Rusdorff to Oxenstierna (London 1625)

At a glanceCiphertext-only break · complete

The letters: Johann Joachim von Rusdorff, envoy of the exiled Elector Palatine Frederick V in London, to Axel Oxenstierna: 15/25 February 1625, 26 February 1625 (old style), and the opening of a third, undated letter. All in Latin.
Where: Riksarkivet, Stockholm, Oxenstierna af Södermöre, Ser. B, E 701; DECODE R4336 and R4337, catalogued as The Hague, 1628, not deciphered.
The cipher: Key words only. Each letter has three two-digit numbers 24 apart (A = 16, 40, 64), and three-digit codes stand for names and words in alphabetical order (187 Britannicus … 760 Rusdorff).
How it was solved: George Lasry transcribed the five photographs in CTTS, took the letter table from its built-in cryptanalysis and the 24-step rule, and recovered the codes with Claude Opus 5.5 from context and the Latin endings written beside them. Re-checked here mechanically and statistically.
What it says: London welcomes the secret Swedish proposals but leans to Christian IV of Denmark, whose terms are modest; Buckingham prepares to fetch the French bride, but the papal dispensation and Parliament stand in the way; France offers 500,000 livres to the confederation.
Credit: Key, transcription, edited Latin and translation by George Lasry (pull request 72, 21 October 2026).
Still open: Codes 628 and 701, and 24 code readings marked tentative. The pages missing from the photographs.

These two DECODE records were filed on this site with three other Rusdorff letters from the same volume, R4333–R4335. Those are a different cipher, with their own page: R4333 is in German and uses numbers from 8 to 107, which this table does not have.

01The key

The opening lines of Rusdorff's letter of 15/25 February 1625: Latin handwriting with runs of two-digit numbers and three-digit codes with endings written above them — The opening of the first letter. *Multa possem de* 38·32·24·34·56·19·25·62·86·49·37·73·38 (*secretissimis*) *illis* 678^bus (*propositionibus*) et 490^ne… The British envoy’s name follows as a run of letter signs: *Roberto Enstrutero*. Image: Riksarkivet, Stockholm, Oxenstierna af Södermöre Ser. B, E 701, Rusdorff to Oxenstierna 15/25 Feb. 1625, image 1, via DECODE R4336.

Rusdorff enciphered only the words that mattered: kings, envoys, places, numbers and a few sensitive nouns. The rest of the Latin is in clear. There are two kinds of cipher group.

Two-digit numbers for letters. The alphabet has 24 letters (I/J and U/V shared), and each has three numbers exactly 24 apart: A is 16, 40 or 64; B is 20, 44 or 68. Inside the first range the letters step by 4 in runs of six: A–F are 16 to 36, G–M 17 to 37, N–S 18 to 38, T–Z 19 to 39. U and V share 23. W, Y and Z do not occur in these letters.
Three-digit codes for words. They run from 187 to 760 in alphabetical order of their meanings: 418 Gallia, 428 Germania, 517 Legatus, 526 Londini, 620 Palatinatus, 631 Parlamentum, 678 Propositio, 738 Rex Galliae, 740 Rex Magnae Britanniae, 744 Rex, 745 Rex Daniae, 746 Rex Sueciae, 760 Rusdorff. Rusdorff wrote the Latin ending in clear above a code: 678^bus is propositionibus, 517^to is legato.

Key chart: the 24 letters with their three homophones each, and the 38 three-digit codes with their meanings — George Lasry’s key. Bold numbers occur in the letters; grey ones follow from the 24-step rule. Codes in italics with a question mark are tentative; a question mark alone is unknown. Image: George Lasry, key chart drawn from DECODE R4336–R4337 (Riksarkivet E 701).

02London, 15/25 February 1625

DECODE R4336, images 1 and 2. Rusdorff has been shown the secret Swedish proposals for restoring the Palatinate, put to the British envoy Sir Robert Anstruther. London received them eagerly, but Christian IV of Denmark’s offer weighs more: kinship, nearness and modest terms. The decision is left to the next meeting of the confederates. In the text below, bold was enciphered, [code: reading?] is a tentative code and [code?] an unknown one.

The first page of the letter with George Lasry's decipherment written in red above each cipher group — The first page with George Lasry’s decipherment above each group, in red. Image: Riksarkivet, E 701, image 1 of DECODE R4336; decipherment overlay by George Lasry.

S.P. Illustrissime Domine,

Multa possem de secretissimis illis propositionibus et [490: intentione?] Regis Legato Britannico Roberto Enstrutero exposita et declarata de rebus in Germania collapsis, Palatinatu et [636: Principe?] restituendis, scribere: nam Legatus ipse, sub fide quidem religiosi silentii, cuncta mihi communicavit, et suas [701?]es le(g)endas exhiberi curavit. Sed cum sciam Invictissimum Regem Sueciae de omnibus istis tam ab [363: Electore?], cum quo Rex Daniae ea de causa [444: Hamburgi?] convenire et colloqui statuit, quam aliunde, certiorem fieri, merito supersedeo prolixus et fastidio esse longa recitatione. Hoc saltem quasi per transennam dicam, propositiones istas summa cum animi alacritate hic acceptas, et eo magis aestimatas fuisse, quo inopinatius et contra spem in melius mutatus videbatur Regis in rem publicam animus. Jam in eo sunt ut viam ac media anquirant, quibus utrique regi, et Sueciae et Daniae, satisfieri queat: nam [598: oblationes?] utriusque tales sunt, ut nullo modo, absque detrimento boni publici, negligi possint. Pro Rege Daniae plurimae causae apud Regem Magnae Britanniae considerationem movebunt, ut sunt affinitas vetus, necessitudo, vicina [734: regnorum?] coniunctio; praesertim quod valde moderata sint ea, quae Rex exigat. Nam sex tantum millia peditum et equitum mille cum tormentis, pulvere et reliquis appertinentibus ab Rege Magnae Britanniae petit, ex sua parte quatuor peditum millia et equitum unum offerens, et reliquum onus belli a [670: Proceribus?] [429: Germaniae?] sustineri et procurari posse sperans.

