clear: ctum iri] Czar desiderante.
[clear: Quod] Sumptus vestros [clear: attinet, circa illa quae reprobavimus, hac-?]
[clear: ms? abunde Vobis constare credimus, accomodare vos in posterum quoque]
[clear: pro ratione Status et temporis] qui? cujus? angustiae? nos
quoque circumscribunt [clear: Sitis?]
particularium minime fidi- [clear: & informationibus]
te nisi directe a nobis venerint? in moder-
nis enim circumstantiis cui fidendum [clear: modernis]
vix? decerni potest.
indiscretum Magni Cancellarii? Regii [clear: procedendi modum]
Raday domino? Fablanski? [clear: ex Mandato Nostro]
[clear: jam pridem praescribere debuit, supponendo vos iter Vestrum]
in Hollandiam continuasse [clear: ab eodem tamen]
[clear: etiam tempore Literas P(rae)dicti? Can-?] cellarii Magni? ex? [clear: ex]
Duklya se? ...jam? [clear: scripta accepimus, in quibus notificat]
semel vindemiae? acceptata [clear: adhuc tempore]
emanatis originalibus apud [clear: superinde]
[p. 6]
nos habitis? quietantiis? uti? nec? nolle sed? cum
cujusdam Judaei? relinquere
quia tamen [clear: ut adveniente Deputato Homine Nostro, eidem resignend(a).]
nos Authoritati? Consilii? nostri Oeconomici [clear: superinde]
emanato vinis? cistu? [clear: Nos ex integro satisfecisse credimus]
sic? ipsius a emanatio- [clear: tempore]
nis quietantiarum? resignatis [clear: in locum destinatum]
sumptibus nostris transvectis et custodiae
pure? relictis si quid damni ce? l-
lani? Regio incuriam custodien- [clear: inde ob]
tium devenit nos illius reos esse
minime vinis? Consili- [clear: arbitramur. Pro]
Regni Oeconomici [clear: Hegyio? anticipatam pecuniam ab eo]
[clear: cui praeter ordines nostros debiti? praetendere potest, is enim] cum
misit? cum ceteris [a word struck through] e Erario?
et nostro minime [clear: et pecuniam in proprios convertit usus]
subjacet potestati? (followed by a long stroke) [clear: Caeterum gratia N(ost)ra]
[clear: Principali Vobis benigne propensi manemus. Leopoli die 27. Junii A(nn)o 1711.]
[clear: Stupemus de Instrumentis Mathematicis et ceteris Mangolio commissis, ad quorum so-?]
[clear: lutionem Assignatio quoque Vestra expedita est, nullam in literis Vestris mentio-]
[clear: nem fieri; ut ipsi ea omnia, quae ibidem conficienda commisimus, sine? mora tem-]
[clear: poris executioni mandentur, et huc transmittantur, Vobis serio injungere volumus.]

Decryption: R483_key_read.txt

Reading

R483_reading.md

# R483: Ferenc Rákóczi II to an envoy bound for Holland, Lwów (Leopoli), 27 June 1711 (MNL OL P237 Festetics 10. d. 2. 42-44), reading

Re-read 23 Oct 2026 (Claude Opus 5.5, REREAD_BRIEF batch b33); log in `R483_reread_log.md`. **Rests on the
contemporary clerk's interlinear decipherment** written over every ciphered stretch (2,524 of 2,531 groups), read
again on the six DECODE images (`IMG_R483_I3666_P1` .. `I3671_P6`), **with the clear passages of the letter read on
the same images and put in their place in each line**, and **the clerk's doubtful words settled by the key rebuilt
from his decipherment** (`R483_key_rebuilt.json`, decode by `research/reading_audit/b33_rk_dec.py`). Where the clerk
and the figures disagree the figures win and the change is listed in `R483_corrections.tsv` (e.g. *ab inimicitiis*
for the clerk's *ab Armistitiis*, *inimicitias suas* for *amicitiis fidis*, *tranquillos reddat animos* for his
letter-by-letter *Transi- l w s re d da f a ni m os*, *sine mora* for *hic mora*).

