Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz in the private key, 1720–1722

dec_R5018_letters.md

# Letters in the second key (R5018): decryptions

Key R5018 (see key5018.md): each letter has a number from 10 to 38 and a graphic sign; the vowels have a second
number. Codes 39–210 and two-letter groups stand for words; 3–7 and 9 are nulls. Words are written
continuously, one symbol per letter. Numbers are from the register copy (SOA Plzeň, RA Windischgrätz, inv. 5,
book 5). Signs are given as the letter they stand for, in brackets, e.g. [E] for the reversed-C sign.
The copyist's sign forms drift: the q-with-crossbars sign serves D and, once, N (in "convenienz"), so the
reading of each sign is settled by the letter-number around it. Every passage below reads as German that fits its clear context.

## No. 2, Vienna, 13 April 1720 (R5021 autograph, R5022 copy, book pp. 404–407)

1. p. 405: "…gut zu machen. Das ob **[V] 23 29 159** sich endlich wider **[M] 36 14 38 [I] 23 35 [N] 29 [E] 19 15 28 [R] 16 14 [E] 23** werden, ist schir zu besorgen…"
   - V N D + 159 → **und Orleans**
   - M I T E I N A N D E R V E R S T E N → **mit einander versten[den]**
   - Reading: *ob … und Orleans sich endlich wider miteinander verstehen werden* (whether … and the Duke of
     Orleans will in the end come to terms with one another again). The subject is presumably Spain, named in the
     clear text just before, which is not transcribed here.
2. p. 405: "…project, hätte wie man sich völlig **37 34 23 [D] [E] [M] 20 23 [E] 19 38 29 28 [R] 54** befreyen könnte…"
   - V O N D E M O N E R E D E R + 54 → **von dem onere der Barriere**
   - Reading: *how one could entirely free oneself from the burden of the Barrier* (the Dutch Barrier fortresses in
     the Austrian Netherlands, whose upkeep the Emperor paid).

## No. 3, Vienna, 24 July 1720 (R5023 copy, book pp. 407–409; autograph not found)

All the cipher is on p. 408.

1. "Was nemblich **29 38 19 69 [E] 37 [C] 24 23 35 [M] 28 [N]** seines **zi** über **[E] 36 23 18 19 [P] 34 16 36 [Z?] [I] 20 23** gethan eine **24 28 11 [R] 35 14 [H] [Z] 10 22 [S] 31 24 [E] 23** ein oder andern **38 [R] [M] 38 22 23 [E] [R] [K] 36 23 [D] 28 19** und **ab [S] 34 24 [N] [E]** belangt…"
   - D E R + 69 = **der Beretti Landi**; E U C H N A M E N = **euch Namen**; zi = **Hof(s)**
   - E I N P R P O S I ? I O N = **ein Proposition** (the copyist wrote P for O and Z for T)
   - H E Y R A T H Z W I S C H E N = **Heyrath zwischen**
   - E R M E I N E R K I N D E R = **[ander]er meiner Kinder**
   - ab S O H N E = **Anjou Söhne** (ab = Anjou, i.e. Philip V of Spain)
   - Reading: *As for what Beretti Landi put to you in the name of his court: a proposal of a marriage between
     one or other of my children and Anjou's sons…*
2. "…die antwort erhalten, das **36 [C] 24** (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben)
   allzeit nun gehen in **[G] 15 14 28 19 37 [E] [R] [S] 14 38 23 29 23 15 16** mit **16 28 22 [N] [E] 23 zi** stehen würde…"
   - I C H = **ich**; G V T E R V E R S T E N D N V S = **guter Verstendnus**; S E I N E N zi = **seinen Hof**
   - Reading: *that I, especially now that the situation has turned this way, would always be ready to stand on good
     terms with his court.*
3. "Was aber **29 22 [E] [H] 38 28 [Y?] 19 35 14 24** betrifft, wer **28 23 32 [E] [D] 28 [S] 34 [K] 21 [E] 22 23**, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden…"
   - D I E H E Y R A T H = **die Heyrath** (the copyist wrote an extra E); E N B E D E S O K L E I N = **[wer]en beede so klein**
   - Reading: *As for the marriage: they are both so small that nothing should be made known of it yet.*

## No. 6, Vienna, 11 April 1722, to Windischgrätz as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cambrai
(R5024 copy, book pp. 414–416)