Sed causa ista, et quomodo cuncta accommodari possint, relicta Regis Sueciae [302: declaratione?], belli in proximo conventu [240: Confoederatorum?] examinabitur: proinde necesse erit, ut Legati eo mittendi in eum finem sufficientibus mandatis instruantur, ne tempus inutiliter teratur, et consilia absque fructu sint, in fumum abeant magnanimi isti conatus. Si interea Ser.mus [747: Rex Sueciae?] aliquid ea de re praemonere et praecipere velit, quae sint Regis Magnae Britanniae animo melius praeparando et in priori sententia confirmando, parati promtique erimus exequendi: et hic praecipuus finis est harum literarum, quas benigna fronte Ill.ma Dom.o V.ra accipiet, et inde perspiciet me nullam occasionem praetermittere velle, qua devotum meum obsequium indicio aliquo declarem et prodam. Ill.m V.m Dom.m Deus diu incolumem florentemque in solatium attritae rei Christianae et in bonum florentissimo Regi Regnoque Sueciae conservet sospitetque. Dabam Londini 15/25 februarii 1625.

V.a Ill.ma Dom.is [the subscription continues beyond the photographed page]

English translation (George Lasry)

Most illustrious Lord,

I could write much about those most secret propositions and the [intention?] of the King, set out and declared to the British envoy Robert Anstruther, concerning the affairs that have collapsed in Germany and the restoration of the Palatinate and its [Prince?]: for the envoy himself, under the pledge of religious silence, communicated everything to me and had his [701?] shown to me to read. But since I know that the most invincible King of Sweden will be informed of all this both by the [Elector?], with whom the King of Denmark has resolved to meet and confer on this matter at [Hamburg?], and from elsewhere, I rightly refrain from being prolix and from wearying you with a long account. This much I will say, as if through a lattice: those propositions were received here with the greatest eagerness, and were valued all the more because the King’s disposition towards the common cause seemed, unexpectedly and against hope, to have changed for the better. They are now seeking a way and means to satisfy both kings, of Sweden and of Denmark, for the [offers?] of each are such that they cannot be neglected without harm to the public good. In favour of the King of Denmark many reasons will weigh with the King of Great Britain: the old kinship, close relationship, the neighbouring union of the [kingdoms?]; above all, that what the King asks is very moderate. For he asks of the King of Great Britain only six thousand foot and a thousand horse, with artillery, powder and the other appurtenances, offering on his own part four thousand foot and one thousand horse, and hoping that the rest of the burden of the war can be borne and provided for by the [princes?] of [Germany?].

But this business, and how everything can be accommodated, setting aside the King of Sweden’s [declaration?], will be examined at the next meeting of the [Confederates?] on the war: so the envoys to be sent there must be furnished with sufficient powers for that purpose, lest time be wasted, the deliberations come to nothing, and these magnanimous efforts end in smoke. If in the meantime his Serene Majesty the [King of Sweden?] wishes to advise or direct anything on this, which might serve to prepare the mind of the King of Great Britain better and to confirm him in his earlier view, we shall be ready and prompt to carry it out. And this is the chief purpose of this letter, which Your Most Illustrious Lordship will receive with a kindly countenance, and from it perceive that I wish to let pass no opportunity of declaring and showing my devoted service by some token. May God long preserve Your Most Illustrious Lordship safe and flourishing, for the comfort of the worn-down Christian cause and for the good of the most flourishing King and Kingdom of Sweden. Given at London, 15/25 February 1625.

03London, 26 February 1625

DECODE R4337, images 1 and 2. The first page of this letter is not among the photographs. The answer to Anstruther is still unknown; Buckingham prepares a magnificent journey to France for the royal wedding, but the papal dispensation came with harsh clauses, and people and Parliament dislike Catholic marriages. Signed with code 760, Rusdorff.

[The beginning of the letter is not among the photographs.] … illi scopum sibi certum, nec dicunt apertius quid velint; nos etiam a vero tramite, quem calcare instituimus, non deflectemus. Quid responsum sit proprie Legato [187: Britannico?] D.no Anstrutero ad propositiones Regias, nondum adhuc plane scio: quae tamen scimus, illa Illustris Dominus Spens perscribit; ego nihil addere possum ultimis meis 25/15 febr. scriptis.

