Saint-Luc to Henri III, Brouage, June 1586

At a glanceKnown key applied · none (key obtained, text not read)

The letter: François d’Espinay de Saint-Luc, governor of Brouage, to Henri III, “De Brouage, ce … de Juing 1586”: two pages almost wholly in cipher.
Where: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 15572, f. 260r–v (Gallica, canvases 268–269). Not in the catalogue and not on DECODE as far as found.
The cipher: Letter substitution with some homophones, word signs (je, le, que, la, pour), name codes and nulls: Tomokiyo’s “St. Luc’s Cipher”.
How it was decoded: Michael Brackx corrected Tomokiyo’s table on the margin decipherments of another Saint-Luc letter, f. 245r–v, transcribed f. 260 sign by sign and decoded it with a French language model.
What it says: Rochelais galliots at Oléron, ships loaded with stone against the harbour palisade, an unpaid garrison, and a plea against letting the tax-farmers buy salt at La Rochelle.
Still open: Many transcription labels still stand for two to four letters; they must be split by shape on the images before the text can count as deciphered.
Credit: Michael Brackx (issue #90), with Claude Code; key table by Satoshi Tomokiyo.

01 The letters

Français 15572 gathers the despatches of January to July 1586 from the King’s commanders in the west. Saint-Luc, Henri III’s former favourite, held Brouage, the salt port facing Huguenot La Rochelle. Folio 260 (older foliation 274, struck through) carries 26 lines of cipher on the recto and 29 on the verso, closed in clear “De Brouage, ce … de Juing 1586” and signed St. Luc.

Folio 245 is another Saint-Luc letter in the same table, and it was deciphered at the time. Its verso has a clear letter and then a 12-line cipher block, with the decipherment in the margin. Its recto has two cipher passages with margin decipherments. These two margins are the cribs (texts/f245_cribs.md). The f. 245v margin reads in part: “Si comme l’on dict l’armée de Mons.r du Mayne doibt travailler à Castillon, il s’approchera fort de Royan”.

Saint-Luc’s letter of 30 January 1586 at f. 43 uses a different table: a different cipher, with its own page (George Lasry’s key).

02 The key

Satoshi Tomokiyo publishes the table as “St. Luc’s Cipher” on his cryptiana page on Henri III’s ciphers and reads the opening line of f. 260. Brackx encoded it as transcription labels with values and corrected it on the f. 245 cribs, keeping a change only when a crib or at least two contexts supported it and the sign shape checked on the image. His main changes: Δo = Monsieur du Mayne and ʞ = pour (crib 1); ⊔ = la Rochelle, listed as a null before; a small hooked ɣ = ss (19 contexts, and asseurer in crib 2); ɑ with a raised stroke = la; Ↄ = rr; ʒ with a crossed tail = h; plain 3 = m; and a sign for x (crib 2, extrême).

With the corrected key the decode agrees with the f. 245v margin on 89.3% of letters and with f. 245r on 83.2%. On f. 260, 79.2% and 80.7% of decoded letters fall in French words, against 27–46% and 31–49% when each label’s set of values is moved at random to another label. The key is in brackx2026/key_r3.json.

03 The decoded text

Brackx’s reading keeps the writer’s spelling (one sign each for u/v and i/j). [?] is one unread word or group, [?word] a doubtful word. The opening, f. 260r ll. 1–5:

arriua [?hier] en Olleron, et a ce matin [?est] [?venu] en son [?] [?] [?], ou il a eu le [?plaisir] de uoir batre nos chalupes auec ses galliotes, et de quelques canonades de nostre fort. Ie croy il n’y fera pas gran [?] seiour sans retourner a [?] la Rochelle.

“[He] arrived [?yesterday] at Oléron, and this morning [?came] to his [?] [?] [?], where he had the [?pleasure] of seeing our shallops beaten by his galliots, and some cannon-shots from our fort. I believe he will not make a long stay without returning to La Rochelle.”

The recto goes on to the Rochelais attempt to block the harbour with ships loaded with stone, one of “six uingts [?toneaux]”, work timed by the tide, and a ship taken. The verso turns to the garrison, unpaid and murmuring, with no word from the King since his letters of April; to La Rochelle’s plan to keep the sea and sell passports to its captains; and to “une chose … de tres grande importance”: the council has allowed the farmers of the grand parti to take salt at La Rochelle. Saint-Luc asks that French merchants be forbidden to take salt there “a peine de confiscation de corps et de biens”. The full reading and English of both pages are under Full texts.

04 Why it is not counted as read

Measured on the reading, 76.1% of the words of f. 260r and 85.1% of f. 260v read as sense. But many transcription labels still stand for two to four letters: z for u, v, h or m; 9 for n, m or g; S for m, s, g or mm; f for c or s; p for i or r; and others. The decoder picks among them with a model of French. Letters on such labels are 39.4% of f. 260r and 33.8% of f. 260v, far over the 3% this project allows for look-alike signs. The f. 245 margins confirm these values as part of the key, but not each choice on f. 260. So both pages are decoded, not read, whatever their share of words. Where Brackx’s reading departs from the decoder, it always takes another value of the same label (22 letters in all).

The several values could have been different sign shapes merged in transcription, so Brackx checked every multi-valued label on the full-size images, token by token. Two do split: S is a pair of S-curves (§§) for mm and a long s for s, which turns dosame into dommage; and d has a hooked arch for l beside the ∂ for c. The other eight (z, 9, 6, p, f, t, pi, y) show one shape for all their values. What remains needs a contemporary decipherment of this letter or another in the same key.

05 What stays open

Splitting the multi-valued labels by shape on the full-size images, then decoding again.
Unread runs: on the recto ll. 1–2 (the places after “en son”), 5–11, 13–14, 17 and 19–24; on the verso l. 3 (the day of the King’s April letters), 4, 8–9, 12–18, 23 and 27.
The sign Π, taken as a null, stands where affaire(s) needs ff (verso ll. 25 and 27); two signs after n’oze in crib 2 are not aligned.
The transcription has not been checked against the images by a second person.

Full texts

The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.

f. 260r decoded, not read

St. Luc to Henri III from Brouage, June 1586: a Rochelais commander has come to Oléron and watched his galliots attack the Brouage shallops; the Rochelais try to block the harbour with ships loaded with stone, one of six score tons, and the garrison has taken one of them.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

f260_cipher.txt

# Transcription by Michael Brackx (issue #90, 2026), one label per sign; / = divider. Labels as in key_r3.json.
## f. 260r
P / i C p zv A / z h t2 n / a 9 o R q tt lo Y / [ t2 X i f a 9q A * p 9 tt / q t2 Y v /
a 9 / 6 o Y / y / Ax k a z t2 n / o z p d i a z M / hp 4 i p 6 h y / r a z o p n / : i * p a
9 o S d zc i od z hp a 6 / i zv a f / S a 6 / 9q i R p o * a 6 / [ a * / r q / Lx od Lx 6
f i 9 o feA A r a 6 / r q / y lo f * n a L o p * / zx T3 f n o 6 / m od / 9 6 pi a n i feB i 6
9q n i 9 k 6 a p o z p / 6 i y f n a * o z n 9 a p / A o / U Pi r a feB z p 6 / phi p a 6
f n p z 6 / i v o 6 * n a z i 9 a 6 * t2 / 6 p n a / h i 6 / t2 9 z o 6 t2 / A Do z / Pi
a * z3 t2 ss p a z n 6 / r q tb Lx z o p n 6 p od 6 i z n o p * / 9q lo 6 a 9 / r t2 9q
hp a 6 f zc a n / r q d o 9 * p y z a n / M z n r q ss a p 9 9 x / m Pi / p a z o y X
r lo feA a / i z f v 9 6 a f o z n 6 / zx feB i n d a Lx od a 6 r p * S / r a tb / 9 o y X /
z o v R z t2 a n 9q a X n t2 ### z o 9 i x a 6 X i f X / M 6 H a 6 X n i 9q 9 a n 6 /
[ ### z o 6 m od pi 6 a 9 X / L i p X 6 p p a zx f lo S a p i 6 a 6 f n p X d 6
r a z i 9 X i v o 6 X n a z A 9 a 6 X 4x / p 4 S o 9 X a 6 X 4x f lo 9 X n i p 9 f X pi
X i ss a o p n / 6 h od o p y 9q / M z n / hp i od p ss i r a / tb 6 f a n X i p 9 a R 4 / S a /
y o z 6 / 9 v 6 n i / r q / 9 X a p q 6 / zx 4 9 f o n a 6 d a 6 X 4x 9 z p X / y lo z 6 / 4x y
i z o 9 6 / X p n a / hp p a z v a / S pl 9 o z 6 A v o 9 6 / a z v 9 r a od t2 z n 6 /
9 i z p n a 6 / m 4 pi i z o 6 a 9 X / zx X o z 6 feB n a 6 f A a 6 f z o z a n / zx a X
7 p a 9 m od Lx z * / zc i n 9q a x / hp p a C t2 / a X 9 i z p n a f q L 4x 9 X i 6 p 6
z p 9 9q X pi X o feA a i z A / 6 p h od feB A ss a hp i n r a ss z 6 / M v p hp i pl p ss i r 4x /
zx m tb z n i 6 6 p p a / m od a 6 X o p X / r 4x 9 6 z o 9 X i 9 X / zx a X Lx t2 9 [
: i ss a 9q 4x n / m m 9 9 a 2 od 4x z 6 X S S a z L i p n a / zx 6 p od pi y o z 6 i z o p a 9 X
4 i p ss a 9 lo z 6 a y i x 6 a n p o 9 6 / r a M 6 tb a X p n a tb i z i 9 X m 4 S zx
a z ss q 9 X / f z a p R 6 / r i v A 9 X i 9 a r 4x z i pi 4x / a X L A n o 9q 6 / X o z X /
f a 9 z p od 6 a 9 i hp o ss p : 4 a / k n a feB i tb a n / M r o S i 9 a m 6 6 / [
X n o z v a d i / o z p od 9 6 A n p a 9 6 p h 9 hp o tb X i 9 X Lx M 6 9 a f q ss p * a
pi / lo z 9 o v 6 f o S a 6 n a r z p X S / zx p z 6 ### v a 6 i f a 6 X a z t2 z n a
M 6 f i feB p X A p 9 a 6 / z o 9 X / i 6 r a / i 6 z feB o n X a tb / a X f o i 9 X a y X a p M z n 6