Several words are made of a cipher piece and a clear piece written side by side (*Ta*-**Bella**-*rius*,
**Copia**-*liter*, *ad*-**inveniri**, *an*-**nihil**-*arentur*, *jura*: **jura**-*mentum*, *ad*-**jura**-*ndi*,
*de*-**gente**-*s*, *saep*-**ius**, *nomina*-**tum**, *Exi*-**genti**-*a*, *do*-**lente**-*r*, *vi*-**duae**); they
are written as one word. Spelling as on the leaf; *rer(um)*, *N(ost)ra*, *P(rae)dicti*, *A(nn)o* expanded.
Conventions: `[?word]` partly carried (a doubtful clerk word or clear word the image does not settle); `[…]` unread;
`[word]` supplied (none). Struck words of the clerk (*Hungariae*, *sint*, *tamen*) are left out where the cipher has
nothing under them; where the cipher carries the word (*Hungariae*, *Hungaria* on p. 3) it is kept.

## Reading

Leopoli vigesima septima Junii 1711mo. Fideli nobis sincere dilecte. Supponimus redditas jam […] Vobis fuisse
Responsorias Literas nostras ad […] […] Vestras transmissas, et quid [?contineant], et annexis [?earundem] abunde […]
[…]nistris, in quonam cardine vertentur negotia nostra. His proinde quod tunc defuerat adjungimus, copiam nimirum
Tractatus sic dictae Pacis Carolianae, quam aula Viennensis jam Puncta [?Submissionis] appellat, una cum
[?animadversionibus], quae [?latens] venenum vobis et alliatis manifestare poterunt, ob quae illa acceptare obligationi
nostrae in Patriam consentaneum esse haud duximus. Nec nos fefellit opinio, quid enim minister quidam scribat
[?Viennae] hisce [?audivimus], et ex his omnibus alliatas quoque Potentias agnituras speramus justas et aequas rationes
nostras, ob quas ad [?concludendam] illam mente Imperatoris subjecta fraudulosam negotiationem ultimam manum admovere
renuimus. Verum prout Vobis in memoratis Literis nostris [?…] Literas ante [?Capitulationem] [?armistitii]
[?Generali] Palffio missas transmisimus, ita nunc quoque [?postreme] scriptas copiam communicamus, quae ipsi in
proprias quidem manus traditae fuere, sed Tabellarius denegato responso reversus est. Interea vero certum est
Palatinum in omnibus Hungariae Comitatibus Carolum archiducem pro Rege promulgasse, contra manifesta Jura et
Libertates Regni, quae similem Promulgationem pacatis [?prius] animis in universali Dieta Regni fieri debere
praescribunt. Et ipsemet articulus Dietae Posoniensis anni millesimi sexcentesimi octogesimi septimi, hic copialiter
annexus, quidnam praescribat fieri debere ante Promulgationem et agnitionem Regis abunde videre poterunt.

Agnoscent, speramus, si qui sine praejudicio sana conscientia de rebus nostris judicare voluerint, nos Regem extra
dietam promulgatum, non deposito praevio modo juramento suo, agnoscere non posse sine [?totali] ruina libertatum
nostrarum, quae profecto per haereditariae successionis praetensionem, et ne fors etiam futura [?in] [?agnitionem],
in tantum non laederentur aut annihilarentur quam per actum hunc, per quem juri suo Regibus Conditiones praescribendi
et illos super eas adjurandi cederet natio. Ac proinde Czaro Moscoviae et Rege Poloniarum hic existentibus,
Reipublicae Poloniae in Senatus consultum convocatae suo modo institimus, ut ope [?remediationis] reassumpta
Declarationem nostram pro justa agnoscere velint, qua mediante nos ab inimicitiis desistere velle affidavimus ad id
usque Tempus, donec Libertates et Leges nostras de novo [?latis] publicis actibus compertum non fuerit. Appromisimus
praeterea nos in promulganda libera dieta, habita sufficiente securitate, vel personaliter vel per plenipotentiarios
nostros comparere velle et eum pro Rege agnituros, qui legaliter agnitus et coronatus fuerit, eique juramentum
praestituros. Petimus proinde ut hacce declaratione nostra facta omnes in confoederatione nostra perseverantes
restituantur in integrum et bona nostra, interea quoque pro securitate personarum nostrarum in Polonia degentes
[?possidere] valeamus. Institimus prout dictum ut Potentiae supra memoratae haec effectuare velint, quae et operanda
suis ministris quoque commiserunt, et Securitatem nostram pacisque conciliationem Respublica expresso Senatusconsulti
statuto sanxit.