Quanquam Dux Bukinga[m] magnifico et sumtuoso apparatu iter suum in Galliam adornet, et ubique ad nuptias fiant regiae praeparationes, tamen matrimonium videtur iterum aliquam tragulum et sufflaminationem pati: Dispensatio quidem a Papa concessa est, sed cum [637: principalibus?] insertis, quae videantur aliquo modo duriuscula et vix posse accipi sine aliqua concussione aut agitatione huius status; ne dicam iam Regem Galliae praetendere et petere, sicut rumor crebrescit non sine fundamento, ut a Parlamento arti(i)culi prius ratihabeantur et approbentur, quam matrimonium consumatur. Sciunt enim populum Parlamentumque, ut oppido quam vehementem zelotypiamque [388: executionis?] legum in [629: Papistas?], non amare matrimonia cum [635: Pontificiis?], utpote quae non possint contrahi sine larga indulgentia in [628?]is [635: Pontificiae?] professores. Deinde articuli, quorum iam vulgata est notitia, videntur illis, si non duriores, attamen aeque duri ac illi, qui in favorem [458: Hispaniae?] ante biennium pacti fuerunt. Dicendum iam est, quomodo haec superanda sint: a tempore, mora et occasione, et a prudenti persuasione et Domin[…] consilia et remedia petuntur. Sed de his suo tempore plura, cum sine nube solem inspicere poterimus.

Valeat Ampl.ma V.ra Dig.tas, et hanc importunitatem, quam amor in publicum expressit, aequi bonique consulat. Dabam Londini 26 Febr. veteri stylo 1625.

Illus.ma V.a Dig.ti omni obsequio addictus Rusdorff

English translation (George Lasry)

[The beginning of the letter is not among the photographs.] … they have a fixed aim and do not say more openly what they want; we too shall not turn aside from the true path we have resolved to tread. What exactly has been answered to the [British?] envoy, Lord Anstruther, on the royal propositions, I do not yet clearly know; what we do know, the illustrious Lord Spens is reporting in full, and I can add nothing to my last letter of 15/25 February.

Although Duke Buckingham is preparing his journey to France with magnificent and costly display, and royal preparations for the wedding are being made everywhere, the marriage nevertheless seems once again to meet some snag and delay. The dispensation has indeed been granted by the Pope, but with [principal?] clauses inserted that seem somewhat harsh and hardly acceptable without some shock or disturbance to this state; not to mention that the King of France now claims and demands, as rumour increasingly reports, and not without foundation, that the articles first be ratified and approved by Parliament before the marriage is consummated. For they know that the people and Parliament, most vehemently zealous as they are for the [execution?] of the laws against the [Papists?], do not love marriages with [Catholics?], since these cannot be contracted without broad indulgence towards those who profess the [628?] [Catholic?] religion. Moreover, the articles, whose content is already publicly known, seem to them, if not harsher, at least as harsh as those agreed two years ago in favour of [Spain?]. How these difficulties are to be overcome must now be said: counsel and remedies are sought from time, delay and opportunity, and from prudent persuasion and the Lord[…]. More on this in due course, when we can look at the sun without clouds.

Farewell, Your Most Ample Dignity, and take in good part this importunity, which love for the common cause has drawn from me. Given at London, 26 February, old style, 1625. Your Most Illustrious Dignity’s, devoted with all obedience, Rusdorff

04A third letter, undated

DECODE R4337, image 3: the beginning of a further letter. The Brandenburg agent Christian Bellin will have reported how far the confederation has come in France. The King of France promises to join and to advance 500,000 livres tournois, on condition that he and the King of Great Britain jointly arbitrate all disputes in Germany, for Catholics and Protestants alike. Rusdorff advises accepting, with safeguards.

Illustrissime Domine,

Quanquam haud dubitem Nobil.m Dom. Belinium perscripsisse, quousque res circa [238: Confoederationem?] ineundam perducta sint in Gallia, tamen si fortasse, ut fieri solet, literae ipsius non fuissent redditae, aliquid etiam significare volui, qui superfluam cautelam non nocere ex Jurisconsultorum regulis didici. Rex Galliae non tantum valde approbat intentionem et dispositionem [670: Procerum?], sed in [239: Confoederationem?] intrare etiam, et sua [258: consilia?] promittit. Mentio jam facta fuit m/500 librarum turnensium, quas in anticipationem numerare paratum fore spem facit. Sed conditio annectitur, ut, quoniam omnia bella tandem sopiantur et finiantur pactis et transactionibus, Rex Galliae Rex Magnae Britanniaeque coniunctim arbitri sint pactorum et [236: conditionum?], componantque omnes alias controversias, quae essent oritura[e] in Germania inter [670: Proceres?]. Nihil aliud intenditur hoc pacto, quam ut aeque Romanorum et ecclesiasticorum quam protes(t)antium et secularium curam habere causamque ex pari tueri velint. Sed utrum omnino Galli hoc pacto circumscripta et definita esse velint ipsorum auxilia, sicuti ex coniectura timeo, hoc Dominus Belinius brevi dicet, cum quo ea de re consultare constituerunt. Si aliter non possumus, et ne demus occasionem suspicionis, acceptanda est nobis illa conditio; JC.torum praescripto utendum erit, ut terminis scilicet habilibus illas salvo iure accipiamus et intelligamus, quod fortuna et prosper successus nobis progressu temporis concedent. Si retinent … [continues beyond the photographed page]

English translation (George Lasry)

