At a glanceExisting decipherment · complete
- The letter
- A writer in Henrietta Maria’s household at Paris to Charles I, January [1646]. Signed with the number 385.
- Where
- The National Archives, Kew, SP 106/10 ff. 235–236; DECODE R924. It was part of catalogue item 59, which grouped six letters in four different keys.
- The cipher
- One- and two-digit numbers for letters, up to four for a vowel, and a numbered word list from 100 up, roughly in alphabetical order (100 all, 108 and, 141 for).
- How it was deciphered
- George Lasry reconstructed the key (“TNA SP106-8”) and deciphered the letter on DECODE in October 2020. His plaintext is the text; it stays on DECODE as his work and is not in this repository, so the reading audit of 22 October 2026 counted the letter as decoded, not read. On 23 October his files were fetched and the letter decoded afresh; with four code values set by sense it builds most sentences, but counting those as holes it stays just under the reading bar, so it is still decoded, not read. Applied here group by group, his key gives his text on every line that can be compared.
- What it says
- The writer argues against sending Sir H. Compton as ambassador and against the treaty for Prince Charles’s marriage with Portugal. He reports on Montreuil’s mission and on levies of five or six thousand men.
- Still open
- 58 three-digit numbers not in Lasry’s word list and 11 low figures with no value in the key: 162 groups in all.
- Other keys
- The five other letters once filed with it are in different ciphers: R785, R790, R923 (TNA SP 106), R787 (SP106-2), R929 (SP106-5).
01 The letter and the key
Catalogue item 59 grouped six cipher letters of SP 106/10 from Henrietta Maria’s household in France to Charles I. George Lasry reconstructed four keys for the run, and on 14 October 2026 the entry was split so that each page presents one key. This letter is the only one of the six in his “SP106-8” key, dated January 1646. In his files the same key also covers the next record, R925 (ff. 238–240), a letter of the Queen on the same marriage.
The writer is not the Queen (“the Queen sends …”, “the Queen desires your Majesty …”) and signs with the number 385. Lasry dates the letter from its content: Montreuil’s mission, and a frost also mentioned in the Hague letter of January on ff. 245–246. He prefers 1646 to 1645. DECODE’s date of 26 June 1646 does not fit the letter’s own “Paris Jan”; the correction is queued for DECODE.
The key has one- and two-digit homophones (A 5, 15, 23, 25; E 2, 11, 22, 26) and a numbered word list starting at 100: 100 all, 101 are, 102 as, 103 at, 108 and, 109 be, 141 for, 173 I, 174 in, 176 -ing. Lasry’s file says the key has no nulls.
76:53:14:13:26:39:30:236, begins Lasry’s “PARIS JAN …”; the second line is almost all word-list numbers (141, 107, 227, 240 …). Image: The National Archives, SP 106/10 f. 235, via DECODE R924.02 Lasry’s decipherment
The plaintext is Lasry’s and is on the DECODE record, quoted here with punctuation added:
PARIS JAN … IT PLEAS YOUR MAJESTY, YOU HAVE SO MUCH <797> <320> HANDS THAT I WILL NOT BEGIN ANOTHER WITH YOU BUT I LAY IT DOWN … FIRST THOUGH YOUR MAJESTY SHALL KNOW YOU ARE OBEYED AND SR H COMPTON IS <487>D … THE TREATY OF MARRIAGE, WHICH IS A THING OF IMPORTANCE ENOUGH WHEN IT SHALL BE <307> <142> TO BE SET AFOOT WITH PORTUGALL …
… FOR WE KNOW NOW THAT MONTREUL HAS BEEN WITH YOU … THE LEVIES NOW IN HAND IN SO GOOD AN ADVANCE THAT WE HAVE GOOD BRING TO HOLD THAT WE SHALL PASSE A BODY OF AOR [5 OR] 6 THOUSAND MEN AS GOOD AS ARE ANY <330> TO BE FOUND … I AM YOUR MAJESTY’S <219> OBEDIENT <SERVANT> <385>
03 The check made here
Lasry’s interlinear file pairs each line of Sofia Pettersson’s transcription with his plaintext. His key was applied group by group to the cipher lines, without his plaintext. Of 2012 groups, 1850 (91.9%) get a value. On 11 lines his plaintext line has a different number of words from the cipher line, so the columns shift and those lines are not compared; on all the others (1604 groups) the key gives exactly his text. The 162 groups with no value are 58 three-digit numbers (85 occurrences; 324 and 428 four times each) and 11 low figures (77 occurrences; 21 alone 24 times), which Lasry writes as “_”. The replay in section 02 shows the first 120 groups of that run.
04 What stays open
- The three-digit numbers that are not in Lasry’s word list, left in brackets in his plaintext. Some are probably words of the list, others names.
- The low figures 21, 30, 42, 50, 16 and a few others, which have no value in the key. They may be word dividers, nulls or letter values missing from the alphabet; this is not settled here.
- Who 385 is. The letter speaks for the Queen’s council at Paris and does not name its writer, but Eric Sams deciphered this letter and the Queen’s (R925) in 1976 for Ian Roy (Archivaria 21, 1985–86, pp. 89–90): the writer is Henry Jermyn, at Paris on 26 January 1646, the day of his letter to Nicholas referring him to the King’s letters on the Portugal embassy. Sams’s solution was never printed; it is said to be in the Bodleian with Roy’s papers.
- Re-reading, 23 October 2026. Lasry’s files were fetched with the project’s DECODE login and the letter decoded afresh from Pettersson’s rows (
R924_reading.md, EnglishR924_en.md). The unvalued low figures are nulls between words; “Ian. 26” and “5 or 6 thousand” are numerals in clear; four codes were valued by sense at every occurrence: 168 hope (Lasry hold), 116 can (Lasry brought), 334 what, 227 new. Counted as holes, those four and the 85 open code tokens leave the letter just under the reading bar: decoded, not read. Sams’s decipherment would settle them.
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.