Ex adjuncta Literis Vestris Copia Literas generalium ordinum viduae Imperatrici regnanti scriptas profecto sat
dolenter videmus praecipitatam agnitionem Archiducis pro Rege Hungariae, ubi potius sperassemus praefatos omnes per
acta Mediationis negotiationum [?Tirnavii] [?ex] […] abunde [?informatos] esse debuisse […] Regem in Hungaria sine
observantia praemissorum promulgatum pro aequanimitate mediationis suae agnoscere non potuisse. Sperabamus enim eo
[?hacce] […] [?eos] [?teneri] ad restitutionem Libertatum nostrarum, in quibus nos manutenere velle saepius
appromiserunt, nec medium fortius adinveniri [?possibile] ad adjuvandos Nos, quam dilatio agnitionis hujus ad usque
effectuationem eorum, quae pro re communi et exoptanda securitate Religionum in Hungaria juste fieri debere
agnoverunt. Interim praeterea Nos suspicari posse credimus non satis sinceras fuisse toties repetitas assecurationes
alliatorum de restituendis et solidandis libertatibus nostris, sed tantum modo in id intendisse, ut pacatis quoquo
modo rebus Hungaricis diversionem armorum domus Austriacae [?ferrent]. Necessarium igitur judicamus, ut iis abunde
[?demonstretis] facile illos in opinione sua falli posse, qui nobis media non superexistere [?credunt]. At
continuationem belli in casu oppressionis nationalis [?subsecuturam], et qui imaginantur nationem ita a nobis
alienatam esse, ut ita melius exoptari potuisset […] millium hominum fidefragorum, nisi eos consensu nostro
lactasset, qui jam se deceptos esse [?credunt].

Et profecto hoc tempore reassument animum vindicandae libertatis, nisi ea ita assecurata fuerit, ut et nostros et
eorum tranquillos reddat animos. Patefacta sunt magna ex parte aulae Viennensis consilia per continuationem
inimicitiae Comitis Palfi contra arcem nostram Munkatsiensem facta. Spreta declaratione Nostra et praesidii jussu
Nostro facta, quam Vobis praesentibus adjungimus, quibus non obstantibus inimicitias suas sub Arce continuavit,
Tormenta contra eam adduxit et ad deditionem cogens contra omnis Leges arcem illam violenter a nobis occupavit. Nec
mirentur igitur alliati, in omnibus iis quae ad conservationem libertatum nostrarum apta [?judicaverimus] secure
procedere velle et nos in Statu conservarent […] quoque manutenere [?possimus], nisi nobis quantocius media
suppeditaverint ad assecurandas eas per firmam et stabilem securitatem, qua [?meliorem] vix suppeditari potest quam
per restitutionem libertatis Transylvaniae, quam in modernis rerum conjuncturis difficultare haud deberet Archidux, ut
conciliatis et devinctis ex integro Hungarorum animis Exercitum suum pro necessitate et exigentia rerum suarum
applicare posset.