Most illustrious Lord,

Although I do not doubt that the noble Lord Bellin has written in full how far matters concerning entering into the [Confederation?] have been brought in France, yet in case his letters, as often happens, have not been delivered, I wished to report something too, having learnt from the rules of the jurists that superfluous caution does no harm. The King of France not only warmly approves the intention and disposition of the [princes?], but also promises to enter the [Confederation?], and offers his [counsels?]. Mention has already been made of 500,000 livres tournois, which he gives hope he will be ready to pay in advance. But a condition is attached: that, since all wars are at last settled and ended by treaties and agreements, the King of France and the King of Great Britain should jointly be arbiters of the treaties and [conditions?], and settle all other disputes that might arise in Germany among the [princes?]. Nothing else is intended by this arrangement than that they should be willing to care for, and defend on equal terms, the cause of the Roman and ecclesiastical as much as of the Protestant and secular estates. But whether the French really wish their help to be circumscribed and defined in this way, as I conjecture and fear, Lord Bellin, with whom they have decided to consult on this matter, will soon tell. If we cannot do otherwise, and so as not to give occasion for suspicion, we must accept that condition; we shall follow the prescription of the jurists, accepting and understanding the terms in suitable form, without prejudice to our rights, as fortune and prosperous success will grant us in the course of time. If they retain … [continues beyond the photographed page]

05Context

Rusdorff (1589–1640) was Frederick V’s envoy in London from 1622 to 1627. These letters fall in the last weeks of James I’s reign; he died on 27 March (6 April) 1625. They belong to the negotiations of 1624–25 for a Protestant coalition to win back the Palatinate. Gustavus Adolphus and Christian IV both offered to lead an army in Germany, and the first letter explains why the Danish offer weighed more in London. The coalition that followed, the Hague alliance of December 1625, joined England, Denmark and the United Provinces without Sweden. Sir Robert Anstruther was the British envoy to Denmark and the German princes; Sir James Spens served both James I and Gustavus Adolphus.

The second letter is about the French marriage of Prince Charles and Henrietta Maria. Buckingham went to Paris to fetch the bride in May 1625. Parliament feared that the marriage articles would suspend the laws against Catholics, as the articles of the Spanish match had promised in 1623.

06How the key was found

George Lasry transcribed the five photographs in CTTS (CrypTool Transcriber and Solver), boxing each two-digit group, each three-digit code and each stretch of clear text. CTTS’s built-in cryptanalysis gave a first letter table; the 24-step rule completed it, and every letter sign in the five images fits it. Claude Opus 5.5 then recovered the codes from their context and the Latin endings beside them. The alphabetical order of the codes was the check: each reading must fall between its neighbours.

Checked here on 21 October 2026:

Mechanically. decode.py applies George’s key file to his transcription and gives the same counts: 438 cipher groups, 376 letter signs (every one with a value) and 62 codes (36 confident, 24 tentative, 2 unknown). R4336 has 183 groups, R4337 255.
Statistically (docs/_validate.py, Latin letter model, letter signs only). The reading scores −2.00 per letter; random keys of the same shape score −5.20 (7.4 standard deviations lower), and a key fitted to the same signs shuffled scores −2.72 (28.5 lower). Verdict: pass.
Earlier readings. None found. DECODE still lists both records as not deciphered, with no documents attached, and nothing turned up on Cryptoole, Cryptiana or in print.

An unchecked source. Kröger’s life of Rusdorf (1876, pp. 9–10) describes Rusdorf’s own papers at the Landesbibliothek in Kassel, now the Universitätsbibliothek Kassel: four folio volumes, the third of which holds “exclusively” his correspondence with Oxenstierna from 1624 to 1628. It was unprinted in Kröger’s day and has not been found online. It very probably contains Rusdorff’s clear drafts or copies of these letters, and would confirm or correct the 24 tentative codes and fill in 628 and 701. It has not been consulted.

07What remains

Code 628 (R4337, once). It falls alphabetically between Palatinatus (620) and Papista (629?), and stands before -is … professores.
Code 701 (R4336, once). It falls between Propositio (678) and Regnum (734?), and stands before -es, as something the envoy let Rusdorff read.
24 tentative code readings, marked with a question mark above. Each fits its context and its alphabetical place, but occurs too rarely to be certain.
Missing pages. The first page of the 26 February letter, the end of the 15/25 February letter and the rest of the third letter are not among the DECODE photographs.

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.

R4336, London, 15/25 Feb 1625

Rusdorff has seen the secret Swedish proposals put to Anstruther for restoring the Palatinate; London leans to Christian IV, whose terms are modest (6,000 foot and 1,000 horse asked, 4,000 and 1,000 offered).

Transcription

all.txt

# IMG_R4336_I25992_P1.png
[Plaintext1];
[Plaintext2];38;32;24;34;56;19;25;62;86;49;37;73;38;[Plaintext3];
678;bus;et;490;ne;744;is;517;to;20;34;49;19;16;42;25;24;22;34;46;
20;80;58;19;70;32;66;86;19;82;23;67;56;82;46;[Plaintext4];
[Plaintext5];428;[Plaintext187];620;tu;et;636;ue;[Plaintext6];
[Plaintext7];517;[Plaintext8];
[Plaintext9];701;es;33;32;19;80;18;28;16;38;
[Plaintext10];746;[Plaintext11];
[Plaintext12];363;e;[Plaintext13];745;[Plaintext14];444;i;
[Plaintext15];
[Plaintext16];
[Plaintext17];
678;nes;[Plaintext18];
[Plaintext19];
[Plaintext20];744;ss;[Plaintext21];
[Plaintext22];34;32;
41;25;et;746;et;745;[Plaintext23];598;nes;[Plaintext24];
[Plaintext25];
[Plaintext26];745;e;[Plaintext27];740;m;[Plaintext188];
[Plaintext28];16;36;60;25;18;49;19;40;38;[Plaintext29];
[Plaintext30];734;ru;[Plaintext31];
[Plaintext32];37;22;28;80;34;40;19;16;[Plaintext33];744;[Plaintext34];
[Plaintext35];62;32;31;[Plaintext36];61;49;33;57;73;64;[Plaintext37];et;
32;30;47;25;67;71;85;61;25;33;81;80;[Plaintext38];19;22;34;37;32;18;67;
49;62;26;71;33;23;32;34;80;et;[Plaintext39];
740;[Plaintext40];30;23;16;19;47;22;34;[Plaintext41];
37;25;33;57;49;16;[Plaintext42];23;18;47;37;[Plaintext43];
[Plaintext44];22;18;23;62;20;32;33;57;49;a;670;bus;429;a;
[Plaintext45];