## f. 260v
6 o od r i X pi N z3 i p 9 X a 9 i y X m S 9 z n 3 v n a 9 X M 6 feB p a 9q p a n 6
a X hp 4x n r a 9 X a 6 feB 4x n i 9 f a Lx z o 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X 4x 6 feB o z n v o 6 4x zx
r a hp z p 6 v o pi od a X n 4x 6 r z X zc t2 z p 9 S a r i z n p od zx T3 9 i 6 n p a y
4x 9 X a y r z r a z o S d o S i y r a 9q q 9q 6 a 6 a X r z n a 9q 4x r a m od 9 hp 4 i p 6 X
6 r o 9 y a n [ T3 6 z feB od p a X n 4x 6 zc v 3 7 od a 9 q 9q X z o 6 X n a z3 i 9q a 6 X q
9 o z 6 z3 i 9 r a n 6 o y p 9 X a y X p o 9 zx M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 lo y X k [
r a ss 4x p 9q 9q r a X 4x 9 p p X o z 6 p o z n 6 ol 9q a n X i 9 X Lx z 9 a i n 9q a q feB od z 6
L o n X a Lx ol M z n M 6 f o 9 X n i p 9 9q 4x r a X 4x 6 i n 9q a n zx a X k f feB [
a v q f X o 9 X n a z o f 9 z a X o z 6 M z n 6 feB i ss a hp o n X S i v p 9 Lx M 6
f i hp p X i h 9 a 6 r a z3 i n p 9 a i 6 a 9 X r a ### z o 6 6 a 9 X n 4x X a 9 p n
r a X o z X f a m od S feB o z C o 9 X hp p n i X a tb
[ p o z : od 6 lo p 6 Pi zx i r p n a A v lo 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X a z 9 a f z o 6 a m feB r a X n 4x 6 9q n i 9 r a [ Pi
h 3 feB o n X i 9 f a 4x X Lx 9 z i 9 r 4 o 9 z lo z od r n o p X z i 7 A 9 r o feA a n r q X o z X hp o p 9 X f a 6 X 4x
feB od i f a 4x X ol hp a n r tb a [ o 9 y a B f i z n o p X hp p 6 L i p n a zx f feB Lx z3 a v p a z n 6 r a z o 6 X n a
f o 9 6 a p od zx o 9 X i Lx o n r a i z A L a n z3 p a n 6 r v 9q n i 9 r hp i n X p zx r i R a n feB n a 9q r n a
r z 6 a od i ol n o f zc a R 4x zx m 9 a 6 X feB i 6 f a z R a 3 4x 9 X o 6 X a n i f a 6 X a hp od i f a M feB a z r a
f o S lo r p X a Lx od lo feB o z v a p X 8 X p n a tb r z 6 a od zx N X i f p X a 9 a 9q X r o fe a n feA v f a zx f a
i z 8 feB n o hp n p a X A p n a 6 r z 6 a od X a 6 q 6 p 6 od a f r q od 4 z hp o n X a tb i U a X 9 o z 6
hp n p z a tb r a X o z X a q 6 feB a n i 9 f a r q 9q a 6 X n a hp p 6 a f o z n v S i od i r z a 9 p p [ Pi
feB i n f a Lx hp A n f q 9 o 6 4x 9 M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 a 6 X i : pl p ss a 9 X ol od a z3 4x a r z3 r n o
p X zx r a hp i ss a hp o n X a 9 M z n z p R a zx 4x X 6 i X p n a 9 X M 6 z3 i n f zc i 9 6 X i 9 X
4x 6 X n i 9 9q a n 6 Lx L n i 9 f o 6 6 zx r o 9 X p od pi 9 a n 4x f a z n o 9 X hp i 6 feB a z [ zx
r z X p od h X a zx 9 6 hp q z r q z o 6 a 9 6 r a L i p n a ol 9 3 a C t2 [ Pi p od 6 4x n i zx
X tb a 6 9 a f 4x ss i p n a k M 6 a n z p f a r q z o 6 X n a 9q i 9q a 6 X a 4x X M 7 p a 9 r a z3 o S
i P A p n a 6 zx Lx R a z3 a 6 9q 4x a 9 6 o y f o 9 6 a p od L i f a n a z a r p q n i f a ol [ a X
f o 9 6 p r a n i 9 X ol f o 9 6 a 9 z a 9 f a [ 4x X M 6 : n p 9 z a 6 m od 6 i z n i a y d a 6 X 4x
i P A p n a zx 4x 9 L i p n a tb 4x z o f 9 v a n 6 p tb a od i r p X a hp 4x n 9q p ss p o y zx p 9 X a n r p 6 i
9 X zx A X o z 6 9q i n f zc i 9 6 L n i 9 f o 6 6 r a hp n a 9 r n a r z 6 4x 4 a 9 ol r p X a z p R a r q U
i hp a p 9 a r q f o 9 L p 6 f i X p o y r a d o n feB 6 4x X r q 7 p a 9 6 zx [ 8

Decryption

f260_decryption_lines.md

# f. 260r-v: transcription, raw decryption (round-3 key) and reading, line by line

> Michael Brackx, issue #90, reply of 23 Oct 2026.

Decryption with the round-3 key, line by line against the transcription (label legend in the last section).
For each line: the transcription, the
raw decryption (`·` = a null sign; word division as the decoder found it), and the reading.

**Reading notation.** The letters are the figures' own (u/v and i/j are one sign each, so *uoir*, *iay*); no
accents are added. `[?]` one unread word (one `[?]` per unread word); `[?word]` a doubtful word; `[word]` a supplied word, and `x[y]z`
supplied letters inside a word. The English, with the same holes, is in the two sections above.

## f. 260r

**1.** `P / i C p zv A / z h t2 n / a 9 o R q tt lo Y / [ t2 X i f a 9q A * p 9 tt / q t2 Y v /`

> decryption: `· ariua mier emolleron ·etacematine eenu `
>
> reading: arriua [?hier] en Olleron, et a ce matin [?est] [?venu]

**2.** `a 9 / 6 o Y / y / Ax k a z t2 n / o z p d i a z M / hp 4 i p 6 h y / r a z o p n / : i * p a`

> decryption: `en son d apouremer ouilaeule plaisin deuoir batre`
>
> reading: en son [?] [?] [?], ou il a eu le [?plaisir] de uoir batre

**3.** `9 o S d zc i od z hp a 6 / i zv a f / S a 6 / 9q i R p o * a 6 / [ a * / r q / Lx od Lx 6`

> decryption: `moschalupes auec ses galrotes ·et de quelques`
>
> reading: nos chalupes auec ses galliotes, et de quelques

**4.** `f i 9 o feA A r a 6 / r q / y lo f * n a L o p * / zx T3 f n o 6 / m od / 9 6 pi a n i feB i 6`

> decryption: `samonades de nostrefort ·iecroy il nyserapas`
>
> reading: canonades de nostre fort. Ie croy il n'y fera pas

**5.** `9q n i 9 k 6 a p o z p / 6 i y f n a * o z n 9 a p / A o / U Pi r a feB z p 6 / phi p a 6`

> decryption: `granpourseiour sansretourner ao larochelle·depuis ·res`
>
> reading: gran [?] seiour sans retourner a [?] la Rochelle. Depuis [?] [?escriuis]

**6.** `f n p z 6 / i v o 6 * n a z i 9 a 6 * t2 / 6 p n a / h i 6 / t2 9 z o 6 t2 / A Do z / Pi`

> decryption: `crius auostremaneste sire iay enuoye amonsieurdumayneu ·`
>
> reading: a uostre mageste, Sire, i'ay enuoye a Monsieur du Mayne [?]