R924, Paris, January 1646 read in part
A writer at Paris to Charles I against Sir H. Compton's journey and the treaty for Prince Charles's marriage with Portugal, on Montreuil's mission, the frost that stopped the river traffic, and levies of five or six thousand men to send over.
Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense (89% here); the holes are marked in the reading.
Transcription
# R924 sign transcription: Pettersson (DECODE) rows, with R924_corrections.tsv applied and Lasry's & signs; one manuscript line per row 48 15 53 180 10 15 49 42 =26 30 207 179 44 17 22 15 40 343 616 342 162 293 61 54 85 41 42 797 320 46 108 40 42 305 173 325 229 109 55 174 15 49 14 303 53 30 326 342 110 173 17 15 71 179 82 14 66 39 141 303 40 15 69 22 710 305 303 734 40 122 60 174 54 26 303 10 53 40 305 173 15 61 21 85 11 87 60 15 174 197 313 14 42 45 60 53 241 55 326 303 710 45 327 1 88 85 57 87 241 206 40 19 82 26 327 173 325 76 53 2 181 197 53 26 44 53 11 276 313 343 616 18 10 53 45 60 21 60 46 14 57 55 41 343 616 278 182 342 101 9 76 26 71 22 82 108 40 53 30 46 42 85 14 61 44 63 241 180 487 82 16 305 316 167 114 119 141 303 40 63 15 71 176 157 180 231 141 156 151 176 173 65 22 15 49 42 141 303 8 10 87 47 60 688 313 275 157 141 305 173 100 14 66 313 109 15 150 119 141 156 157 176 108 305 303 40 41 15 61 2 343 616 215 60 175 40 141 229 487 157 180 229 337 17 15 71 82 313 316 85 41 25 87 55 26 305 328 162 45 60 14 48 44 22 82 157 15 21 66 41 10 17 26 202 26 53 30 110 17 10 13 26 87 313 138 324 303 654 141 156 10 14 54 53 49 22 71 180 305 173 168 313 22 54 10 82 26 49 85 26 322 88 17 22 15 87 197 313 343 616 1 141 303 776 236 61 101 87 19 5 55 26 327 180 15 311 55 236 178 44 237 60 15 49 88 26 21 22 49 14 54 55 41 329 179 278 109 307 142 313 109 45 11 60 21 25 18 14 20 63 326 48 1 53 63 54 55 100 313 44 15 40 45 2 7 14 54 11 53 30 303 84 181 18 10 85 54 17 60 10 26 45 50 236 199 176 303 18 10 53 40 60 305 275 15 49 399 60 41 10 316 305 776 116 229 44 14 40 45 10 76 17 71 21 49 2 316 111 303 53 54 17 2 40 236 710 237 565 118 174 70 54 22 40 60 175 321 303 14 303 87 326 360 109 103 15 39 173 16 108 41 10 316 313 141 303 710 40 236 303 532 174 685 15 60 175 179 167 229 114 44 14 40 45 10 76 17 26 313 18 174 180 46 179 141 303 118 176 143 60 41 236 305 532 180 229 242 111 343 616 40 239 122 18 26 40 45 175 303 149 26 40 60 21 45 63 11 44 305 116 109 208 313 343 53 11 85 14 54 26 53 71 100 111 303 550 654 236 100 14 316 40 305 127 103 100 457 343 15 18 8 25 10 87 26 45 50 1 54 55 46 60 313 53 11 85 2 10 54 26 230 174 60 11 53 58 54 44 60 175 22 40 44 26 85 10 100 17 71 21 40 174 85 26 21 3 837 45 783 325 82 11 85 17 15 87 26 21 66 46 19 316 179 325 118 141 60 41 237 230 108 181 304 202 18 53 14 40 60 153 229 40 54 45 44 133 2 82 100 13 174 84 236 66 15 60 11 53 123 61 2 87 88 22 174 303 53 10 57 22 58 40 236 561 111 304 783 66 11 153 45 11 22 49 334 206 55 46 63 162 114 53 22 17 10 2 82 241 303 428 236 303 532 14 54 11 87 303 61 15 60 85 46 174 561 325 26 303 53 109 122 85 17 54 82 11 84 320 303 466 236 303 40 60 15 63 11 45 50 82 11 85 17 15 87 176 141 342 237 303 776 76 53 14 13 26 39 30 236 18 108 343 616 40 2 60 103 17 10 76 22 53 60 71 141 107 227 240 327 329 342 101 173 278 229 306 305 39 26 316 5 710 141 303 275 176 40 53 3 46 7 85 14 65 44 60 241 141 45 54 53 26 21 60 41 14 54 55 46 154 109 15 322 41 9 49 26 45 60 214 108 182 176 22 39 14 54 55 46 174 303 311 45 154 167 114 15 85 70 54 15 174 60 11 82 326 180 344 174 23 322 53 11 65 14 60 26 174 85 15 44 25 85 10 60 71 236 15 85 70 54 179 63 176 157 40 11 17 18 26 236 45 57 88 41 21 15 428 102 304 15 85 88 237 82 176 313 303 84 10 55 39 10 63 71 236 343 616 40 628 181 304 109 100 784 303 457 15 60 175 236 303 61 101 53 10 15 55 26 180 239 710 141 156 10 9 54 87 49 26 71 141 344 179 1 57 55 46 60 229 313 109 293 61 54 88 41 102 215 63 10 241 22 82 108 329 179 279 109 776 82 241 154 14 64 55 46 52 229 313 109 303 44 11 53 40 241 141 100 14 303 87 15 84 54 15 49 60 15 55 2 40 173 15 65 50 40 60 177 236 654 343 616 61 10 55 46 60 326 218 710 162 512 22 82 303 65 111 193 176 303 61 303 168 45 236 305 327 242 321 303 65 15 53 58 10 23 55 26 21 342 116 127 141 303 61 21 315 111 44 54 60 63 176 303 65 174 48 14 40 45 2 47 40 175 236 179 108 343 616 180 313 457 502 180 303 242 40 60 15 60 22 143 329 85 11 303 71 116 168 141 5 49 399 305 40 10 55 49 19 18 28 26 40 107 311 415 50 313 303 61 21 141 143 100 60 41 14 40 26 174 797 326 40 44 15 174 26 33 179 180 232 108 143 303 53 22 45 60 21 303 71 162 230 168 45 236 107 343 616 45 162 176 44 102 40 11 82 30 53 54 76 19 85 241 324 54 39 182 39 313 217 53 26 85 22 19 54 176 236 240 143 303 61 324 229 41 15 17 13 26 336 14 54 26 53 30 108 343 688 313 275 240 173 324 343 616 122 85 11 53 58 39 176 45 53 30 41 42 85 14 65 44 63 241 45 30 19 14 57 87 39 26 71 37 313 303 428 236 303 65 101 87 10 15 55 26 179 180 313 230 133 303 45 15 71 107 311 55 344 242 304 654 173 325 109 76 14 17 82 313 15 82 54 15 39 85 26 33 326 