Quod [?si] [?igitur] vosmetipsi ob statum Vestrum valetudinarium iter vestrum in Hollandiam continuare non possetis,
bene faventibus et iisdem quibus necesse fuerit haec pro Exigentia et interesse nostro sine mora communicato.
Sentimenta [?eodem] ad Regis Poloniae Generalem Commissarium hic in Polonia existentem Spigel nominatum transmittito,
[?literis] per Saxoniam directis quantocius transcribito, ut modernas rerum conjuncturas seu in Pacem, si adaequata
conciliari potest, seu in Bellum tendentes rebus et interesse Patriae appropriare possimus. Quae de reliquo
[?laetiores] Correspondentiae Nostrae de progressibus armorum Moscoviticorum attulerunt annuntiamus, ex quibus
firmiter sperari posse Bellum illud facili opere confectum iri, Czaro desiderante. Quod sumptus vestros attinet,
circa illa quae reprobavimus hactenus abunde Vobis constare credimus, accomodare vos in posterum quoque pro ratione
Status et temporis, cujus angustiae nos quoque circumscribunt. [?Literis] particularium et informationibus minime
fidite, nisi directe a nobis venerint; in modernis enim circumstantiis cui fidendum [?est] vix decerni potest.
Indiscretum procedendi modum Magni Cancellarii Regii Raday ex Mandato Nostro domino Jablonski […] jam pridem
[?perscribere] debuit, supponendo vos iter Vestrum in Hollandiam continuasse; ab eodem tamen etiam tempore Literas
praedicti Cancellarii Magni ex Duklya scriptas accepimus, in quibus notificat se vina jam semel adhuc tempore
vindemiae [?acceptata], emanatis superinde originalibus apud nos habitis quietantiis, retinere nolle, sed cura Judaei
cujusdam relinquere, ut adveniente Deputato Homine Nostro eidem resignenda.

Quia tamen nos […] Consilii nostri Oeconomici superinde emanato Nos ex integro satisfecisse credimus, vinis custodiae
hominis ipsius a tempore emanationis quietantiarum resignatis, in locum destinatum sumptibus nostris transvectis et
custodiae suae relictis, si quid damni cellario regio inde ob incuriam custodientium evenit, nos illius reos esse
minime arbitramur. Pro vinis [?Consilii] Regni Oeconomici Hegyio anticipatam pecuniam ab eo, cui praeter ordines
nostros debiti praetendere potest; is enim [?commisso] cum ceteris fidefragio et pecuniam in proprios convertit usus,
et nostrae minime subjacet potestati. Caeterum gratia Nostra Principali Vobis benigne propensi manemus. Leopoli die
27. Junii Anno 1711. Franciscus Princeps.

Stupemus de Instrumentis Mathematicis et ceteris Mangolio commissis, ad quorum solutionem Assignatio quoque Vestra
expedita est, nullam in literis Vestris mentionem fieri; ut ipsi ea omnia, quae ibidem conficienda commisimus, sine
mora temporis executioni mandentur, et huc transmittantur, Vobis serio injungere volumus.

## Notes

- Page breaks: p. 2 begins *videre poterunt*, p. 3 *commiserunt et Securitatem*, p. 4 *hominum fidefragorum*, p. 5
  *iter vestrum* (catchword `100 440` at the foot of p. 4), p. 6 *nos habitis quietantiis*.
- The p. 1 clear opening (*Supponimus redditas jam … abunde … -nistris*) is in a fast cursive hand that the DECODE
  image (2304 px wide) does not settle; five words stay open there.
- Names: *Palffio*, *Comitis Palfi* (János Pálffy); *Spigel*; *Raday* (Pál Ráday); *domino Jablonski* (key: `204` ia,
  `30` b, `85` lo, `140` n, `190` s, `480` ki; the clerk wrote *Fablanski*), the Polish Grand Chancellor, whose letters
  come *ex Duklya*; *Hegyio* (clear); *Mangolio* (clear, postscript).

Translation

R483_en.md

# R483: Ferenc Rákóczi II to an envoy bound for Holland, Lwów, 27 June 1711, English

Translation of `R483_reading.md` (23 Oct 2026, Claude Opus 5.5), with the same holes: `[?word]` uncertain, `[…]`
unread. Modern spelling of names here only.