**7.** `a * z3 t2 ss p a z n 6 / r q tb Lx z o p n 6 p od 6 i z n o p * / 9q lo 6 a 9 / r t2 9q`

> decryption: `etmessieurs derqueuoirsilyauroit moyen dem`
>
> reading: et messieurs [?] [?scauoir] s'il y auroit moyen d'em-

**8.** `hp a 6 f zc a n / r q d o 9 * p y z a n / M z n r q ss a p 9 9 x / m Pi / p a z o y X`

> decryption: `pescher decontinuer leurdesseign· i· remont`
>
> reading: -pescher de continuer leur desseing. [?] [?]

**9.** `r lo feA a / i z f v 9 6 a f o z n 6 / zx feB i n d a Lx od a 6 r p * S / r a tb / 9 o y X /`

> decryption: `done aucunsecours ·parcequelesdits der nont `
>
> reading: [?] aucun secours, parce que lesdits [?] n'ont

**10.** `z o v R z t2 a n 9q a X n t2 ### z o 9 i x a 6 X i f X / M 6 H a 6 X n i 9q 9 a n 6 /`

> decryption: `uoulueernetrequona·estast lesiestrangers `
>
> reading: uoulu [?] [?] [?] [?] les [?estrangers]

**11.** `[ ### z o 6 m od pi 6 a 9 X / L i p X 6 p p a zx f lo S a p i 6 a 6 f n p X d 6`

> decryption: `·quoyilssent faitsiie·commerasescritly`
>
> reading: [?quoy] ils [?] faits, si ie [?], comme [?] escrit [?cy]

**12.** `r a z i 9 X i v o 6 X n a z A 9 a 6 X 4x / p 4 S o 9 X a 6 X 4x f lo 9 X n i p 9 f X pi`

> decryption: `deuantauostremaneste ilsontestecontraincts`
>
> reading: deuant a uostre mageste. Ils ont este contraincts

**13.** `X i ss a o p n / 6 h od o p y 9q / M z n / hp i od p ss i r a / tb 6 f a n X i p 9 a R 4 / S a /`

> decryption: `tasseoir siloing leur palissade rscertainell se `
>
> reading: [?d'asseoir] si loing leur palissade [?] [?certaine] [?] se

**14.** `y o z 6 / 9 v 6 n i / r q / 9 X a p q 6 / zx 4 9 f o n a 6 d a 6 X 4x 9 z p X / y lo z 6 / 4x y`

> decryption: `nous guyra de nteres ·lmcorescestenuit nous en`
>
> reading: nous [?] de [?] [?] [?encores] ceste nuit nous en

**15.** `i z o 9 6 / X p n a / hp p a z v a / S pl 9 o z 6 A v o 9 6 / a z v 9 r a od t2 z n 6 /`

> decryption: `auons tire preuue slmousauons euundeleurs `
>
> reading: auons tire preuue, [?] nous auons eu un de leurs

**16.** `9 i z p n a 6 / m 4 pi i z o 6 a 9 X / zx X o z 6 feB n a 6 f A a 6 f z o z a n / zx a X`

> decryption: `nauires ilsauoyent ·touspressaeschouer ·et`
>
> reading: nauires. Ils auoyent tous [?prests] a eschouer, et

**17.** `7 p a 9 m od Lx z * / zc i n 9q a x / hp p a C t2 / a X 9 i z p n a f q L 4x 9 X i 6 p 6`

> decryption: `bienilquemt harge· pierre etnauirecefentasis`
>
> reading: bien il [?] [?charge] [?de] pierre, et nauire [?] [?] [?] [?six]

**18.** `z p 9 9q X pi X o feA a i z A / 6 p h od feB A ss a hp i n r a ss z 6 / M v p hp i pl p ss i r 4x /`

> decryption: `uingtstoneaua siilpassepardessus leurpalissade `
>
> reading: uingts [?toneaux], si il passe par dessus leur palissade.

**19.** `zx m tb z n i 6 6 p p a / m od a 6 X o p X / r 4x 9 6 z o 9 X i 9 X / zx a X Lx t2 9 [`

> decryption: `·ituraysiie ilestoit demymontant ·etqueen·`
>
> reading: [?] [?] il estoit demy montant, et qu'en

**20.** `: i ss a 9q 4x n / m m 9 9 a 2 od 4x z 6 X S S a z L i p n a / zx 6 p od pi y o z 6 i z o p a 9 X`

> decryption: `bassener iinne·leustmseufaire ·silsnousauoient`
>
> reading: basse mer [?] [?] [?] faire, s'ils nous auoient

**21.** `4 i p ss a 9 lo z 6 a y i x 6 a n p o 9 6 / r a M 6 tb a X p n a tb i z i 9 X m 4 S zx`

> decryption: `laissenousena·serions delesretirerauantils·`
>
> reading: laisse, nous en serions [?] de les retirer auant [qu']ils

**22.** `a z ss q 9 X / f z a p R 6 / r i v A 9 X i 9 a r 4x z i pi 4x / a X L A n o 9q 6 / X o z X /`

> decryption: `eussent cheils dauantagedehase etfarons tout `
>
> reading: eussent [?] dauantage de [?uase], et [?ferons] tout

**23.** `f a 9 z p od 6 a 9 i hp o ss p : 4 a / k n a feB i tb a n / M r o S i 9 a m 6 6 / [`

> decryption: `seguilyenapossible pourreparer ledosameiss ·`
>
> reading: [?ce] qu'il y en a possible pour reparer le [?dommage] [?]

**24.** `X n o z v a d i / o z p od 9 6 A n p a 9 6 p h 9 hp o tb X i 9 X Lx M 6 9 a f q ss p * a`

> decryption: `trouuela ouilnyariensiimportantquelesnecessite`
>
> reading: [?] ou il n'y a rien si important que les necessite-

**25.** `pi / lo z 9 o v 6 f o S a 6 n a r z p X S / zx p z 6 ### v a 6 i f a 6 X a z t2 z n a`

> decryption: `s ounoussommesreduits ·iusquesasesteheure`
>
> reading: -s ou nous sommes reduits iusques a ceste heure.

**26.** `M 6 f i feB p X A p 9 a 6 / z o 9 X / i 6 r a / i 6 z feB o n X a tb / a X f o i 9 X a y X a p M z n 6`

> decryption: `lescapitaines mont ayde asuporter etsoantenterleurs`
>
> reading: Les capitaines m'ont ayde a suporter et [?contenter] leurs

## f. 260v

**1.** `6 o od r i X pi N z3 i p 9 X a 9 i y X m S 9 z n 3 v n a 9 X M 6 feB p a 9q p a n 6`

> decryption: `soldatssmaintenantismurmurentlespremiers`
>
> reading: soldats [?], maintenant i[l]s murmurent les premiers

**2.** `a X hp 4x n r a 9 X a 6 feB 4x n i 9 f a Lx z o 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X 4x 6 feB o z n v o 6 4x zx`

> decryption: `etperdentesperancequeuostremanestespouruoye·`
>
> reading: et perdent esperance que uostre mageste y pouruoye.

**3.** `r a hp z p 6 v o pi od a X n 4x 6 r z X zc t2 z p 9 S a r i z n p od zx T3 9 i 6 n p a y`

> decryption: `depuisuosletresduthehimsedauril·ienayrien`
>
> reading: Depuis uos letres du [?] [?] d'auril ie n'ay rien

**4.** `4x 9 X a y r z r a z o S d o S i y r a 9q q 9q 6 a 6 a X r z n a 9q 4x r a m od 9 hp 4 i p 6 X`

> decryption: `entendudemoscommandemensesetduremedeilmplaist`
>
> reading: entendu de [?uos] commandemens [?] et du remede [?qu'il] [?] plaist

**5.** `6 r o 9 y a n [ T3 6 z feB od p a X n 4x 6 zc v 3 7 od a 9 q 9q X z o 6 X n a z3 i 9q a 6 X q`

> decryption: `ydonner·iesuplietreshumblementuostremaneste`
>
> reading: y donner. Ie suplie tres humblement uostre mageste

**6.** `9 o z 6 z3 i 9 r a n 6 o y p 9 X a y X p o 9 zx M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 lo y X k [`

> decryption: `nousmandersonintention·lesrochelorsontpour·`
>
> reading: nous mander son intention. Les Rochelois ont pour

**7.** `r a ss 4x p 9q 9q r a X 4x 9 p p X o z 6 p o z n 6 ol 9q a n X i 9 X Lx z 9 a i n 9q a q feB od z 6`

> decryption: `desseingdetenirtousiourslamertantqueunearmeeplus`
>
> reading: desseing de tenir tousiours la mer tant que une armee plus

**8.** `L o n X a Lx ol M z n M 6 f o 9 X n i p 9 9q 4x r a X 4x 6 i n 9q a n zx a X k f feB [`

> decryption: `fortequelaleurlescontraignedetesarmer·etpoursp·`
>
> reading: forte que la leur les contraigne de desarmer, et pour [?]