149 455 49 85 26 30 63 46 9 54 55 41 173 17 14 54 2 229 305 44 53 11 45 54 65 44 60 175 305 303 168 236 303 40 54 61 65 11 21 236 65 14 39 22 71 342 215 60 175 108 14 303 53 457 105 406 15 39 85 11 40 42 313 343 119 143 305 85 53 14 66 49 180 303 41 36 55 46 26 40 60 21 82 22 17 54 47 175 174 303 66 237 17 82 16 110 173 325 41 14 17 82 343 616 230 202 26 53 326 304 82 180 85 238 45 303 15 85 88 14 54 39 60 173 278 55 10 54 22 342 236 343 15 18 8 15 10 53 22 40 158 60 46 1 64 55 46 173 122 18 2 40 303 720 40 101 301 49 322 189 325 40 46 11 66 342 326 303 49 14 60 11 351 275 40 236 305 167 114 141 65 22 87 197 14 76 60 15 10 39 26 84 42 305 303 406 15 39 85 22 45 342 162 153 108 101 233 174 512 23 60 175 236 101 229 293 174 457 105 102 343 616 40 11 2 65 40 313 429 111 303 513 175 40 342 317 26 30 108 60 46 14 54 55 41 179 109 233 189 305 303 720 45 16 101 301 49 42 179 325 109 343 616 40 50 18 15 54 17 60 181 344 303 71 21 44 53 14 54 26 229 11 18 8 2 85 60 54 100 141 66 26 182 233 305 61 241 63 53 22 54 17 167 114 326 342 303 40 2 21 10 29 124 47 108 181 342 162 208 107 122 85 17 54 40 175 325 157 141 303 744 305 325 22 49 105 342 313 45 60 15 71 141 303 17 2 54 10 22 40 233 174 46 108 174 293 150 23 49 42 15 84 54 15 39 85 26 305 66 11 162 150 118 313 168 305 66 11 278 44 102 40 11 21 15 50 76 14 82 71 236 =5 237 =6 21 63 41 14 54 40 108 215 102 150 102 101 107 330 313 109 18 14 54 39 82 30 111 303 109 55 174 39 176 236 821 382 325 44 53 11 276 197 87 26 60 54 53 39 26 16 162 176 233 53 11 85 14 54 26 58 22 82 156 41 11 15 17 60 46 30 313 685 100 311 45 145 303 10 58 16 17 108 176 108 122 10 54 49 60 19 241 326 156 402 327 181 15 227 45 50 66 11 159 82 345 109 784 236 15 49 42 15 84 64 5 39 60 15 55 26 33 303 71 162 153 241 18 15 10 87 8 15 67 21 108 15 50 47 54 44 48 17 71 16 44 54 60 174 63 9 521 325 40 54 76 47 150 321 303 40 2 215 101 53 10 54 26 30 351 82 11 40 19 87 2 47 343 616 229 313 41 11 5 58 13 26 49 111 107 632 40 313 107 678 305 116 208 313 303 44 53 11 10 57 82 10 85 26 286 382 174 303 450 236 305 402 141 305 328 82 180 10 14 39 60 100 304 44 53 11 276 488 327 173 168 325 109 236 149 317 26 313 343 40 11 53 54 10 85 26 304 108 334 357 66 53 179 22 40 173 428 180 102 61 54 85 46 102 103 304 44 53 11 276 316 180 653 313 778 343 616 326 100 548 44 53 26 40 11 53 54 26 343 616 173 15 61 343 616 40 21 219 14 76 11 82 10 22 49 63 749 385
Transcription: 924
Decryption: 924
Decryption
# R924 (TNA SP 106/10 ff. 235-236), Paris, 26 January [1646]: reading Credit: George Lasry (decryption on DECODE, used with his permission, 24 Oct 2026) Rests on: George Lasry's key "TNA SP106-8" and his plaintext (DECODE R924, 23 Oct 2020), applied here afresh to Pettersson's transcription (`research/reading_audit/b35_r924dec.py`; signs as decoded: `R924_signs.txt`, corrections `R924_corrections.tsv`, decode `R924_decode.txt`). Figures below 100 with no key value are nulls (they fall between words throughout). Four code values are adopted here by sense, flagged in the log: 168 *hope*, 116 *can*, 334 *what*, 227 *new*. Lasry's own guesses marked "?" in his key are shown as `[?word]`. `[n]` = a code number with no value; `[?word]` = a word carried by sense or a guessed value only; `[…]` = unread. Spelling is the figures' (u/v and i/j set by use, punctuation editorial). The writer is Henry Jermyn (Eric Sams, who deciphered this letter and the Queen's of the same key in 1976 for Ian Roy, *Archivaria* 21, 1985-86, p. 89; his solution is not printed). ## Reading Paris, Ian. 26. [207]. It pleas your Majesty, you have so much [797] [320] hands that I will not begin another with you; but I lay it down for the same reason that the [734]s continue theirs, that I am certainly too strong with the reasons which occur on my side, which I will breifly represent to your Majesty. First, though your Majesty should know you are obeyed, and Sr H. Compton is [487]d, that there has been cause for the staying him is [231]; for his [151]ing, I mean for the first [688] to send him, for that I allow to be a good cause for his [?himing]; and that the shame your Majesty mentions for not [487] him is not [?well] layd to there charge, that [?we] have stopped him a while later, but liker to [138] [324]. The opinion for his iourney is that I hope to evidence very clearly to your Majesty [?o]: for the treaty of marriage, which is a thing of importance enough when it should be [307] [142] to be set afoot with Portugall, to passe over the difficulties of [199]ing the first that send an ambassador thither, that treaty can not possibly nether by the rules of reason or [565] bring in question [321] the other with [360] be at [?ani] […], and hitherto for the reasons of the [532] in [685]ation it has not been possible to finish it. For the bringing [?forth] of that [532] is not only by your Majesty's own confession the greatest step that can be [208] to your recovery, all by the [?humble] opinion of all others that [127] at all consider your