# IMG_R4336_I25992_P2.png
[Plaintext46];et;[Plaintext47];746;302;ne;
20;32;33;57;25;in;26;34;22;31;25;37;70;24;22;66;23;80;18;19;
71;240;rum;[Plaintext48];ut;517;ri;[Plaintext49];
[Plaintext50];ne;
[Plaintext51];
[Plaintext52];si;[Plaintext53];
747;[Plaintext54];de;re;[Plaintext55];et;[Plaintext56];
[Plaintext57];740;is;[Plaintext58];et;[Plaintext59];
[Plaintext60];
[Plaintext61];
[Plaintext62];domo;vra;[Plaintext63];me;
[Plaintext64];que;[Plaintext65];
[Plaintext66];
[Plaintext67];domm;deus;[Plaintext68];
[Plaintext69];
[Plaintext70];526;
[Plaintext71];
[Plaintext189];

# IMG_R4337_I25993_P1.png
[Plaintext72];
[Plaintext73];
[Plaintext74];517;to;187;u;[Plaintext76];16;18;
38;19;34;23;19;32;58;22;[Plaintext77];744;us;[Plaintext78];ad;
[Plaintext79];62;
26;80;18;86;[Plaintext80];ego;[Plaintext81];
[Plaintext82];356;20;23;29;49;18;17;16;
[Plaintext83];et;[Plaintext84];25;19;32;82;[Plaintext85];m;418;
[Plaintext86];et;ad;18;23;26;19;49;as;[Plaintext87];
[Plaintext88];37;16;19;58;49;61;22;18;73;um;[Plaintext89];
[Plaintext90];et;[Plaintext91];306;[Plaintext92];a;
26;16;50;40;[Plaintext93];cum;637;mibus;[Plaintext94];
[Plaintext95];et;[Plaintext96];
[Plaintext97];21;23;25;47;38;[Plaintext98];ne;[Plaintext190];
738;m;[Plaintext99];
[Plaintext100];ut;a;631;to;16;58;19;25;25;48;47;li;[Plaintext101];
um;
[Plaintext102];et;[Plaintext103];quam;37;16;19;58;25;61;22;18;73;[Plaintext104];
[Plaintext105];26;22;50;23;33;71;61;631;[Plaintext106];
[Plaintext107];388;mis;[Plaintext108];m;629;[Plaintext191];37;16;19;
58;49;61;22;18;25;16;cum;635;[Plaintext109];
[Plaintext110];m;628;is;635;[Plaintext111];a;[Plaintext112];
16;34;19;25;24;23;33;73;[Plaintext113];
[Plaintext114];si;non;[Plaintext115];28;23;34;25;ae;
[Plaintext116];qui;m;[Plaintext117];458;ante;[Plaintext118];
[Plaintext119];et;[Plaintext120];a;[Plaintext121];
[Plaintext122];et;[Plaintext123];et;a;[Plaintext124];et;[Plaintext125];
[Plaintext126];et;[Plaintext127];de;[Plaintext128];
[Plaintext129];

# IMG_R4337_I25993_P2.png
[Plaintext130];et;[Plaintext131];
[Plaintext132];boni;[Plaintext133];526;[Plaintext134];
[Plaintext135];
[Plaintext136];
[Plaintext137];
[Plaintext138];760;

# IMG_R4337_I25993_P3.png
[Plaintext139];
[Plaintext140];20;32;33;25;18;49;23;
37;[Plaintext141];res;[Plaintext142];238;m;[Plaintext143];
[Plaintext144];418;[Plaintext145];si;[Plaintext146];ut;[Plaintext147];
non;[Plaintext148];qui;
[Plaintext149];non;[Plaintext150];ex;[Plaintext151];
[Plaintext152];738;non;[Plaintext153];
[Plaintext154];670;rum;sed;m;239;m;[Plaintext155];258;
[Plaintext156];
um;quas;m;16;18;19;25;24;49;26;40;43;73;22;42;56;61;[Plaintext192];
[Plaintext157];sed;[Plaintext158];
ut;[Plaintext159];20;80;33;57;64;[Plaintext160];
[Plaintext161];26;16;72;19;25;62;et;67;34;16;18;86;16;72;67;73;22;66;73;
20;23;62;738;740;[Plaintext162];40;34;20;25;19;58;49;[Plaintext163];
26;16;24;67;22;34;47;61;et;236;num;[Plaintext164];
24;22;66;19;34;46;23;80;82;62;25;16;38;[Plaintext165];
ra;m;428;[Plaintext166];670;s;[Plaintext167];
quam;ut;[Plaintext168];34;22;37;16;18;22;58;23;37;et;32;24;48;33;80;
62;25;16;86;19;25;24;22;34;23;61;quam;26;34;22;19;56;62;
16;18;19;25;23;37;et;86;32;24;47;33;16;34;25;71;61;[Plaintext169];
[Plaintext170];ex;[Plaintext171];sed;[Plaintext172];
738;[Plaintext173];
[Plaintext174];20;56;33;
25;18;49;23;62;[Plaintext175];de;[Plaintext176];
[Plaintext177];et;[Plaintext178];
[Plaintext179];est;[Plaintext180];
[Plaintext181];ut;[Plaintext182];
[Plaintext183];et;[Plaintext184];
[Plaintext185];si;[Plaintext186];