**9.** `a v q f X o 9 X n a z o f 9 z a X o z 6 M z n 6 feB i ss a hp o n X S i v p 9 Lx M 6`

> decryption: `euestontreuosmuetousleurspasseportsauinqueles`
>
> reading: [?] [?] [?] tous leurs passeports, [?affin] que les

**10.** `f i hp p X i h 9 a 6 r a z3 i n p 9 a i 6 a 9 X r a ### z o 6 6 a 9 X n 4x X a 9 p n`

> decryption: `capitainesdemarineayentdequoysentretenir`
>
> reading: capitaines de marine ayent de quoy s'entretenir

**11.** `r a X o z X f a m od S feB o z C o 9 X hp p n i X a tb`

> decryption: `detoutseilspourrontpiratet`
>
> reading: de tout ce [qu']ils pourront [?pirater].

**12.** `[ p o z : od 6 lo p 6 Pi zx i r p n a A v lo 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X a z 9 a f z o 6 a m feB r a X n 4x 6 9q n i 9 r a [ Pi`

> decryption: `·roublyois··adireauostremanesteunechoseipdetresgrande··`
>
> reading: [?I'oublyois] a dire a uostre mageste une chose [?] de tres grande

**13.** `h 3 feB o n X i 9 f a 4x X Lx 9 z i 9 r 4 o 9 z lo z od r n o p X z i 7 A 9 r o feA a n r q X o z X hp o p 9 X f a 6 X 4x`

> decryption: `importanceetquenuandlonuouldroitmabandonerdetoutpointceste`
>
> reading: importance, et que [?quand] l'on uouldroit m'abandoner de tout point ceste

**14.** `feB od i f a 4x X ol hp a n r tb a [ o 9 y a B f i z n o p X hp p 6 L i p n a zx f feB Lx z3 a v p a z n 6 r a z o 6 X n a`

> decryption: `placeetlaperdre·omneysauroitpisfaire·cpquemeureursdeuostre`
>
> reading: place et la perdre, on ney sauroit pis faire [?] que [?] de uostre

**15.** `f o 9 6 a p od zx o 9 X i Lx o n r a i z A L a n z3 p a n 6 r v 9q n i 9 r hp i n X p zx r i R a n feB n a 9q r n a`

> decryption: `conseil·ontaqueordeamafermiersdugrandparti·dallerprendre`
>
> reading: conseil ont [?accorde] [?] fermiers du grand parti d'aller prendre

**16.** `r z 6 a od i ol n o f zc a R 4x zx m 9 a 6 X feB i 6 f a z R a 3 4x 9 X o 6 X a n i f a 6 X a hp od i f a M feB a z r a`

> decryption: `duselalarochele·inestpasseulementosterasesteplacelepeude`
>
> reading: du sel a la Rochele. [?Ce] n'est pas seulement oster a ceste place le peu de

**17.** `f o S lo r p X a Lx od lo feB o z v a p X 8 X p n a tb r z 6 a od zx N X i f p X a 9 a 9q X r o fe a n feA v f a zx f a`

> decryption: `commoditequelopouuert·tirerdusel·stacitementdopernuse·ce`
>
> reading: commodite que l'on [?pouuoit] tirer du sel, [?] tacitement [?] [?] ce

**18.** `i z 8 feB n o hp n p a X A p n a 6 r z 6 a od X a 6 q 6 p 6 od a f r q od 4 z hp o n X a tb i U a X 9 o z 6`

> decryption: `au·proprietairesduselteyesislesdelluporteralarochelleetnous`
>
> reading: au[x] proprietaires du sel [?] [?] de [?] porter a la Rochelle et nous

**19.** `hp n p z a tb r a X o z X a q 6 feB a n i 9 f a r q 9q a 6 X n a hp p 6 a f o z n v S i od i r z a 9 p p [ Pi`

> decryption: `priuerdetouteesperancedenestrepisecourusaladuenir··`
>
> reading: priuer de toute esperance de n'estre [?plus] secourus a l'aduenir,

**20.** `feB i n f a Lx hp A n f q 9 o 6 4x 9 M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 a 6 X i : pl p ss a 9 X ol od a z3 4x a r z3 r n o`

> decryption: `parcequeparcemoyenlesrochelorsestablissentlalemeedmdro`
>
> reading: parce que par ce moyen les Rochelois establissent la [?leuee] [?du] dro-

**21.** `p X zx r a hp i ss a hp o n X a 9 M z n z p R a zx 4x X 6 i X p n a 9 X M 6 z3 i n f zc i 9 6 X i 9 X`

> decryption: `it·depasseportenleuruile·etsatirentlesmarchanstant`
>
> reading: -it de passeport en leur uile, et s'atirent les marchans tant

**22.** `4x 6 X n i 9 9q a n 6 Lx L n i 9 f o 6 6 zx r o 9 X p od pi 9 a n 4x f a z n o 9 X hp i 6 feB a z [ zx`

> decryption: `estrangersquefrancoss·dontilsnereceurontpaspeu··`
>
> reading: estrangers que francois, dont ils ne receuront pas peu

**23.** `r z X p od h X a zx 9 6 hp q z r q z o 6 a 9 6 r a L i p n a ol 9 3 a C t2 [ Pi p od 6 4x n i zx`

> decryption: `dutilite·nypeudemoyensdefairelanmere··ilsera·`
>
> reading: d'utilite. [?] peu de moyens de faire la [?] [?]. Il sera

**24.** `X tb a 6 9 a f 4x ss i p n a k M 6 a n z p f a r q z o 6 X n a 9q i 9q a 6 X a 4x X M 7 p a 9 r a z3 o S`

> decryption: `tresnecessairepourleseruicedeuostrenamesteetlebiendemos`
>
> reading: tres necessaire pour le seruice de uostre mageste et le bien de [?uos]

**25.** `i P A p n a 6 zx Lx R a z3 a 6 9q 4x a 9 6 o y f o 9 6 a p od L i f a n a z a r p q n i f a ol [ a X`

> decryption: `a·arres·quellemesmeensonconseilfaceremedieracela·et`
>
> reading: [?affaires], qu'elle mesme en son conseil face remedier a cela, et

**26.** `f o 9 6 p r a n i 9 X ol f o 9 6 a 9 z a 9 f a [ 4x X M 6 : n p 9 z a 6 m od 6 i z n i a y d a 6 X 4x`

> decryption: `considerantlaconsemmence·etlesbriguesilsauraenceste`
>
> reading: considerant la [?consequence] et les brigues [?qu'il] [?y] aura en ceste

**27.** `i P A p n a zx 4x 9 L i p n a tb 4x z o f 9 v a n 6 p tb a od i r p X a hp 4x n 9q p ss p o y zx p 9 X a n r p 6 i`

> decryption: `a·aire·enfaireteuosnuersiteladitepermission·interdisa`
>
> reading: [?affaire], en faire [?] [?] la dite permission, interdisa-

**28.** `9 X zx A X o z 6 9q i n f zc i 9 6 L n i 9 f o 6 6 r a hp n a 9 r n a r z 6 4x 4 a 9 ol r p X a z p R a r q U`

> decryption: `nt·atousmarchansfrancoysdeprendreduselegladiteuilledelarochelle`
>
> reading: -nt a tous marchans francoys de prendre du sel en ladite uille de la Rochelle

**29.** `i hp a p 9 a r q f o 9 L p 6 f i X p o y r a d o n feB 6 4x X r q 7 p a 9 6 zx [ 8`

> decryption: `apeinedesonfissationdecorpsetdebiens···`
>
> reading: a peine de confiscation de corps et de biens.

Reading

reading_f260r.md

# f. 260r: reading (Michael Brackx, issue #90, 23 Oct 2026)

## Notation: the writer's own spelling (u/v and i/j one sign each); `[?]` one unread word or group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied. Line numbers are the leaf's lines.