1. p. 415: "…was ihr **10 38 27 [E] [N] 29 28 16 69** schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch **[M] 22 [T] 69 10 28 [G] 38 23** eine**19 24 [E] 11 [R] 35 14 24** gerissen, **fb 37 [N] 29 25 36 [R]** unterredt habt…"
   - W E G E N D E S + 69 = **wegen des Beretti**; M I T + 69 + W E G E N = **mit Beretti wegen**
   - R H E Y R A T H = **[eine]r Heyrath**; fb V N D M I R = **Spanien und mir**
   - Reading: *what you write about Beretti, above all what you discussed with Beretti about a marriage between Spain and me…*
2. p. 416: "…aber sich des **69 [G] 37 32 [R] 35 [V] [C] 24 [E] 23** findt eins theil nit übel…"
   - + 69, G V B R A V C H E N = **Beretti gebrauchen**: *but to make use of Beretti is in some ways not bad…*
3. p. 416: "…erbittert **V[?] [N] 29 28 19 25 36 31 [H]** und **151**…"
   - V N D E R M I C H + 151 = **under (wider) mich und Oesterreich**: *embittered against me and Austria*
4. p. 416: "…kan man suchen **22 24 [M]** all **[C] 20 [N] 15 38 23 36 [E] 23 13** inutili et honorifico zu machen…"
   - I H M + all + C O N V E N I E N Z = **ihm all convenienz** *in utili et honorifico*: *to show him every
     consideration in profit and honour.*

dec_R5018_letters.md

# Letters in the second key (R5018): decryptions

Key R5018 (see key5018.md): each letter has a number from 10 to 38 and a graphic sign; the vowels have a second
number. Codes 39–210 and two-letter groups stand for words; 3–7 and 9 are nulls. Words are written
continuously, one symbol per letter. Numbers are from the register copy (SOA Plzeň, RA Windischgrätz, inv. 5,
book 5). Signs are given as the letter they stand for, in brackets, e.g. [E] for the reversed-C sign.
The copyist's sign forms drift: the q-with-crossbars sign serves D and, once, N (in "convenienz"), so the
reading of each sign is settled by the letter-number around it. Every passage below reads as German that fits its clear context.

## No. 2, Vienna, 13 April 1720 (R5021 autograph, R5022 copy, book pp. 404–407)

1. p. 405: "…gut zu machen. Das ob **[V] 23 29 159** sich endlich wider **[M] 36 14 38 [I] 23 35 [N] 29 [E] 19 15 28 [R] 16 14 [E] 23** werden, ist schir zu besorgen…"
   - V N D + 159 → **und Orleans**
   - M I T E I N A N D E R V E R S T E N → **mit einander versten[den]**
   - Reading: *ob … und Orleans sich endlich wider miteinander verstehen werden* (whether … and the Duke of
     Orleans will in the end come to terms with one another again). The subject is presumably Spain, named in the
     clear text just before, which is not transcribed here.
2. p. 405: "…project, hätte wie man sich völlig **37 34 23 [D] [E] [M] 20 23 [E] 19 38 29 28 [R] 54** befreyen könnte…"
   - V O N D E M O N E R E D E R + 54 → **von dem onere der Barriere**
   - Reading: *how one could entirely free oneself from the burden of the Barrier* (the Dutch Barrier fortresses in
     the Austrian Netherlands, whose upkeep the Emperor paid).

## No. 3, Vienna, 24 July 1720 (R5023 copy, book pp. 407–409; autograph not found)

All the cipher is on p. 408.

1. "Was nemblich **29 38 19 69 [E] 37 [C] 24 23 35 [M] 28 [N]** seines **zi** über **[E] 36 23 18 19 [P] 34 16 36 [Z?] [I] 20 23** gethan eine **24 28 11 [R] 35 14 [H] [Z] 10 22 [S] 31 24 [E] 23** ein oder andern **38 [R] [M] 38 22 23 [E] [R] [K] 36 23 [D] 28 19** und **ab [S] 34 24 [N] [E]** belangt…"
   - D E R + 69 = **der Beretti Landi**; E U C H N A M E N = **euch Namen**; zi = **Hof(s)**
   - E I N P R P O S I ? I O N = **ein Proposition** (the copyist wrote P for O and Z for T)
   - H E Y R A T H Z W I S C H E N = **Heyrath zwischen**
   - E R M E I N E R K I N D E R = **[ander]er meiner Kinder**
   - ab S O H N E = **Anjou Söhne** (ab = Anjou, i.e. Philip V of Spain)
   - Reading: *As for what Beretti Landi put to you in the name of his court: a proposal of a marriage between
     one or other of my children and Anjou's sons…*
2. "…die antwort erhalten, das **36 [C] 24** (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben)
   allzeit nun gehen in **[G] 15 14 28 19 37 [E] [R] [S] 14 38 23 29 23 15 16** mit **16 28 22 [N] [E] 23 zi** stehen würde…"
   - I C H = **ich**; G V T E R V E R S T E N D N V S = **guter Verstendnus**; S E I N E N zi = **seinen Hof**
   - Reading: *that I, especially now that the situation has turned this way, would always be ready to stand on good
     terms with his court.*
3. "Was aber **29 22 [E] [H] 38 28 [Y?] 19 35 14 24** betrifft, wer **28 23 32 [E] [D] 28 [S] 34 [K] 21 [E] 22 23**, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden…"
   - D I E H E Y R A T H = **die Heyrath** (the copyist wrote an extra E); E N B E D E S O K L E I N = **[wer]en beede so klein**
   - Reading: *As for the marriage: they are both so small that nothing should be made known of it yet.*