Decryption

reading.txt

# Rusdorff to Oxenstierna, London 1625: George Lasry's edited Latin (PR 72, lasry2026/CONTRIBUTION.md), gap marks as decode_updates/CLEANING_BRIEF.md
# word? = tentative code reading; <nnn> = code not read; [...] = beyond the photographed pages

[IMG R4336 P1]
S.P. Illustrissime Domine,
Multa possem de secretissimis illis propositionibus et intentione? Regis Legato Britannico Roberto
Enstrutero exposita et declarata de rebus in Germania collapsis, Palatinatu et Principe? restituendis,
scribere: nam Legatus ipse, sub fide quidem religiosi silentii, cuncta mihi communicavit, et suas <701>es
le(g)endas exhiberi curavit. Sed cum sciam Invictissimum Regem Sueciae de omnibus istis tam ab Electore?,
cum quo Rex Daniae ea de causa Hamburgi? convenire et colloqui statuit, quam aliunde, certiorem fieri,
merito supersedeo prolixus et fastidio esse longa recitatione. Hoc saltem quasi per transennam dicam,
propositiones istas summa cum animi alacritate hic acceptas, et eo magis aestimatas fuisse, quo
inopinatius et contra spem in melius mutatus videbatur Regis in rem publicam animus. Jam in eo sunt ut
viam ac media anquirant, quibus utrique regi, et Sueciae et Daniae, satisfieri queat: nam oblationes?
utriusque tales sunt, ut nullo modo, absque detrimento boni publici, negligi possint. Pro Rege Daniae
plurimae causae apud Regem Magnae Britanniae considerationem movebunt, ut sunt affinitas vetus,
necessitudo, vicina regnorum? coniunctio; praesertim quod valde moderata sint ea, quae Rex exigat. Nam
sex tantum millia peditum et equitum mille cum tormentis, pulvere et reliquis appertinentibus ab Rege
Magnae Britanniae petit, ex sua parte quatuor peditum millia et equitum unum offerens, et reliquum onus
belli a Proceribus? Germaniae? sustineri et procurari posse sperans.
Sed causa ista,
[IMG R4336 P2]
et quomodo cuncta accommodari possint, relicta Regis Sueciae declaratione?, belli in proximo conventu
Confoederatorum? examinabitur: proinde necesse erit, ut Legati eo mittendi in eum finem sufficientibus
mandatis instruantur, ne tempus inutiliter teratur, et consilia absque fructu sint, in fumum abeant
magnanimi isti conatus. Si interea Ser.mus Rex Sueciae? aliquid ea de re praemonere et praecipere velit,
quae sint Regis Magnae Britanniae animo melius praeparando et in priori sententia confirmando, parati
promtique erimus exequendi: et hic praecipuus finis est harum literarum, quas benigna fronte Ill.ma Dom.o
V.ra accipiet, et inde perspiciet me nullam occasionem praetermittere velle, qua devotum meum obsequium
indicio aliquo declarem et prodam. Ill.m V.m Dom.m Deus diu incolumem florentemque in solatium attritae
rei Christianae et in bonum florentissimo Regi Regnoque Sueciae conservet sospitetque. Dabam Londini
15/25 februarii 1625.
V.a Ill.ma Dom.is [...]