1 arriua [?hier] en Olleron, et a ce matin [?est] [?venu]
2 en son [?] [?] [?], ou il a eu le [?plaisir] de uoir batre
3 nos chalupes auec ses galliotes, et de quelques
4 canonades de nostre fort. Ie croy il n'y fera pas
5 gran [?] seiour sans retourner a [?] la Rochelle. Depuis [?] [?escriuis]
6 a uostre mageste, Sire, i'ay enuoye a Monsieur du Mayne [?]
7 et messieurs [?] [?scauoir] s'il y auroit moyen d'em-
8 -pescher de continuer leur desseing. [?] [?]
9 [?] aucun secours, parce que lesdits [?] n'ont
10 uoulu [?] [?] [?] [?] les [?estrangers]
11 [?quoy] ils [?] faits, si ie [?], comme [?] escrit [?cy]
12 deuant a uostre mageste. Ils ont este contraincts
13 [?d'asseoir] si loing leur palissade [?] [?certaine] [?] se
14 nous [?] de [?] [?] [?encores] ceste nuit nous en
15 auons tire preuue, [?] nous auons eu un de leurs
16 nauires. Ils auoyent tous [?prests] a eschouer, et
17 bien il [?] [?charge] [?de] pierre, et nauire [?] [?] [?] [?six]
18 uingts [?toneaux], si il passe par dessus leur palissade.
19 [?] [?] il estoit demy montant, et qu'en
20 basse mer [?] [?] [?] faire, s'ils nous auoient
21 laisse, nous en serions [?] de les retirer auant [qu']ils
22 eussent [?] dauantage de [?uase], et [?ferons] tout
23 [?ce] qu'il y en a possible pour reparer le [?dommage] [?]
24 [?] ou il n'y a rien si important que les necessite-
25 -s ou nous sommes reduits iusques a ceste heure.
26 Les capitaines m'ont ayde a suporter et [?contenter] leurs

Translation

reading_f260r_en.md

# f. 260r: English (Michael Brackx, issue #90), same holes as the reading

1 arrived [?yesterday] at Oléron, and this morning [?has] [?come]
2 to his [?] [?] [?], where he had the [?pleasure] of seeing beaten
3 our shallops with his galliots, and with some
4 cannon-shots from our fort. I believe he will not make
5 a long [?] stay without returning to [?] La Rochelle. Since [?] [?I wrote]
6 to Your Majesty, Sire, I have sent to Monsieur du Mayne [?]
7 and the gentlemen [?] [?to know] whether there would be a way to pre-
8 -vent them from continuing their design. [?] [?]
9 [?] any help, because the said [?] have not
10 wanted [?] [?] [?] [?] the [?foreigners]
11 [?what] they [?] done, if I [?], as [?] written [?here]
12 before to Your Majesty. They have been forced
13 [?to set] so far off their palisade [?] [?certain] [?] itself
14 us [?] of [?] [?] [?again] this night we have
15 had proof of it, [?] we have taken one of their
16 ships. They had all [?ready] to run aground, and
17 indeed it [?] [?loaded] [?with] stone, and a ship [?] [?] [?] [?six]
18 score [?tons], if it passes over their palisade.
19 [?] [?] it was half-flood, and that at
20 low water [?] [?] [?] do, if they had
21 let us, we would be [?] to draw them off before they
22 had [?] more of [?mud], and [?we will do] all
23 [?that] is possible to repair the [?damage] [?]
24 [?] where nothing is so important as the necessi-
25 -ties to which we are reduced up to this hour.
26 The captains have helped me to bear and [?satisfy] their

f. 260v decoded, not read

The garrison is unpaid and losing hope, with no word of the King's commands since April; La Rochelle means to keep the sea and sell passports to its captains; St. Luc protests that the council has let the tax-farmers of the grand parti buy salt at La Rochelle and asks that French merchants be forbidden to take salt there on pain of confiscation.

A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.

Transcription

f260_cipher.txt

# Transcription by Michael Brackx (issue #90, 2026), one label per sign; / = divider. Labels as in key_r3.json.
## f. 260r
P / i C p zv A / z h t2 n / a 9 o R q tt lo Y / [ t2 X i f a 9q A * p 9 tt / q t2 Y v /
a 9 / 6 o Y / y / Ax k a z t2 n / o z p d i a z M / hp 4 i p 6 h y / r a z o p n / : i * p a
9 o S d zc i od z hp a 6 / i zv a f / S a 6 / 9q i R p o * a 6 / [ a * / r q / Lx od Lx 6
f i 9 o feA A r a 6 / r q / y lo f * n a L o p * / zx T3 f n o 6 / m od / 9 6 pi a n i feB i 6
9q n i 9 k 6 a p o z p / 6 i y f n a * o z n 9 a p / A o / U Pi r a feB z p 6 / phi p a 6
f n p z 6 / i v o 6 * n a z i 9 a 6 * t2 / 6 p n a / h i 6 / t2 9 z o 6 t2 / A Do z / Pi
a * z3 t2 ss p a z n 6 / r q tb Lx z o p n 6 p od 6 i z n o p * / 9q lo 6 a 9 / r t2 9q
hp a 6 f zc a n / r q d o 9 * p y z a n / M z n r q ss a p 9 9 x / m Pi / p a z o y X
r lo feA a / i z f v 9 6 a f o z n 6 / zx feB i n d a Lx od a 6 r p * S / r a tb / 9 o y X /
z o v R z t2 a n 9q a X n t2 ### z o 9 i x a 6 X i f X / M 6 H a 6 X n i 9q 9 a n 6 /
[ ### z o 6 m od pi 6 a 9 X / L i p X 6 p p a zx f lo S a p i 6 a 6 f n p X d 6
r a z i 9 X i v o 6 X n a z A 9 a 6 X 4x / p 4 S o 9 X a 6 X 4x f lo 9 X n i p 9 f X pi
X i ss a o p n / 6 h od o p y 9q / M z n / hp i od p ss i r a / tb 6 f a n X i p 9 a R 4 / S a /
y o z 6 / 9 v 6 n i / r q / 9 X a p q 6 / zx 4 9 f o n a 6 d a 6 X 4x 9 z p X / y lo z 6 / 4x y
i z o 9 6 / X p n a / hp p a z v a / S pl 9 o z 6 A v o 9 6 / a z v 9 r a od t2 z n 6 /
9 i z p n a 6 / m 4 pi i z o 6 a 9 X / zx X o z 6 feB n a 6 f A a 6 f z o z a n / zx a X
7 p a 9 m od Lx z * / zc i n 9q a x / hp p a C t2 / a X 9 i z p n a f q L 4x 9 X i 6 p 6
z p 9 9q X pi X o feA a i z A / 6 p h od feB A ss a hp i n r a ss z 6 / M v p hp i pl p ss i r 4x /
zx m tb z n i 6 6 p p a / m od a 6 X o p X / r 4x 9 6 z o 9 X i 9 X / zx a X Lx t2 9 [
: i ss a 9q 4x n / m m 9 9 a 2 od 4x z 6 X S S a z L i p n a / zx 6 p od pi y o z 6 i z o p a 9 X
4 i p ss a 9 lo z 6 a y i x 6 a n p o 9 6 / r a M 6 tb a X p n a tb i z i 9 X m 4 S zx
a z ss q 9 X / f z a p R 6 / r i v A 9 X i 9 a r 4x z i pi 4x / a X L A n o 9q 6 / X o z X /
f a 9 z p od 6 a 9 i hp o ss p : 4 a / k n a feB i tb a n / M r o S i 9 a m 6 6 / [
X n o z v a d i / o z p od 9 6 A n p a 9 6 p h 9 hp o tb X i 9 X Lx M 6 9 a f q ss p * a
pi / lo z 9 o v 6 f o S a 6 n a r z p X S / zx p z 6 ### v a 6 i f a 6 X a z t2 z n a
M 6 f i feB p X A p 9 a 6 / z o 9 X / i 6 r a / i 6 z feB o n X a tb / a X f o i 9 X a y X a p M z n 6