## Translation

Lwów, the twenty-seventh of June 1711. Faithful, sincerely beloved to us. We suppose that our letters in answer to
[…] […] your letters, already […], have been delivered to you, and what they [?contain], and from the annexes [?of
them] […] fully […] in what hinge our affairs will turn. To these we therefore add what was lacking then, namely a
copy of the treaty of the so-called Peace of Charles [Szatmár], which the Viennese court now calls Points of
[?Submission], together with [?remarks] which will be able to show you and the allies the [?hidden] poison, because of
which we did not consider it consistent with our obligation to our country to accept them. Nor were we mistaken in
our opinion: for what a certain minister writes [?in Vienna] we [?have heard] by these, and from all this we hope that
the allied Powers too will recognise the just and fair reasons for which we refused to put the last hand to [?concluding]
that fraudulent negotiation, subject to the mind of the Emperor. And just as in our said letters we sent you [?…] the
letters sent to [?General] Pálffy before the [?capitulation] of the [?armistice], so now we also communicate a copy of
those written [?last], which were indeed handed to him into his own hands; but the courier came back with an answer
refused. Meanwhile it is certain that the Palatine has proclaimed Archduke Charles king in all the counties of
Hungary, against the manifest rights and liberties of the Kingdom, which prescribe that such a proclamation must be
made, minds [?first] being pacified, in a general Diet of the Kingdom. And the very article of the Diet of Pozsony of
the year 1687, annexed here in copy, will show them fully what it prescribes must be done before the proclamation and
recognition of a King.

Those who will judge our affairs without prejudice and with a sound conscience will recognise, we hope, that we cannot
recognise a King proclaimed outside a diet, who has not first taken his oath in the due manner, without the [?total]
ruin of our liberties; which indeed would not be harmed or annihilated so much by the claim of hereditary succession,
and lest perhaps even future ones [?in] [?recognition], as by this act, by which the nation would yield its right of
prescribing conditions to its kings and of binding them by oath to them. And therefore, the Tsar of Muscovy and the
King of Poland being here, we have pressed the Polish Republic, assembled in a Senate council in its own way, to
recognise our declaration as just, its [?mediation] being resumed; by means of which [declaration] we affirmed that we
are willing to desist from hostilities until such time as it is established by public acts that our liberties and
laws have been [?restored] anew. We promised moreover that, given sufficient security, we would appear at the
proclamation of a free diet either in person or through our plenipotentiaries, and would recognise as King him who
has been lawfully recognised and crowned, and would swear the oath to him. We therefore ask that, this declaration of
ours being made, all who persevere in our confederation be restored in full, and our goods, and that meanwhile for
the security of our persons we, living in Poland, may [?hold (them)]. We have pressed, as was said, that the Powers
mentioned above will bring this about, which they have also entrusted to their ministers to work on; and the Republic
has sanctioned our security and the reconciliation of peace by an express statute of the Senate council.

From the copy, added to your letters, of the letter of the general estates written to the widowed reigning Empress,
we see indeed with great sorrow the precipitate recognition of the Archduke as King of Hungary, where we would rather
have hoped that all the aforesaid, from the acts of the mediation of the negotiations [?at Nagyszombat] […], ought to
have been fully [?informed] that […] they could not, for the even-handedness of their mediation, recognise a King
proclaimed in Hungary without observing the premises. For we hoped [?that by this] […] [?they] [?were bound] to the
restoration of our liberties, in which they often promised they wished to maintain us, and that no stronger means
could be found to help us than the delay of this recognition until the execution of those things which they
acknowledged ought justly to be done for the common good and for the much-desired security of the religions in
Hungary. Meanwhile, moreover, we believe we may suspect that the so often repeated assurances of the allies about
restoring and consolidating our liberties were not sincere enough, but that they only aimed at this: that, Hungarian
affairs being pacified in any way, they would [?bring] a diversion of the arms of the House of Austria. We therefore
judge it necessary that you show them fully that those who believe we have no means left can easily be wrong in their
opinion. But [as to] the continuation of the war [?which will follow] in case of the oppression of the nation, and
those who imagine that the nation is so estranged from us that […] of thousands of faithless men could thus better be
wished for, had we not with our consent soothed them, who [?believe] they have now been deceived.