[IMG R4337 P1]
[...] illi scopum sibi certum, nec dicunt apertius quid velint; nos etiam a vero tramite, quem calcare
instituimus, non deflectemus. Quid responsum sit proprie Legato Britannico? D.no Anstrutero ad
propositiones Regias, nondum adhuc plane scio: quae tamen scimus, illa Illustris Dominus Spens
perscribit; ego nihil addere possum ultimis meis 25/15 febr. scriptis.
Quanquam Dux Bukinga[m] magnifico et sumtuoso apparatu iter suum in Galliam adornet, et ubique ad nuptias
fiant regiae praeparationes, tamen matrimonium videtur iterum aliquam tragulum et sufflaminationem pati:
Dispensatio quidem a Papa concessa est, sed cum principalibus? insertis, quae videantur aliquo modo
duriuscula et vix posse accipi sine aliqua concussione aut agitatione huius status; ne dicam iam Regem
Galliae praetendere et petere, sicut rumor crebrescit non sine fundamento, ut a Parlamento arti(i)culi
prius ratihabeantur et approbentur, quam matrimonium consumatur. Sciunt enim populum Parlamentumque, ut
oppido quam vehementem zelotypiamque executionis? legum in Papistas?, non amare matrimonia cum
Pontificiis?, utpote quae non possint contrahi sine larga indulgentia in <628>is Pontificiae?
professores. Deinde articuli, quorum iam vulgata est notitia, videntur illis, si non duriores, attamen
aeque duri ac illi, qui in favorem Hispaniae? ante biennium pacti fuerunt. Dicendum iam est, quomodo haec
superanda sint: a tempore, mora et occasione, et a prudenti persuasione et Domin[...] consilia et remedia
petuntur. Sed de his suo tempore plura, cum sine nube solem inspicere poterimus.
Valeat Ampl.ma
[IMG R4337 P2]
V.ra Dig.tas, et hanc importunitatem, quam amor in publicum expressit, aequi bonique consulat. Dabam
Londini 26 Febr. veteri stylo 1625.
Illus.ma V.a Dig.ti omni obsequio addictus Rusdorff
[IMG R4337 P3]
Illustrissime Domine,
Quanquam haud dubitem Nobil.m Dom. Belinium perscripsisse, quousque res circa Confoederationem? ineundam
perducta sint in Gallia, tamen si fortasse, ut fieri solet, literae ipsius non fuissent redditae, aliquid
etiam significare volui, qui superfluam cautelam non nocere ex Jurisconsultorum regulis didici. Rex
Galliae non tantum valde approbat intentionem et dispositionem Procerum?, sed in Confoederationem?
intrare etiam, et sua consilia? promittit. Mentio jam facta fuit m/500 librarum turnensium, quas in
anticipationem numerare paratum fore spem facit. Sed conditio annectitur, ut, quoniam omnia bella tandem
sopiantur et finiantur pactis et transactionibus, Rex Galliae Rex Magnae Britanniaeque coniunctim arbitri
sint pactorum et conditionum?, componantque omnes alias controversias, quae essent oritura[e] in Germania
inter Proceres?. Nihil aliud intenditur hoc pacto, quam ut aeque Romanorum et ecclesiasticorum quam
protes(t)antium et secularium curam habere causamque ex pari tueri velint. Sed utrum omnino Galli hoc
pacto circumscripta et definita esse velint ipsorum auxilia, sicuti ex coniectura timeo, hoc Dominus
Belinius brevi dicet, cum quo ea de re consultare constituerunt. Si aliter non possumus, et ne demus
occasionem suspicionis, acceptanda est nobis illa conditio; JC.torum praescripto utendum erit, ut
terminis scilicet habilibus illas salvo iure accipiamus et intelligamus, quod fortuna et prosper
successus nobis progressu temporis concedent. Si retinent [...]

Translation: CONTRIBUTION.md

R4337, London, 26 Feb 1625 (o.s.) and a further undated letter

Buckingham prepares to fetch the French bride but the papal dispensation and Parliament stand in the way; France offers 500,000 livres to the confederation on condition of joint arbitration in Germany.

Transcription

all.txt

# IMG_R4336_I25992_P1.png
[Plaintext1];
[Plaintext2];38;32;24;34;56;19;25;62;86;49;37;73;38;[Plaintext3];
678;bus;et;490;ne;744;is;517;to;20;34;49;19;16;42;25;24;22;34;46;
20;80;58;19;70;32;66;86;19;82;23;67;56;82;46;[Plaintext4];
[Plaintext5];428;[Plaintext187];620;tu;et;636;ue;[Plaintext6];
[Plaintext7];517;[Plaintext8];
[Plaintext9];701;es;33;32;19;80;18;28;16;38;
[Plaintext10];746;[Plaintext11];
[Plaintext12];363;e;[Plaintext13];745;[Plaintext14];444;i;
[Plaintext15];
[Plaintext16];
[Plaintext17];
678;nes;[Plaintext18];
[Plaintext19];
[Plaintext20];744;ss;[Plaintext21];
[Plaintext22];34;32;
41;25;et;746;et;745;[Plaintext23];598;nes;[Plaintext24];
[Plaintext25];
[Plaintext26];745;e;[Plaintext27];740;m;[Plaintext188];
[Plaintext28];16;36;60;25;18;49;19;40;38;[Plaintext29];
[Plaintext30];734;ru;[Plaintext31];
[Plaintext32];37;22;28;80;34;40;19;16;[Plaintext33];744;[Plaintext34];
[Plaintext35];62;32;31;[Plaintext36];61;49;33;57;73;64;[Plaintext37];et;
32;30;47;25;67;71;85;61;25;33;81;80;[Plaintext38];19;22;34;37;32;18;67;
49;62;26;71;33;23;32;34;80;et;[Plaintext39];
740;[Plaintext40];30;23;16;19;47;22;34;[Plaintext41];
37;25;33;57;49;16;[Plaintext42];23;18;47;37;[Plaintext43];
[Plaintext44];22;18;23;62;20;32;33;57;49;a;670;bus;429;a;
[Plaintext45];

# IMG_R4336_I25992_P2.png
[Plaintext46];et;[Plaintext47];746;302;ne;
20;32;33;57;25;in;26;34;22;31;25;37;70;24;22;66;23;80;18;19;
71;240;rum;[Plaintext48];ut;517;ri;[Plaintext49];
[Plaintext50];ne;
[Plaintext51];
[Plaintext52];si;[Plaintext53];
747;[Plaintext54];de;re;[Plaintext55];et;[Plaintext56];
[Plaintext57];740;is;[Plaintext58];et;[Plaintext59];
[Plaintext60];
[Plaintext61];
[Plaintext62];domo;vra;[Plaintext63];me;
[Plaintext64];que;[Plaintext65];
[Plaintext66];
[Plaintext67];domm;deus;[Plaintext68];
[Plaintext69];
[Plaintext70];526;
[Plaintext71];
[Plaintext189];