## f. 260v
6 o od r i X pi N z3 i p 9 X a 9 i y X m S 9 z n 3 v n a 9 X M 6 feB p a 9q p a n 6
a X hp 4x n r a 9 X a 6 feB 4x n i 9 f a Lx z o 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X 4x 6 feB o z n v o 6 4x zx
r a hp z p 6 v o pi od a X n 4x 6 r z X zc t2 z p 9 S a r i z n p od zx T3 9 i 6 n p a y
4x 9 X a y r z r a z o S d o S i y r a 9q q 9q 6 a 6 a X r z n a 9q 4x r a m od 9 hp 4 i p 6 X
6 r o 9 y a n [ T3 6 z feB od p a X n 4x 6 zc v 3 7 od a 9 q 9q X z o 6 X n a z3 i 9q a 6 X q
9 o z 6 z3 i 9 r a n 6 o y p 9 X a y X p o 9 zx M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 lo y X k [
r a ss 4x p 9q 9q r a X 4x 9 p p X o z 6 p o z n 6 ol 9q a n X i 9 X Lx z 9 a i n 9q a q feB od z 6
L o n X a Lx ol M z n M 6 f o 9 X n i p 9 9q 4x r a X 4x 6 i n 9q a n zx a X k f feB [
a v q f X o 9 X n a z o f 9 z a X o z 6 M z n 6 feB i ss a hp o n X S i v p 9 Lx M 6
f i hp p X i h 9 a 6 r a z3 i n p 9 a i 6 a 9 X r a ### z o 6 6 a 9 X n 4x X a 9 p n
r a X o z X f a m od S feB o z C o 9 X hp p n i X a tb
[ p o z : od 6 lo p 6 Pi zx i r p n a A v lo 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X a z 9 a f z o 6 a m feB r a X n 4x 6 9q n i 9 r a [ Pi
h 3 feB o n X i 9 f a 4x X Lx 9 z i 9 r 4 o 9 z lo z od r n o p X z i 7 A 9 r o feA a n r q X o z X hp o p 9 X f a 6 X 4x
feB od i f a 4x X ol hp a n r tb a [ o 9 y a B f i z n o p X hp p 6 L i p n a zx f feB Lx z3 a v p a z n 6 r a z o 6 X n a
f o 9 6 a p od zx o 9 X i Lx o n r a i z A L a n z3 p a n 6 r v 9q n i 9 r hp i n X p zx r i R a n feB n a 9q r n a
r z 6 a od i ol n o f zc a R 4x zx m 9 a 6 X feB i 6 f a z R a 3 4x 9 X o 6 X a n i f a 6 X a hp od i f a M feB a z r a
f o S lo r p X a Lx od lo feB o z v a p X 8 X p n a tb r z 6 a od zx N X i f p X a 9 a 9q X r o fe a n feA v f a zx f a
i z 8 feB n o hp n p a X A p n a 6 r z 6 a od X a 6 q 6 p 6 od a f r q od 4 z hp o n X a tb i U a X 9 o z 6
hp n p z a tb r a X o z X a q 6 feB a n i 9 f a r q 9q a 6 X n a hp p 6 a f o z n v S i od i r z a 9 p p [ Pi
feB i n f a Lx hp A n f q 9 o 6 4x 9 M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 a 6 X i : pl p ss a 9 X ol od a z3 4x a r z3 r n o
p X zx r a hp i ss a hp o n X a 9 M z n z p R a zx 4x X 6 i X p n a 9 X M 6 z3 i n f zc i 9 6 X i 9 X
4x 6 X n i 9 9q a n 6 Lx L n i 9 f o 6 6 zx r o 9 X p od pi 9 a n 4x f a z n o 9 X hp i 6 feB a z [ zx
r z X p od h X a zx 9 6 hp q z r q z o 6 a 9 6 r a L i p n a ol 9 3 a C t2 [ Pi p od 6 4x n i zx
X tb a 6 9 a f 4x ss i p n a k M 6 a n z p f a r q z o 6 X n a 9q i 9q a 6 X a 4x X M 7 p a 9 r a z3 o S
i P A p n a 6 zx Lx R a z3 a 6 9q 4x a 9 6 o y f o 9 6 a p od L i f a n a z a r p q n i f a ol [ a X
f o 9 6 p r a n i 9 X ol f o 9 6 a 9 z a 9 f a [ 4x X M 6 : n p 9 z a 6 m od 6 i z n i a y d a 6 X 4x
i P A p n a zx 4x 9 L i p n a tb 4x z o f 9 v a n 6 p tb a od i r p X a hp 4x n 9q p ss p o y zx p 9 X a n r p 6 i
9 X zx A X o z 6 9q i n f zc i 9 6 L n i 9 f o 6 6 r a hp n a 9 r n a r z 6 4x 4 a 9 ol r p X a z p R a r q U
i hp a p 9 a r q f o 9 L p 6 f i X p o y r a d o n feB 6 4x X r q 7 p a 9 6 zx [ 8

Decryption

f260_decryption_lines.md

# f. 260r-v: transcription, raw decryption (round-3 key) and reading, line by line

> Michael Brackx, issue #90, reply of 23 Oct 2026.

Decryption with the round-3 key, line by line against the transcription (label legend in the last section).
For each line: the transcription, the
raw decryption (`·` = a null sign; word division as the decoder found it), and the reading.

**Reading notation.** The letters are the figures' own (u/v and i/j are one sign each, so *uoir*, *iay*); no
accents are added. `[?]` one unread word (one `[?]` per unread word); `[?word]` a doubtful word; `[word]` a supplied word, and `x[y]z`
supplied letters inside a word. The English, with the same holes, is in the two sections above.

## f. 260r

**1.** `P / i C p zv A / z h t2 n / a 9 o R q tt lo Y / [ t2 X i f a 9q A * p 9 tt / q t2 Y v /`

> decryption: `· ariua mier emolleron ·etacematine eenu `
>
> reading: arriua [?hier] en Olleron, et a ce matin [?est] [?venu]

**2.** `a 9 / 6 o Y / y / Ax k a z t2 n / o z p d i a z M / hp 4 i p 6 h y / r a z o p n / : i * p a`

> decryption: `en son d apouremer ouilaeule plaisin deuoir batre`
>
> reading: en son [?] [?] [?], ou il a eu le [?plaisir] de uoir batre

**3.** `9 o S d zc i od z hp a 6 / i zv a f / S a 6 / 9q i R p o * a 6 / [ a * / r q / Lx od Lx 6`

> decryption: `moschalupes auec ses galrotes ·et de quelques`
>
> reading: nos chalupes auec ses galliotes, et de quelques

**4.** `f i 9 o feA A r a 6 / r q / y lo f * n a L o p * / zx T3 f n o 6 / m od / 9 6 pi a n i feB i 6`

> decryption: `samonades de nostrefort ·iecroy il nyserapas`
>
> reading: canonades de nostre fort. Ie croy il n'y fera pas

**5.** `9q n i 9 k 6 a p o z p / 6 i y f n a * o z n 9 a p / A o / U Pi r a feB z p 6 / phi p a 6`

> decryption: `granpourseiour sansretourner ao larochelle·depuis ·res`
>
> reading: gran [?] seiour sans retourner a [?] la Rochelle. Depuis [?] [?escriuis]

**6.** `f n p z 6 / i v o 6 * n a z i 9 a 6 * t2 / 6 p n a / h i 6 / t2 9 z o 6 t2 / A Do z / Pi`

> decryption: `crius auostremaneste sire iay enuoye amonsieurdumayneu ·`
>
> reading: a uostre mageste, Sire, i'ay enuoye a Monsieur du Mayne [?]

**7.** `a * z3 t2 ss p a z n 6 / r q tb Lx z o p n 6 p od 6 i z n o p * / 9q lo 6 a 9 / r t2 9q`

> decryption: `etmessieurs derqueuoirsilyauroit moyen dem`
>
> reading: et messieurs [?] [?scauoir] s'il y auroit moyen d'em-

**8.** `hp a 6 f zc a n / r q d o 9 * p y z a n / M z n r q ss a p 9 9 x / m Pi / p a z o y X`

> decryption: `pescher decontinuer leurdesseign· i· remont`
>
> reading: -pescher de continuer leur desseing. [?] [?]

**9.** `r lo feA a / i z f v 9 6 a f o z n 6 / zx feB i n d a Lx od a 6 r p * S / r a tb / 9 o y X /`

> decryption: `done aucunsecours ·parcequelesdits der nont `
>
> reading: [?] aucun secours, parce que lesdits [?] n'ont

**10.** `z o v R z t2 a n 9q a X n t2 ### z o 9 i x a 6 X i f X / M 6 H a 6 X n i 9q 9 a n 6 /`

> decryption: `uoulueernetrequona·estast lesiestrangers `
>
> reading: uoulu [?] [?] [?] [?] les [?estrangers]

**11.** `[ ### z o 6 m od pi 6 a 9 X / L i p X 6 p p a zx f lo S a p i 6 a 6 f n p X d 6`

> decryption: `·quoyilssent faitsiie·commerasescritly`
>
> reading: [?quoy] ils [?] faits, si ie [?], comme [?] escrit [?cy]

**12.** `r a z i 9 X i v o 6 X n a z A 9 a 6 X 4x / p 4 S o 9 X a 6 X 4x f lo 9 X n i p 9 f X pi`

> decryption: `deuantauostremaneste ilsontestecontraincts`
>
> reading: deuant a uostre mageste. Ils ont este contraincts

**13.** `X i ss a o p n / 6 h od o p y 9q / M z n / hp i od p ss i r a / tb 6 f a n X i p 9 a R 4 / S a /`

> decryption: `tasseoir siloing leur palissade rscertainell se `
>
> reading: [?d'asseoir] si loing leur palissade [?] [?certaine] [?] se

**14.** `y o z 6 / 9 v 6 n i / r q / 9 X a p q 6 / zx 4 9 f o n a 6 d a 6 X 4x 9 z p X / y lo z 6 / 4x y`

> decryption: `nous guyra de nteres ·lmcorescestenuit nous en`
>
> reading: nous [?] de [?] [?] [?encores] ceste nuit nous en

**15.** `i z o 9 6 / X p n a / hp p a z v a / S pl 9 o z 6 A v o 9 6 / a z v 9 r a od t2 z n 6 /`

> decryption: `auons tire preuue slmousauons euundeleurs `
>
> reading: auons tire preuue, [?] nous auons eu un de leurs

**16.** `9 i z p n a 6 / m 4 pi i z o 6 a 9 X / zx X o z 6 feB n a 6 f A a 6 f z o z a n / zx a X`

> decryption: `nauires ilsauoyent ·touspressaeschouer ·et`
>
> reading: nauires. Ils auoyent tous [?prests] a eschouer, et

**17.** `7 p a 9 m od Lx z * / zc i n 9q a x / hp p a C t2 / a X 9 i z p n a f q L 4x 9 X i 6 p 6`

> decryption: `bienilquemt harge· pierre etnauirecefentasis`
>
> reading: bien il [?] [?charge] [?de] pierre, et nauire [?] [?] [?] [?six]

**18.** `z p 9 9q X pi X o feA a i z A / 6 p h od feB A ss a hp i n r a ss z 6 / M v p hp i pl p ss i r 4x /`

> decryption: `uingtstoneaua siilpassepardessus leurpalissade `
>
> reading: uingts [?toneaux], si il passe par dessus leur palissade.