## No. 6, Vienna, 11 April 1722, to Windischgrätz as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cambrai
(R5024 copy, book pp. 414–416)

1. p. 415: "…was ihr **10 38 27 [E] [N] 29 28 16 69** schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch **[M] 22 [T] 69 10 28 [G] 38 23** eine**19 24 [E] 11 [R] 35 14 24** gerissen, **fb 37 [N] 29 25 36 [R]** unterredt habt…"
   - W E G E N D E S + 69 = **wegen des Beretti**; M I T + 69 + W E G E N = **mit Beretti wegen**
   - R H E Y R A T H = **[eine]r Heyrath**; fb V N D M I R = **Spanien und mir**
   - Reading: *what you write about Beretti, above all what you discussed with Beretti about a marriage between Spain and me…*
2. p. 416: "…aber sich des **69 [G] 37 32 [R] 35 [V] [C] 24 [E] 23** findt eins theil nit übel…"
   - + 69, G V B R A V C H E N = **Beretti gebrauchen**: *but to make use of Beretti is in some ways not bad…*
3. p. 416: "…erbittert **V[?] [N] 29 28 19 25 36 31 [H]** und **151**…"
   - V N D E R M I C H + 151 = **under (wider) mich und Oesterreich**: *embittered against me and Austria*
4. p. 416: "…kan man suchen **22 24 [M]** all **[C] 20 [N] 15 38 23 36 [E] 23 13** inutili et honorifico zu machen…"
   - I H M + all + C O N V E N I E N Z = **ihm all convenienz** *in utili et honorifico*: *to show him every
     consideration in profit and honour.*

No2_reading.md

<!-- Reading of No. 2 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the cipher passages of No. 2 in dec_R5018_letters.md (key R5018; register copy, SOA Plzeň inv. 5 book 5), each in the clear words quoted around it there, the cipher in ⟦ ⟧ written as the decoded letters give it (copyist slips noted there; [x] = letters supplied there). An excerpt, one passage per paragraph: the clear letter is quoted only around the passages; the rest is not transcribed in the repository. -->

# No. 2, Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz, Vienna, 13 April 1720: reading of the cipher passages

## Reading

Das ob ⟦und Orleans⟧ sich endlich wider ⟦mit einander versten[den]⟧ werden, ist schir zu besorgen

project, hätte wie man sich völlig ⟦von dem onere der Barriere⟧ befreyen könnte

No2_en.md

<!-- English translation of No2_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the cipher passages (in ⟦ ⟧) of No. 2 in their quoted clear context. An excerpt. -->

# No. 2, Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz, Vienna, 13 April 1720: English translation of the cipher passages

That whether ⟦… and Orléans⟧ will in the end ⟦come to terms with one another⟧ again is almost to be feared

project, would have how one could free oneself entirely ⟦from the burden of the Barrier⟧

dec_R5018_letters.md

# Letters in the second key (R5018): decryptions

Key R5018 (see key5018.md): each letter has a number from 10 to 38 and a graphic sign; the vowels have a second
number. Codes 39–210 and two-letter groups stand for words; 3–7 and 9 are nulls. Words are written
continuously, one symbol per letter. Numbers are from the register copy (SOA Plzeň, RA Windischgrätz, inv. 5,
book 5). Signs are given as the letter they stand for, in brackets, e.g. [E] for the reversed-C sign.
The copyist's sign forms drift: the q-with-crossbars sign serves D and, once, N (in "convenienz"), so the
reading of each sign is settled by the letter-number around it. Every passage below reads as German that fits its clear context.