# IMG_R4337_I25993_P1.png
[Plaintext72];
[Plaintext73];
[Plaintext74];517;to;187;u;[Plaintext76];16;18;
38;19;34;23;19;32;58;22;[Plaintext77];744;us;[Plaintext78];ad;
[Plaintext79];62;
26;80;18;86;[Plaintext80];ego;[Plaintext81];
[Plaintext82];356;20;23;29;49;18;17;16;
[Plaintext83];et;[Plaintext84];25;19;32;82;[Plaintext85];m;418;
[Plaintext86];et;ad;18;23;26;19;49;as;[Plaintext87];
[Plaintext88];37;16;19;58;49;61;22;18;73;um;[Plaintext89];
[Plaintext90];et;[Plaintext91];306;[Plaintext92];a;
26;16;50;40;[Plaintext93];cum;637;mibus;[Plaintext94];
[Plaintext95];et;[Plaintext96];
[Plaintext97];21;23;25;47;38;[Plaintext98];ne;[Plaintext190];
738;m;[Plaintext99];
[Plaintext100];ut;a;631;to;16;58;19;25;25;48;47;li;[Plaintext101];
um;
[Plaintext102];et;[Plaintext103];quam;37;16;19;58;25;61;22;18;73;[Plaintext104];
[Plaintext105];26;22;50;23;33;71;61;631;[Plaintext106];
[Plaintext107];388;mis;[Plaintext108];m;629;[Plaintext191];37;16;19;
58;49;61;22;18;25;16;cum;635;[Plaintext109];
[Plaintext110];m;628;is;635;[Plaintext111];a;[Plaintext112];
16;34;19;25;24;23;33;73;[Plaintext113];
[Plaintext114];si;non;[Plaintext115];28;23;34;25;ae;
[Plaintext116];qui;m;[Plaintext117];458;ante;[Plaintext118];
[Plaintext119];et;[Plaintext120];a;[Plaintext121];
[Plaintext122];et;[Plaintext123];et;a;[Plaintext124];et;[Plaintext125];
[Plaintext126];et;[Plaintext127];de;[Plaintext128];
[Plaintext129];

# IMG_R4337_I25993_P2.png
[Plaintext130];et;[Plaintext131];
[Plaintext132];boni;[Plaintext133];526;[Plaintext134];
[Plaintext135];
[Plaintext136];
[Plaintext137];
[Plaintext138];760;

# IMG_R4337_I25993_P3.png
[Plaintext139];
[Plaintext140];20;32;33;25;18;49;23;
37;[Plaintext141];res;[Plaintext142];238;m;[Plaintext143];
[Plaintext144];418;[Plaintext145];si;[Plaintext146];ut;[Plaintext147];
non;[Plaintext148];qui;
[Plaintext149];non;[Plaintext150];ex;[Plaintext151];
[Plaintext152];738;non;[Plaintext153];
[Plaintext154];670;rum;sed;m;239;m;[Plaintext155];258;
[Plaintext156];
um;quas;m;16;18;19;25;24;49;26;40;43;73;22;42;56;61;[Plaintext192];
[Plaintext157];sed;[Plaintext158];
ut;[Plaintext159];20;80;33;57;64;[Plaintext160];
[Plaintext161];26;16;72;19;25;62;et;67;34;16;18;86;16;72;67;73;22;66;73;
20;23;62;738;740;[Plaintext162];40;34;20;25;19;58;49;[Plaintext163];
26;16;24;67;22;34;47;61;et;236;num;[Plaintext164];
24;22;66;19;34;46;23;80;82;62;25;16;38;[Plaintext165];
ra;m;428;[Plaintext166];670;s;[Plaintext167];
quam;ut;[Plaintext168];34;22;37;16;18;22;58;23;37;et;32;24;48;33;80;
62;25;16;86;19;25;24;22;34;23;61;quam;26;34;22;19;56;62;
16;18;19;25;23;37;et;86;32;24;47;33;16;34;25;71;61;[Plaintext169];
[Plaintext170];ex;[Plaintext171];sed;[Plaintext172];
738;[Plaintext173];
[Plaintext174];20;56;33;
25;18;49;23;62;[Plaintext175];de;[Plaintext176];
[Plaintext177];et;[Plaintext178];
[Plaintext179];est;[Plaintext180];
[Plaintext181];ut;[Plaintext182];
[Plaintext183];et;[Plaintext184];
[Plaintext185];si;[Plaintext186];

Decryption

reading.txt

Translation: CONTRIBUTION.md

Key: key.txt

08Sources

Riksarkivet, Stockholm, Oxenstierna af Södermöre, Ser. B, E 701: DECODE R4336 (2 images) and R4337 (3 images).
George Lasry, the key, transcription, Latin edition and translation: pull request 72, with the CTTS project files in targets/rusdorff1625/lasry2026/.
Kröger, Johann von Rusdorf, kurpfälzischer Gesandter und Staatsmann während des dreissigjährigen Krieges (1876): Rusdorf’s papers and the Kassel volumes; the 1625 negotiations.
J. J. von Rusdorf, Mémoires et négociations secrètes, ed. E. W. Cuhn (1789), vol. 1 at Ossolineum: the London embassy; not searched for these letters. Consilia et negotia politica, ed. J. M. von Loen (1725): checked by George Lasry; these letters are not in it.
Riksarkivet, letters of Sir James Spens to Axel Oxenstierna (online edition of AOSB II:13): the same negotiations from Spens’s side; not yet compared.

Notes: targets/rusdorff1625/.

Rusdorff to Oxenstierna: London, February 1625

01The key

02London, 15/25 February 1625

03London, 26 February 1625

04A third letter, undated

05Context

06How the key was found

07What remains

Full texts

R4336, London, 15/25 Feb 1625

R4337, London, 26 Feb 1625 (o.s.) and a further undated letter

08Sources