And indeed at this time they will take up again the spirit of claiming their liberty, unless it is so secured that it
makes both our minds and theirs tranquil. The designs of the Viennese court have been largely revealed by the
continuation of Count Pálffy's hostility against our castle of Munkács. Our declaration, and the one made by our order
to the garrison, which we add to the present, being disregarded, notwithstanding which he continued his hostilities
below the castle, brought cannon against it and, forcing it to surrender against all laws, occupied that castle by
force from us. Let the allies therefore not wonder that in all things we [?have judged] fit for preserving our
liberties [we] wish to proceed securely, and they would keep us in [our] state […] also maintain, [?we can], unless
they have supplied us as soon as possible with the means of securing them through a firm and stable security, [?than]
which a better can hardly be supplied than through the restoration of the liberty of Transylvania, which in the
present conjuncture the Archduke ought not to make difficulties over, so that, the minds of the Hungarians being won
and bound entirely, he could apply his army according to the necessity and exigency of his affairs.

[?If] [?therefore] you yourself, because of your state of health, could not continue your journey to Holland, you are
to communicate this without delay, as the need of our interest requires, to those who are well disposed and to whom
it shall be necessary. You are to send [?the same] views to the King of Poland's Commissary General, a man named
Spiegel, who is here in Poland, and to write them out as soon as possible in [?letters] directed through Saxony, so
that we can adapt the present conjuncture, whether tending to peace (if a suitable one can be made) or to war, to our
affairs and the interest of our country. Further we announce what [?happier] news our correspondents have brought of
the progress of the Muscovite arms, from which it can firmly be hoped that that war will be finished with easy labour,
as the Tsar desires. As for your expenses, we believe it is fully clear to you what we have so far disapproved; [you
are] to adapt yourself in future too to the state of affairs and of the times, whose straits restrict us as well.
Trust least of all [?letters] and information from private persons, unless they come directly from us; for in the
present circumstances it can hardly be decided whom one should trust. Ráday ought long ago, by our order, to have
[?written] to Lord Jabłonowski […] about the indiscreet way of proceeding of the Royal Grand Chancellor, assuming that
you had continued your journey to Holland; but at the same time we received letters of the said Grand Chancellor
written from Dukla, in which he notifies that he does not want to keep the wines once [?accepted] still at vintage
time, the original receipts having been issued about them and being held by us, but to leave them in the care of a
certain Jew, to be handed over to our deputed man when he comes.

But since we believe that we have satisfied [the matter] entirely by [the decision] of our Economic Council issued on
it […], the wines having been consigned to the custody of his own man from the time the receipts were issued, carried
at our expense to the appointed place and left in his custody, if any damage has befallen the royal cellar through
the carelessness of the keepers, we do not consider ourselves answerable for it. For the wines, the money advanced to
Hegyi of the [?Council] of the Realm's Economy [is to be claimed] from him to whom he can claim [it] as owed beyond our
orders; for he, [?having committed] a breach of faith with the others, has turned the money to his own uses, and is
not at all subject to our authority. For the rest we remain benignly inclined to you with our princely favour. Lwów,
27 June, year 1711. Francis, Prince.

We are astonished that no mention is made in your letters of the mathematical instruments and other things ordered
from Mangold, for whose payment your assignation too has been dispatched; we wish to enjoin you seriously that all
those things which we ordered to be made there be carried out without delay and sent here.

Key: R483_key_rebuilt.json

05 Sources

Magyar Nemzeti Levéltár (MNL OL), P237 Festetics 10. d. 2. 42–44. Images are on DECODE (login) and are not reproduced, as the archive requires.
DECODE R483 (images 3666–3671).

Transcription, aligner, rebuilt key and its reading: targets/rakoczi1711/ in the repository.

Ferenc Rákóczi II to an envoy, Lwów, 27 June 1711

01 The letter

02 What it says

03 The decipherment and the key

04 What remains uncertain

Full texts

R483, Lwów, 27 June 1711 read in part

05 Sources