affaires, ought to receive no interruption, especially since [837]s [783] will declare whither it will bring forth or no. And if this late frost had not suspended all kind of water commerce in the rivers of [?Holland], by this [783] we had seen what might have been relied on the [428] of the [532]. Over the match in [?Holland] will ether be concluded [320] the [466] of the States declaring for you, or the treaty broken off, and your Majesty set at liberty for any new order; which when you are, I should not think that nether a reason for the sending Sr H. Compton. For sure, though he be a very honest man and knowing enough in the things he has been acquainted with, is yet in a very remote incapacity of acquitting himselfe of such a [428] as this according to the dignity of your Majesty's [628]. If this be all [784], the consideration of the marriage is own reason for his iourney; for yet it ought not to be so much as mentioned, and when it shall be treatyd on he ought not to be the person. For all other advantages, I am stil of opinion your Majesty might with much reason have [512]ed them by [193]ing them the hopes of that which only [321] the marriage you can [127] for them [315] by putting them in possession of it. And your Majesty is to consider [502] is the only state from whence they can hope for an ambassador that signifies anything [415] to them; for from all those in [797] with Spaine it is [232], and from the rest they have no hopes of any. Your Majesty's having passed Rubicon [324] unknown to me, receiving of order from them [324] not [?halke] [336] over, and your [688] to send order I [324] your Majesty concerrning Sr H. Compton's iourney to the [428] of the marriage, it is to no end the say anything. Yet only this opinion I will be bold to advance, with great [455]nce, though I love not that presumption: that the hope of the summe of money you mention, and other considerable alliances to your cause from that crown, is the highest delusion in the world. But I will hold your Majesty no later with this discours. The account I should give you of your affaires [158], though I confes the [720]s are [301]n very [189], will shew you, with the note the Queen sends of that has been formerly obtained, that the alliances you have had and are now in [512]ation of are not so inconsiderable as your Majesty seems to [?assume] by the [513]ions you use. And though it be now [189] that the [720]s are [301]n, it will be your Majesty's fault if yet they prove not effectuall; for we know now that Montreul has been with you these [?10] [124]s, and if you have [208] any conclusion will him for the [?Scots] that will enable you to stay for the levies now in hand, in so good an advance that we have good [118] to hope that we should passe a body of 5 or 6 thousand men, as good as are any [?way] to be found, by the beginning of [821]. [382] will presently returne, having now recovered his health, to [685] all things [145] their landing and coniuntion with his [402]; which if a news we [159]d [345] be [784] of an advantage they have had on Fairfax, and a supply put into [521], will subs[…] good [321] these men arrive. The Queen desires your Majesty not to hearken by any [632]s to any [678] that can [208] to the preiudice [286] [382] in the [450] of that [402], for that [?we] disiont all this present [488], which I hope will be of great use to your service. This and what [357] writes I [428] is as much as at this present there is [653] to [778] your Majesty. With all [548] preserve your Majesty. I am your Majesty's much obedient servant [385].
Decryption
# R924: George Lasry's decryption, verbatim from DECODE record R924 (attachment DOC_R924_D3090_3090.txt) # Credit: George Lasry (decryption on DECODE, used with his permission, 24 Oct 2026). # https://de-crypt.org/decrypt-web/RecordsView/924 The file also holds R925 (ff. 238-240), same key. # Everything below this header is his file, unchanged. # First letter dated January. # 1) Montreuil - French emissary # 2) Queen against the King going to the Parliament? # 3) Also mentions frost like 0245-0246 so either both collections are from Jan 1645, or from 1646 (more likely) # # Second Letter from Queen: # 1) Marriage of <364>, Queen against other option for Prince Charles with princess from Portugal (see paper from Guernesay Jones) # 2) Queen against King? travelling for negotiations (to where?), harsh demands from <744>, # 3) Negative opinion of Henry Compton being sent as Ambassador to Portugal (1646-1648) # 4) Will Murray being sent to Charles (Note: will later be captured and released) ################ tna_sp106\0235-0236.txt # Mentions: Objects to Henry Compton mission with the marriage, Portugal, Montreuil #IMAGENAME:2.png PARIS JAN <DATE E> <207> IT PLEAS YOUR MAJESTY YOU HAVE SO MUCH <797> <320> HANDS THAT I WILL NOT BEGIN ANOTHER WITH YOU BUT I LAY IT DOWN FOR THE SAME REASON THAT THE <734>S CONTINUE THEIRS THAT I AM CERTAINLY TOO STRONG WITH THE REASONS WHICH