**19.** `zx m tb z n i 6 6 p p a / m od a 6 X o p X / r 4x 9 6 z o 9 X i 9 X / zx a X Lx t2 9 [`

> decryption: `·ituraysiie ilestoit demymontant ·etqueen·`
>
> reading: [?] [?] il estoit demy montant, et qu'en

**20.** `: i ss a 9q 4x n / m m 9 9 a 2 od 4x z 6 X S S a z L i p n a / zx 6 p od pi y o z 6 i z o p a 9 X`

> decryption: `bassener iinne·leustmseufaire ·silsnousauoient`
>
> reading: basse mer [?] [?] [?] faire, s'ils nous auoient

**21.** `4 i p ss a 9 lo z 6 a y i x 6 a n p o 9 6 / r a M 6 tb a X p n a tb i z i 9 X m 4 S zx`

> decryption: `laissenousena·serions delesretirerauantils·`
>
> reading: laisse, nous en serions [?] de les retirer auant [qu']ils

**22.** `a z ss q 9 X / f z a p R 6 / r i v A 9 X i 9 a r 4x z i pi 4x / a X L A n o 9q 6 / X o z X /`

> decryption: `eussent cheils dauantagedehase etfarons tout `
>
> reading: eussent [?] dauantage de [?uase], et [?ferons] tout

**23.** `f a 9 z p od 6 a 9 i hp o ss p : 4 a / k n a feB i tb a n / M r o S i 9 a m 6 6 / [`

> decryption: `seguilyenapossible pourreparer ledosameiss ·`
>
> reading: [?ce] qu'il y en a possible pour reparer le [?dommage] [?]

**24.** `X n o z v a d i / o z p od 9 6 A n p a 9 6 p h 9 hp o tb X i 9 X Lx M 6 9 a f q ss p * a`

> decryption: `trouuela ouilnyariensiimportantquelesnecessite`
>
> reading: [?] ou il n'y a rien si important que les necessite-

**25.** `pi / lo z 9 o v 6 f o S a 6 n a r z p X S / zx p z 6 ### v a 6 i f a 6 X a z t2 z n a`

> decryption: `s ounoussommesreduits ·iusquesasesteheure`
>
> reading: -s ou nous sommes reduits iusques a ceste heure.

**26.** `M 6 f i feB p X A p 9 a 6 / z o 9 X / i 6 r a / i 6 z feB o n X a tb / a X f o i 9 X a y X a p M z n 6`

> decryption: `lescapitaines mont ayde asuporter etsoantenterleurs`
>
> reading: Les capitaines m'ont ayde a suporter et [?contenter] leurs

## f. 260v

**1.** `6 o od r i X pi N z3 i p 9 X a 9 i y X m S 9 z n 3 v n a 9 X M 6 feB p a 9q p a n 6`

> decryption: `soldatssmaintenantismurmurentlespremiers`
>
> reading: soldats [?], maintenant i[l]s murmurent les premiers

**2.** `a X hp 4x n r a 9 X a 6 feB 4x n i 9 f a Lx z o 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X 4x 6 feB o z n v o 6 4x zx`

> decryption: `etperdentesperancequeuostremanestespouruoye·`
>
> reading: et perdent esperance que uostre mageste y pouruoye.

**3.** `r a hp z p 6 v o pi od a X n 4x 6 r z X zc t2 z p 9 S a r i z n p od zx T3 9 i 6 n p a y`

> decryption: `depuisuosletresduthehimsedauril·ienayrien`
>
> reading: Depuis uos letres du [?] [?] d'auril ie n'ay rien

**4.** `4x 9 X a y r z r a z o S d o S i y r a 9q q 9q 6 a 6 a X r z n a 9q 4x r a m od 9 hp 4 i p 6 X`

> decryption: `entendudemoscommandemensesetduremedeilmplaist`
>
> reading: entendu de [?uos] commandemens [?] et du remede [?qu'il] [?] plaist

**5.** `6 r o 9 y a n [ T3 6 z feB od p a X n 4x 6 zc v 3 7 od a 9 q 9q X z o 6 X n a z3 i 9q a 6 X q`

> decryption: `ydonner·iesuplietreshumblementuostremaneste`
>
> reading: y donner. Ie suplie tres humblement uostre mageste

**6.** `9 o z 6 z3 i 9 r a n 6 o y p 9 X a y X p o 9 zx M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 lo y X k [`

> decryption: `nousmandersonintention·lesrochelorsontpour·`
>
> reading: nous mander son intention. Les Rochelois ont pour

**7.** `r a ss 4x p 9q 9q r a X 4x 9 p p X o z 6 p o z n 6 ol 9q a n X i 9 X Lx z 9 a i n 9q a q feB od z 6`

> decryption: `desseingdetenirtousiourslamertantqueunearmeeplus`
>
> reading: desseing de tenir tousiours la mer tant que une armee plus

**8.** `L o n X a Lx ol M z n M 6 f o 9 X n i p 9 9q 4x r a X 4x 6 i n 9q a n zx a X k f feB [`

> decryption: `fortequelaleurlescontraignedetesarmer·etpoursp·`
>
> reading: forte que la leur les contraigne de desarmer, et pour [?]

**9.** `a v q f X o 9 X n a z o f 9 z a X o z 6 M z n 6 feB i ss a hp o n X S i v p 9 Lx M 6`

> decryption: `euestontreuosmuetousleurspasseportsauinqueles`
>
> reading: [?] [?] [?] tous leurs passeports, [?affin] que les

**10.** `f i hp p X i h 9 a 6 r a z3 i n p 9 a i 6 a 9 X r a ### z o 6 6 a 9 X n 4x X a 9 p n`

> decryption: `capitainesdemarineayentdequoysentretenir`
>
> reading: capitaines de marine ayent de quoy s'entretenir

**11.** `r a X o z X f a m od S feB o z C o 9 X hp p n i X a tb`

> decryption: `detoutseilspourrontpiratet`
>
> reading: de tout ce [qu']ils pourront [?pirater].

**12.** `[ p o z : od 6 lo p 6 Pi zx i r p n a A v lo 6 X n a z i 9 a 6 X a z 9 a f z o 6 a m feB r a X n 4x 6 9q n i 9 r a [ Pi`

> decryption: `·roublyois··adireauostremanesteunechoseipdetresgrande··`
>
> reading: [?I'oublyois] a dire a uostre mageste une chose [?] de tres grande

**13.** `h 3 feB o n X i 9 f a 4x X Lx 9 z i 9 r 4 o 9 z lo z od r n o p X z i 7 A 9 r o feA a n r q X o z X hp o p 9 X f a 6 X 4x`

> decryption: `importanceetquenuandlonuouldroitmabandonerdetoutpointceste`
>
> reading: importance, et que [?quand] l'on uouldroit m'abandoner de tout point ceste

**14.** `feB od i f a 4x X ol hp a n r tb a [ o 9 y a B f i z n o p X hp p 6 L i p n a zx f feB Lx z3 a v p a z n 6 r a z o 6 X n a`

> decryption: `placeetlaperdre·omneysauroitpisfaire·cpquemeureursdeuostre`
>
> reading: place et la perdre, on ney sauroit pis faire [?] que [?] de uostre

**15.** `f o 9 6 a p od zx o 9 X i Lx o n r a i z A L a n z3 p a n 6 r v 9q n i 9 r hp i n X p zx r i R a n feB n a 9q r n a`

> decryption: `conseil·ontaqueordeamafermiersdugrandparti·dallerprendre`
>
> reading: conseil ont [?accorde] [?] fermiers du grand parti d'aller prendre

**16.** `r z 6 a od i ol n o f zc a R 4x zx m 9 a 6 X feB i 6 f a z R a 3 4x 9 X o 6 X a n i f a 6 X a hp od i f a M feB a z r a`

> decryption: `duselalarochele·inestpasseulementosterasesteplacelepeude`
>
> reading: du sel a la Rochele. [?Ce] n'est pas seulement oster a ceste place le peu de

**17.** `f o S lo r p X a Lx od lo feB o z v a p X 8 X p n a tb r z 6 a od zx N X i f p X a 9 a 9q X r o fe a n feA v f a zx f a`

> decryption: `commoditequelopouuert·tirerdusel·stacitementdopernuse·ce`
>
> reading: commodite que l'on [?pouuoit] tirer du sel, [?] tacitement [?] [?] ce

**18.** `i z 8 feB n o hp n p a X A p n a 6 r z 6 a od X a 6 q 6 p 6 od a f r q od 4 z hp o n X a tb i U a X 9 o z 6`

> decryption: `au·proprietairesduselteyesislesdelluporteralarochelleetnous`
>
> reading: au[x] proprietaires du sel [?] [?] de [?] porter a la Rochelle et nous