OCCUR ON MY SIDE WHICH I WILL BREIFLY REPRESENT TO YOUR MAJESTY FIRST THOUGH YOUR MAJESTY SHALL KNOW YOU ARE OBEYED AND SR H COMPTON IS <487>D THAT THERE HAS BEEN CAUSE FOR THE STAYING HIM IS <231> FOR HIS <151>ING I MEAN FOR THE FIRST <688> TO SEND HIM FOR THAT I ALLOW TO BE A GOOD CAUSE FOR HIS HIMING AND THAT THE SHAME YOUR MAJESTY MENTIONS FOR NOT <487> HIM IS NOT <337> LAYD TO THERE CHARGE THAT <328> HAVE STOPPED HIM A WHILE LATER BUT LIKER TO <138> <324> THE OPINION FOR HIS JOURNEY IS THAT I HOLD TO EVIDENCE VERY CLEARLY TO YOUR MAJESTY OF OR(FOR?) THE TREATY OF MARRIAGE WHICH IS A THING OF IMPORTANCE ENOUGH WHEN IT SHALL BE <307> <142> TO BE SET AFOOT WITH PORTUGALL TO PASSE OVER THE DIFFICULTIES OF <199>ING THE FIRST THAT SEND AN AMBASSADOR THITHERE THAT TREATY BROUGHT NOT POSSIBLY NETHERE BY THE RULES OF REASON OR <565> BRING IN QUESTION <321> THE OTHER WITH <360> BE ATANIAND HITHERETO FOR THE REASONS OF THE <532> IN <685>ATION IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO FINISH IT FOR THE BRINGING FORTH OF THAT <532> IS NOT ONLY BY YOUR MAJESTY S OWN CONFESSION THE GREATEST STEP THAT BROUGHT BE <208> TO YOUR RECOVERY #COMMENTS:margin. ALL BY THE <550> OPINION OF ALL OTHERES THAT <127> AT ALL CONSIDER YOUR AFFAIRES OUGHT TO RECEIVE NO INTERRUPTION ESPECIALLLY SINCE <837>S <783> WILL DECLARE WHITHERE IT WILL BRING FORTH OR NOT AND IF THIS LATE FROST HAD NOT SUSPENDED ALL KIND OF WATER COMMERCE IN THE RIVERS OF <561> BY THIS <783> WE HAD SEEN WELL MYGHT HAVE BEEN RELIED ON THE <428> OF THE <532> OVER THE MATCH IN <561> WILL ETHER BE CONCLUDED <320> THE <466> OF THE STATES DECLARING FOR YOU OR THE TREATY #IMAGE NAME: 1.png BROKEN OFF AND YOUR MAJESTY SET AT LIBERTY FOR ANY NEW ORDER WHICH WHEN YOU ARE I SHALL NOT THINK THAT NETHERE A REASON FOR THE SENDING SR H COMPTON FOR SVRE THOUGH HE BE AVERY HONEST MAN AND KNOWING ENOUGH IN THE THINGS HE HAS BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH IS YET IN A VERY REMOTE INCAPACITY OF ACQUITTING HIMSELFE OF SUCH A <428> AS THIS ACCORDING TO THE DIGNITY OF YOUR MAJESTYS <628> IF THIS BE ALL <784> THE CONSIDERATION OF THE MARRIAGE IS OWN REASON FOR HIS JOURNEY FOR YET IT OUGHT NOT TO BE SO MUCH AS MENTIONED AND WHEN IT <279> BE TREATED ON HE OUGHT NOT TO BE THE PERSON FOR ALL OTHER ADVANTAGES I AM STIL OF OPINION YOUR MAJESTY MIGHT WITH <218> REASON HAVE <512>ED THEM BY <193>ING THEM THE HOLDS OF THAT WHICH ONLY <321> THE MARRIAGE YOU BROUGHT <127> FOR THEM <315> BY PUTTING THEM IN POSSESSION OF IT AND YOUR MAJESTY IS TO CONSIDER <502> IS THE ONLY STATE FROM WHENCE THEY BROUGHT HOLD FOR AN AMBASSADEUR THAT SIGNIFIES ANYTHING <415> TO THEM FOR FROM ALL THOSE IN <797> WITH SPAINE IT IS <232> AND FROM THE REST THEY HAVE NO HOLDS OF ANY YOUR MAJESTY S HAVING PASSED RUBICON <324> UNKNOWN TO ME RECEIVING OF ORDER FROM THEM <324> NOT HALKE(TALKE?) <336> OVER AND YOUR <688> TO SEND ORDER I <324> YOUR MAJESTY CONCERRNING SR H COMPTON S JOURNEY TO THE <428> OF THE MARRIAGE IT IS #COMMENTS:margin. TO NO END THE SAY ANYTHINGG YET ONLY THIS OPINION I WILL BE BOLD TO ADVANCE WITH GREAT <455>NCE THOUGH I LOVE NOT THAT PRESUMPTION THAT THE HOLD OF THE SUMME OF MONEY YOU MENTION AND OTHER CONSIDERABLE ALLIANCES TO YOUR CAUSE FROM THAT CROWN IS THE HIGHEST DELUSION IN THE WORLD BUT I WILL HOLD YOUR MAJESTY NO LATEER WITH THIS DISCOURS THE ACCOUNT I SHALL GIVE YOU OF YOUR AFFAIRES <158>THOVGH I CONFES THE <720>S ARE <301>N VERY <189> WILL SHEW YOU WITH THE #COMMENTS:nextpage NTE THE QUEEN SENDS OF THAT HAS BEEN FORMERLY OBTAINED THAT THE ALLIANCES YOU HAVE HAD AND ARE NOW IN <512>ATION OF ARE NOT SO INCONSIDERABLE AS YOUR MAJESTY SEEMS TO <429> BY THE <513>IONS YOU USE AND THOUGH IT BE NOW <189> THAT THE <720>S ARE <301>N IT WILL BE YOUR MAJESTY S FAULT IF YET THEY PROVE NOT EFFECTUALL FOR WE KNOW NOW THAT MONTREUL HAS BEEN WITH YOU THESE I <124>S AND IF YOU HAVE <208> ANY CONCLUSION WILL HIM FOR THE <744> THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO STAY FOR THE LEVIES NOW IN HAND IN SO GOOD AN ADVANCE THAT WE HAVE GOOD BRING TO HOLD THAT WE SHALL PASSE A BODY OF AOR 6 THOUSAND MEN AS GOOD AS ARE ANY <330> TO BE FOUND BY THE BEGINNING OF <821> <382> WILL PRESENTLY RETURNE HAVING NOW RECOVERED HIS HEALTH TO <685> ALL THINGS <145> THEIR LANDING AND CONIVNTION(?) WITH HIS <402> WHICH IF ANEWS WE <159>D <345> BE <784> OF AN ADVANTAGE THEY HAVE HAD ON FAIRFAX AND A SUPPLY PUT INTO <521> WILL SUBSGOOD <321> THESE MEN ARRIVE THE QUEEN DESIRES YOUR MAJESTY NOT TO HEAR KEN BY ANY <632>S TO ANY <678> THAT BROUGHT <208> TO THE PREJUDICE <286> <382> IN THE <450> OF THAT <402> FOR THAT <328>DISIONT ALL THIS PRESENT <488> WHICH I HOLD WILL BE OF GREAT USE TO YOUR SERVICE THIS AND WELL <357> WRITES I <428> IS AS MUCH AS AT THIS PRESENT THERE IS <653> TO <778> YOUR MAJESTY WITH ALL <548> PRESERVE YOUR MAJESTY I AM YOUR MAJESTY S <219> OBEDIENT <SERVANT> <385> ################ tna_sp106\0238-0240.txt #IMAGENAME:2.png PARIS <DATE 26> <MONTH 818> MON CHER COEUR J AY RECEUE DE VOS LETTRES DATEES DU <DATE 23> <DATE 28> & <MONTH 829> LESQUELLES M ONT DONNE BEAUCOUP D AFFLICTION & SI CE N ESTOIT QUE MON AFFLICTION POUR VOUS PASSERAY PAR DESSUS TOUTES SORTES DE CHOSES JE NE ME MESLEROIS PLUS DE NUL AFFAIRE & ME RETIREROIS DANS UNE COUVENT & SI VOUS AVES QUELCUN AUPRES DE VOUS QUI VOUS PUISSI SERVIR JE SEROIS TRES AISE QUE VOUS L ENVOYASIES ICY QUOY QUE VOS AFFAIRES EN CE PAISCY VONT ASSES BIEN COMME VOUS AURES VEU PAR MES LETTRES PRECEDENTES MAIS JE VOIS QUE PENDANT QUE JE TRAVAILE AVEC D ASSES GRANDES DIFFICULTES VOUS CHANGES SI SOUVENT VOS <720>S QUE JE ME TROUVE DANS DES INCONVENIENS SI GRANDES QUE JE NE SCAIS PLUS OU J EN SUIS JE VOUS EN DIRAY LES PARTICULIERES COMME DANS L AFFAIRE DES <744> & DANS LE MARRIAGE DE <364> POUR LA JE VOUS EN AY ESCRIT ASSES #COMMENTS:margin. AMPLEMENT & WIL MURRAY LEQUEL PARTIRA DEMAIN VOUS EN PARLERA & VOUS FERA VOIR TOUT CE QU IL QA(?) A S ATTENDRE LA DESSUS CAR DE PARLER A <352> & A <357> COMME VOUS ME MANDES QU ILS ENGAGE LEUR PAROLLE POURQUE VOUS PUISSIES ALLER A L <405>E <744>SE & UNE CHOSE QUE JE CRAINS ILS NE VOUDONT PAS FAIRE A CAUSE QU ILS <401> #IMAGENAME:3.png DESJA EN TRAITE AVEC EUX POUR VOUS & QU ILS CROYENT TRES ADVANTAGEUX QUE VOUS ALLLES LA VOUS VOUS MESME POUR TRAITTER ILS TIENDRONT ENCORE PLUS FERMES DANS LEUR DEMANDE VOUS AYANT PARMI EUX TELLEMENT QUE SI VOUS NE LEUR ACCORDES CE QU ILS DEMANDENT VOSTRE VOYAGE LA EST A MON OPINION TRES DISADVANTAGEUX & SI VOUS LE VOULES FAIRE IL SERA BIEN MYEUX DE LE FAIRE DEVANT QUE QIS VOUS ESTES LA & JE VOUS DIRAY QUE J AY CHARGE WIL MURRAY DE TASCHER A AMENER LES <744> A LA RAISON & JE CROIS QU IL LE FERA S IL PEUT <357> LEUR PROMET FORCES ADVANTAGES S ILS LE VEULENT FAIRE (&) POUR CE QUI EST DU MARRIAGE DE <364> DANS CETTE AFFAIRE LA J AUROIS RAISON DE ME PLAINDRE QU APRES QUE VOUS M AVES ENGAGEE AVEC <360> DUQUEL A CET INSTANT UNE DE NOS PLUS GRANDES ESPERANCES DEPEND QUI EST NOSTRE FLOTTE QUI EST LA CAUSE POURQUOY JE NE MET SE PAS UNE FIN AU TREATY DE(?) MARRIAGE ICI #COMMENTS:margin. A CE QUE CETTE AFFAIRE SOIT FAITE OU FALLLIE DE CRAINTE DE LA GASTER CEPENDANT VOUS TRAITES AVEC L AMBASSADEUR DE PORTUGALL A <608> D UN AUTRE MARRIAGE POUR <364> OU L ON ME CROYRA UNE PERSONNE DE PEU DE FOY OU QUE JE FAIS FORT MON CREDIT AVEC #COMMENTS:on the page on the right hand side in the same image. SANS RAISON (&) POUR CE QUI DE L ENVOY DE SR HENRY COMPTON JE LE CROIS TRES HORS DE RAISON M ESTONNE QUE VOUS LE CROYES SI UTILE O(OU?) VOUS ROMPES AVEC L ESPAGNE (&) Y LA BIEN DE DIFFERENCE DE RECEVOIR UN AMBASSADEUR D EN ENVOYER (&) POUR LE MOINS L ON LE CROIT PARTOUT LE MONDE AINSI ALORS QUE SR H COMPTON EST ARRIVE J ESTOIS EN TRAITE AVEC AMBASSADEUR DE PORTUGALL YCY SUR L ENVOY D UN AMBASSADEUR (&) SCAVOIR SI VOUS ENVOYES UN CE QU IL VOU DROIT FAIRE POUR CELA J ESTOIS EN ESPERANCE D EN TIRER UN ADVANTAGE CE QUI A CETTE HEURE EST ROMPU PAR SON ARRIVEE (&) POUR LE BONHOMME JE CRIS QUE VOUS NE LE COGNOISIES PAS CAR CEST LE PLUS PETIT ESPRIT QUE J AY J AMAIS VEU (&) IL NE M'A SCEU RENDRE AUCUNE RAISON DES PARTICULARITES DE SON VOYAGE SINON EN <550> QU IL DEMANDEROIT DE L ALLIANCE S LON NE LUY EN VOULOIT POINT DONNER QU IL REVIENDROIT (&) IL NE SCAIT PAS SEULEMENT QUEL TRAITE VOUS FISTES AVEC #COMMENTS:margin. LES PORTUGOL (&) S IL LEUR DOIT DEMANDER LE QUAND IL Y VIENDRA JE NE L AIRRAY PAS DE LE FAIRE PARTIR MAIS J ESPERE SE NE SERA PAS LUY QUI TRAITERA DU MARRIAGE (&) JE VOUS ENVOYE UN PETIT EXTRACT DE QUE J AY FAIT ICY AUTREPART POUR VOSTRE DEPUIS QUE J EY SUIS VOUS VERRES QUE #IMAGE NAME: 1.png C EST QUELQUE CHOSE & ADIEU MON CHER COEUR DIEU NOUS ALLYE NOUS EN AVONS GRAND BESOING MOY JE CONTINUERAY A VOUS FAIRE VOIR PAR MES ACTIONS QUE JE N AY POINT D AUTRE <580> QUE LE VOSTRE <THE QUEEN> #COMMENTS:upsidedown. <THE QUEEN> TO <THE KING>
Reading
# R924 (TNA SP 106/10 ff. 235-236), Paris, 26 January [1646]: reading Credit: George Lasry (decryption on DECODE, used with his permission, 24 Oct 2026) Rests on: George Lasry's key "TNA SP106-8" and his plaintext (DECODE R924, 23 Oct 2020), applied here afresh to Pettersson's transcription (`research/reading_audit/b35_r924dec.py`; signs as decoded: `R924_signs.txt`, corrections `R924_corrections.tsv`, decode `R924_decode.txt`). Figures below 100 with no key value are nulls (they fall between words throughout). Four code values are adopted here by sense, flagged in the log: 168 *hope*, 116 *can*, 334 *what*, 227 *new*. Lasry's own guesses marked "?" in his key are shown as `[?word]`. `[n]` = a code number with no value; `[?word]` = a word carried by sense or a guessed value only; `[…]` = unread. Spelling is the figures' (u/v and i/j set by use, punctuation editorial). The writer is Henry Jermyn (Eric Sams, who deciphered this letter and the Queen's of the same key in 1976 for Ian Roy, *Archivaria* 21, 1985-86, p. 89; his solution is not printed). ## Reading Paris, Ian. 26. [207]. It pleas your Majesty, you have so much [797] [320] hands