**19.** `hp n p z a tb r a X o z X a q 6 feB a n i 9 f a r q 9q a 6 X n a hp p 6 a f o z n v S i od i r z a 9 p p [ Pi`

> decryption: `priuerdetouteesperancedenestrepisecourusaladuenir··`
>
> reading: priuer de toute esperance de n'estre [?plus] secourus a l'aduenir,

**20.** `feB i n f a Lx hp A n f q 9 o 6 4x 9 M 6 n o f zc a od o p 6 a 6 X i : pl p ss a 9 X ol od a z3 4x a r z3 r n o`

> decryption: `parcequeparcemoyenlesrochelorsestablissentlalemeedmdro`
>
> reading: parce que par ce moyen les Rochelois establissent la [?leuee] [?du] dro-

**21.** `p X zx r a hp i ss a hp o n X a 9 M z n z p R a zx 4x X 6 i X p n a 9 X M 6 z3 i n f zc i 9 6 X i 9 X`

> decryption: `it·depasseportenleuruile·etsatirentlesmarchanstant`
>
> reading: -it de passeport en leur uile, et s'atirent les marchans tant

**22.** `4x 6 X n i 9 9q a n 6 Lx L n i 9 f o 6 6 zx r o 9 X p od pi 9 a n 4x f a z n o 9 X hp i 6 feB a z [ zx`

> decryption: `estrangersquefrancoss·dontilsnereceurontpaspeu··`
>
> reading: estrangers que francois, dont ils ne receuront pas peu

**23.** `r z X p od h X a zx 9 6 hp q z r q z o 6 a 9 6 r a L i p n a ol 9 3 a C t2 [ Pi p od 6 4x n i zx`

> decryption: `dutilite·nypeudemoyensdefairelanmere··ilsera·`
>
> reading: d'utilite. [?] peu de moyens de faire la [?] [?]. Il sera

**24.** `X tb a 6 9 a f 4x ss i p n a k M 6 a n z p f a r q z o 6 X n a 9q i 9q a 6 X a 4x X M 7 p a 9 r a z3 o S`

> decryption: `tresnecessairepourleseruicedeuostrenamesteetlebiendemos`
>
> reading: tres necessaire pour le seruice de uostre mageste et le bien de [?uos]

**25.** `i P A p n a 6 zx Lx R a z3 a 6 9q 4x a 9 6 o y f o 9 6 a p od L i f a n a z a r p q n i f a ol [ a X`

> decryption: `a·arres·quellemesmeensonconseilfaceremedieracela·et`
>
> reading: [?affaires], qu'elle mesme en son conseil face remedier a cela, et

**26.** `f o 9 6 p r a n i 9 X ol f o 9 6 a 9 z a 9 f a [ 4x X M 6 : n p 9 z a 6 m od 6 i z n i a y d a 6 X 4x`

> decryption: `considerantlaconsemmence·etlesbriguesilsauraenceste`
>
> reading: considerant la [?consequence] et les brigues [?qu'il] [?y] aura en ceste

**27.** `i P A p n a zx 4x 9 L i p n a tb 4x z o f 9 v a n 6 p tb a od i r p X a hp 4x n 9q p ss p o y zx p 9 X a n r p 6 i`

> decryption: `a·aire·enfaireteuosnuersiteladitepermission·interdisa`
>
> reading: [?affaire], en faire [?] [?] la dite permission, interdisa-

**28.** `9 X zx A X o z 6 9q i n f zc i 9 6 L n i 9 f o 6 6 r a hp n a 9 r n a r z 6 4x 4 a 9 ol r p X a z p R a r q U`

> decryption: `nt·atousmarchansfrancoysdeprendreduselegladiteuilledelarochelle`
>
> reading: -nt a tous marchans francoys de prendre du sel en ladite uille de la Rochelle

**29.** `i hp a p 9 a r q f o 9 L p 6 f i X p o y r a d o n feB 6 4x X r q 7 p a 9 6 zx [ 8`

> decryption: `apeinedesonfissationdecorpsetdebiens···`
>
> reading: a peine de confiscation de corps et de biens.

Reading

reading_f260v.md

# f. 260v: reading (Michael Brackx, issue #90, 23 Oct 2026)

## Notation: the writer's own spelling (u/v and i/j one sign each); `[?]` one unread word or group, `[?word]` doubtful, `[word]` supplied. Line numbers are the leaf's lines.

1 soldats [?], maintenant i[l]s murmurent les premiers
2 et perdent esperance que uostre mageste y pouruoye.
3 Depuis uos letres du [?] [?] d'auril ie n'ay rien
4 entendu de [?uos] commandemens [?] et du remede [?qu'il] [?] plaist
5 y donner. Ie suplie tres humblement uostre mageste
6 nous mander son intention. Les Rochelois ont pour
7 desseing de tenir tousiours la mer tant que une armee plus
8 forte que la leur les contraigne de desarmer, et pour [?]
9 [?] [?] [?] tous leurs passeports, [?affin] que les
10 capitaines de marine ayent de quoy s'entretenir
11 de tout ce [qu']ils pourront [?pirater].
12 [?I'oublyois] a dire a uostre mageste une chose [?] de tres grande
13 importance, et que [?quand] l'on uouldroit m'abandoner de tout point ceste
14 place et la perdre, on ney sauroit pis faire [?] que [?] de uostre
15 conseil ont [?accorde] [?] fermiers du grand parti d'aller prendre
16 du sel a la Rochele. [?Ce] n'est pas seulement oster a ceste place le peu de
17 commodite que l'on [?pouuoit] tirer du sel, [?] tacitement [?] [?] ce
18 au[x] proprietaires du sel [?] [?] de [?] porter a la Rochelle et nous
19 priuer de toute esperance de n'estre [?plus] secourus a l'aduenir,
20 parce que par ce moyen les Rochelois establissent la [?leuee] [?du] dro-
21 -it de passeport en leur uile, et s'atirent les marchans tant
22 estrangers que francois, dont ils ne receuront pas peu
23 d'utilite. [?] peu de moyens de faire la [?] [?]. Il sera
24 tres necessaire pour le seruice de uostre mageste et le bien de [?uos]
25 [?affaires], qu'elle mesme en son conseil face remedier a cela, et
26 considerant la [?consequence] et les brigues [?qu'il] [?y] aura en ceste
27 [?affaire], en faire [?] [?] la dite permission, interdisa-
28 -nt a tous marchans francoys de prendre du sel en ladite uille de la Rochelle
29 a peine de confiscation de corps et de biens.

Translation

reading_f260v_en.md

# f. 260v: English (Michael Brackx, issue #90), same holes as the reading

1 soldiers [?]; now they are the first to murmur
2 and lose hope that Your Majesty will provide for it.
3 Since your letters of the [?] [?] of April I have heard nothing
4 of [?your] commands [?] and of the remedy [?that it] [?] pleases
5 to give to it. I most humbly beg Your Majesty
6 to send us word of his intention. The Rochelais have as
7 their design to keep the sea always until a fleet stronger
8 than theirs forces them to disarm, and for [?]
9 [?] [?] [?] all their passports, [?so] that the
10 sea captains have the means to keep themselves
11 from all they can [?take by piracy].
12 [?I was forgetting] to tell Your Majesty a thing [?] of very great
13 importance, and that [?if] one wished to abandon me entirely, this
14 place and to lose it, one could not do worse [?] than [?] of your
15 council have [?granted] [?] farmers of the grand parti to go and take
16 salt at La Rochelle. [?It] is not only to take from this place the little
17 benefit that [?could] be drawn from the salt, [?] tacitly [?] [?] this
18 to the owners of the salt [?] [?] to [?] carry to La Rochelle, and to
19 deprive us of all hope of being [?any more] relieved in future,
20 because by this means the Rochelais establish the [?levy] [?of the] du-
21 -ty of passport in their town, and draw to themselves the merchants, both
22 foreign and French, from which they will receive no little
23 profit. [?] little means to make the [?] [?]. It will be
24 very necessary for the service of Your Majesty and the good of [?your]
25 [?affairs] that he himself in his council have this remedied, and
26 considering the [?consequence] and the intrigues [?that] [?there] will be in this
27 [?affair], to make [?] [?] the said permission, forbid-
28 -ding all French merchants to take salt in the said town of La Rochelle
29 on pain of confiscation of body and goods.

Key: key_r3.json

06 Sources

Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 15572 (Gallica btv1b9061879d): f. 260r–v on canvases 268 (right) and 269 (left); f. 245r–v on canvases 253 (right) and 254 (left).
S. Tomokiyo, Cryptiana, French ciphers under Charles IX and Henri III: “St. Luc’s Cipher”, the table and the opening of f. 260.
Michael Brackx, issue #90 (22–23 October 2026): transcriptions, corrected key, decode, reading and English.

Files: targets/saintluc1586b/ (transcriptions, key, reading, English, NOTES).