that I will not begin another with you; but I lay it down for the same reason that the [734]s continue theirs, that I am certainly too strong with the reasons which occur on my side, which I will breifly represent to your Majesty. First, though your Majesty should know you are obeyed, and Sr H. Compton is [487]d, that there has been cause for the staying him is [231]; for his [151]ing, I mean for the first [688] to send him, for that I allow to be a good cause for his [?himing]; and that the shame your Majesty mentions for not [487] him is not [?well] layd to there charge, that [?we] have stopped him a while later, but liker to [138] [324]. The opinion for his iourney is that I hope to evidence very clearly to your Majesty [?o]: for the treaty of marriage, which is a thing of importance enough when it should be [307] [142] to be set afoot with Portugall, to passe over the difficulties of [199]ing the first that send an ambassador thither, that treaty can not possibly nether by the rules of reason or [565] bring in question [321] the other with [360] be at [?ani] […], and hitherto for the reasons of the [532] in [685]ation it has not been possible to finish it. For the bringing [?forth] of that [532] is not only by your Majesty's own confession the greatest step that can be [208] to your recovery, all by the [?humble] opinion of all others that [127] at all consider your affaires, ought to receive no interruption, especially since [837]s [783] will declare whither it will bring forth or no. And if this late frost had not suspended all kind of water commerce in the rivers of [?Holland], by this [783] we had seen what might have been relied on the [428] of the [532]. Over the match in [?Holland] will ether be concluded [320] the [466] of the States declaring for you, or the treaty broken off, and your Majesty set at liberty for any new order; which when you are, I should not think that nether a reason for the sending Sr H. Compton. For sure, though he be a very honest man and knowing enough in the things he has been acquainted with, is yet in a very remote incapacity of acquitting himselfe of such a [428] as this according to the dignity of your Majesty's [628]. If this be all [784], the consideration of the marriage is own reason for his iourney; for yet it ought not to be so much as mentioned, and when it shall be treatyd on he ought not to be the person. For all other advantages, I am stil of opinion your Majesty might with much reason have [512]ed them by [193]ing them the hopes of that which only [321] the marriage you can [127] for them [315] by putting them in possession of it. And your Majesty is to consider [502] is the only state from whence they can hope for an ambassador that signifies anything [415] to them; for from all those in [797] with Spaine it is [232], and from the rest they have no hopes of any. Your Majesty's having passed Rubicon [324] unknown to me, receiving of order from them [324] not [?halke] [336] over, and your [688] to send order I [324] your Majesty concerrning Sr H. Compton's iourney to the [428] of the marriage, it is to no end the say anything. Yet only this opinion I will be bold to advance, with great [455]nce, though I love not that presumption: that the hope of the summe of money you mention, and other considerable alliances to your cause from that crown, is the highest delusion in the world. But I will hold your Majesty no later with this discours. The account I should give you of your affaires [158], though I confes the [720]s are [301]n very [189], will shew you, with the note the Queen sends of that has been formerly obtained, that the alliances you have had and are now in [512]ation of are not so inconsiderable as your Majesty seems to [?assume] by the [513]ions you use. And though it be now [189] that the [720]s are [301]n, it will be your Majesty's fault if yet they prove not effectuall; for we know now that Montreul has been with you these [?10] [124]s, and if you have [208] any conclusion will him for the [?Scots] that will enable you to stay for the levies now in hand, in so good an advance that we have good [118] to hope that we should passe a body of 5 or 6 thousand men, as good as are any [?way] to be found, by the beginning of [821]. [382] will presently returne, having now recovered his health, to [685] all things [145] their landing and coniuntion with his [402]; which if a news we [159]d [345] be [784] of an advantage they have had on Fairfax, and a supply put into [521], will subs[…] good [321] these men arrive. The Queen desires your Majesty not to hearken by any [632]s to any [678] that can [208] to the preiudice [286] [382] in the [450] of that [402], for that [?we] disiont all this present [488], which I hope will be of great use to your service. This and what [357] writes I [428] is as much as at this present there is [653] to [778] your Majesty. With all [548] preserve your Majesty. I am your Majesty's much obedient servant [385].
Translation
# R924 (TNA SP 106/10 ff. 235-236), Henry Jermyn to Charles I, Paris, 26 January [1646]: English Credit: George Lasry (decryption on DECODE, used with his permission, 24 Oct 2026) Modern spelling of `R924_reading.md`, same holes: `[n]` a code with no value, `[?word]` a word carried by sense or a guessed value only, `[…]` unread. ## Translation Paris, 26 January. [207]. May it please your Majesty, you have so much [797] [320] hands that I will not begin another with you; but I lay it down for the same reason that the [734]s continue theirs, that I am certainly too strong in the reasons on my side, which I will briefly put to your Majesty. First, though your Majesty should know that you are obeyed and Sir H. Compton is [487]ed, that there has been cause for keeping him back is [231]; for his [151]ing, I mean the first [688] to send him, I allow that to be a good cause for his [?himing]; and the shame your Majesty mentions for not [487] him is not [?well] laid to their charge, that [?we] stopped him a while longer, but more likely to [138] [324]. The opinion about his journey is one that I hope to show your Majesty very clearly: as for the marriage treaty, a thing of importance enough when it should be [307] [142] to be set on foot with Portugal, to pass over the difficulties of [199]ing the first to send an ambassador there, that treaty cannot possibly, neither by the rules of reason or [565], bring into question [321] the other with [360] be at [?ani] […]; and hitherto, for the reasons of the [532] in [685]ation, it has not been possible to finish it. For the bringing [?forth] of that [532] is not only, by your Majesty's own confession, the greatest step that can be [208] to your recovery, but, in the [?humble] opinion of all others who [127] consider your affairs at all, it ought to suffer no interruption, especially since [837]'s [783] will declare whether it will bring it forth or not. And if this recent frost had not suspended all kinds of water traffic on the rivers of [?Holland], by this [783] we would have seen what could have been relied on in the [428] of the [532]. The match in [?Holland] will either be concluded [320] the [466] of the States declaring for you, or the treaty broken off and your Majesty left free for any new arrangement; and when you are, I should not think that either a reason for sending Sir H. Compton. For surely, though he is a very honest man and knowledgeable enough in the things he has dealt with, he is still very far from being able to acquit himself of such a [428] as this in accordance with the dignity of your Majesty's [628]. If this be all [784], the marriage question is [?one] reason for his journey; and yet it ought not even to be mentioned, and when it is negotiated he ought not to be the man. As for all other advantages, I am still of the opinion that your Majesty might with good reason have [512]ed them by [193]ing them the hopes of what only [321] the marriage you can [127] for them [315] by putting them in possession of it. And your Majesty must consider that [502] is the only state from which they can hope for an ambassador of any significance [415] to them; for from all those in [797] with Spain it is [232], and from the rest they have no hope of any. Your Majesty having crossed the Rubicon [324] without my knowledge, receiving orders from them [324] not [?halke] [336] over, and your [688] to send orders, I [324] your Majesty concerning Sir H. Compton's journey to the [428] of the marriage: it is no use saying anything. Yet this one opinion I will be bold to put forward, with great [455]nce, though I do not like the presumption: that the hope of the sum of money you mention, and of other considerable alliances for your cause from that crown, is the greatest delusion in the world. But I will keep your Majesty no longer with this discourse. The account I should give you of your affairs [158], though I confess the [720]s are [301]n very [189], will show you, with the note the Queen sends of what has been obtained so far, that the alliances you have had and are now [512]ating are not as inconsiderable as your Majesty seems to [?assume] from the [513]ions you use. And though it is now [189] that the [720]s are [301]n, it will be your Majesty's fault if they still do not prove effective; for we now know that Montreuil has been with you these [?10] [124]s, and if you have [208] any agreement with him for the [?Scots], that will let you wait for the levies now in hand, so well advanced that we have good [118] to hope we shall bring over a body of 5 or 6 thousand men, as good as any [?way] to be found, by the beginning of [821]. [382] will soon return, having now recovered his health, to [685] everything [145] their landing and junction with his [402]; which, if the news we [159]ed [345] be [784], of an advantage they have had over Fairfax, and a supply put into [521], will [?subsist] good [321] these men arrive. The Queen asks your Majesty not to listen through any [632]s to any [678] that can [208] to the prejudice [286] [382] in the [450] of that [402], for that [?we] disjoin all this present [488], which I hope will be of great use to your service. This and what [357] writes I [428] is as much as there is at present [653] to [778] your Majesty. With all [548] preserve your Majesty. I am your Majesty's most obedient servant, [385].
05 Sources
- The National Archives, Kew, SP 106/10 ff. 235–236, via DECODE R924 (images and files need a login).
- George Lasry, reconstructed key “TNA SP106-8” (dated 1646-01), interlinear plaintext of ff. 235–236 and 238–240 and dating notes, DECODE, 23 Oct 2020.
- Sofia Pettersson, manual transcription of ff. 235–236, DECODE, 2019.
- Satoshi Tomokiyo, Unsolved historical ciphers (Henrietta Maria, 1645–46).
Notes, profile and the checking script in targets/sp106r924/. The DECODE files are not redistributed.