## No. 2, Vienna, 13 April 1720 (R5021 autograph, R5022 copy, book pp. 404–407)

1. p. 405: "…gut zu machen. Das ob **[V] 23 29 159** sich endlich wider **[M] 36 14 38 [I] 23 35 [N] 29 [E] 19 15 28 [R] 16 14 [E] 23** werden, ist schir zu besorgen…"
   - V N D + 159 → **und Orleans**
   - M I T E I N A N D E R V E R S T E N → **mit einander versten[den]**
   - Reading: *ob … und Orleans sich endlich wider miteinander verstehen werden* (whether … and the Duke of
     Orleans will in the end come to terms with one another again). The subject is presumably Spain, named in the
     clear text just before, which is not transcribed here.
2. p. 405: "…project, hätte wie man sich völlig **37 34 23 [D] [E] [M] 20 23 [E] 19 38 29 28 [R] 54** befreyen könnte…"
   - V O N D E M O N E R E D E R + 54 → **von dem onere der Barriere**
   - Reading: *how one could entirely free oneself from the burden of the Barrier* (the Dutch Barrier fortresses in
     the Austrian Netherlands, whose upkeep the Emperor paid).

## No. 3, Vienna, 24 July 1720 (R5023 copy, book pp. 407–409; autograph not found)

All the cipher is on p. 408.

1. "Was nemblich **29 38 19 69 [E] 37 [C] 24 23 35 [M] 28 [N]** seines **zi** über **[E] 36 23 18 19 [P] 34 16 36 [Z?] [I] 20 23** gethan eine **24 28 11 [R] 35 14 [H] [Z] 10 22 [S] 31 24 [E] 23** ein oder andern **38 [R] [M] 38 22 23 [E] [R] [K] 36 23 [D] 28 19** und **ab [S] 34 24 [N] [E]** belangt…"
   - D E R + 69 = **der Beretti Landi**; E U C H N A M E N = **euch Namen**; zi = **Hof(s)**
   - E I N P R P O S I ? I O N = **ein Proposition** (the copyist wrote P for O and Z for T)
   - H E Y R A T H Z W I S C H E N = **Heyrath zwischen**
   - E R M E I N E R K I N D E R = **[ander]er meiner Kinder**
   - ab S O H N E = **Anjou Söhne** (ab = Anjou, i.e. Philip V of Spain)
   - Reading: *As for what Beretti Landi put to you in the name of his court: a proposal of a marriage between
     one or other of my children and Anjou's sons…*
2. "…die antwort erhalten, das **36 [C] 24** (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben)
   allzeit nun gehen in **[G] 15 14 28 19 37 [E] [R] [S] 14 38 23 29 23 15 16** mit **16 28 22 [N] [E] 23 zi** stehen würde…"
   - I C H = **ich**; G V T E R V E R S T E N D N V S = **guter Verstendnus**; S E I N E N zi = **seinen Hof**
   - Reading: *that I, especially now that the situation has turned this way, would always be ready to stand on good
     terms with his court.*
3. "Was aber **29 22 [E] [H] 38 28 [Y?] 19 35 14 24** betrifft, wer **28 23 32 [E] [D] 28 [S] 34 [K] 21 [E] 22 23**, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden…"
   - D I E H E Y R A T H = **die Heyrath** (the copyist wrote an extra E); E N B E D E S O K L E I N = **[wer]en beede so klein**
   - Reading: *As for the marriage: they are both so small that nothing should be made known of it yet.*

## No. 6, Vienna, 11 April 1722, to Windischgrätz as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cambrai
(R5024 copy, book pp. 414–416)

1. p. 415: "…was ihr **10 38 27 [E] [N] 29 28 16 69** schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch **[M] 22 [T] 69 10 28 [G] 38 23** eine**19 24 [E] 11 [R] 35 14 24** gerissen, **fb 37 [N] 29 25 36 [R]** unterredt habt…"
   - W E G E N D E S + 69 = **wegen des Beretti**; M I T + 69 + W E G E N = **mit Beretti wegen**
   - R H E Y R A T H = **[eine]r Heyrath**; fb V N D M I R = **Spanien und mir**
   - Reading: *what you write about Beretti, above all what you discussed with Beretti about a marriage between Spain and me…*
2. p. 416: "…aber sich des **69 [G] 37 32 [R] 35 [V] [C] 24 [E] 23** findt eins theil nit übel…"
   - + 69, G V B R A V C H E N = **Beretti gebrauchen**: *but to make use of Beretti is in some ways not bad…*
3. p. 416: "…erbittert **V[?] [N] 29 28 19 25 36 31 [H]** und **151**…"
   - V N D E R M I C H + 151 = **under (wider) mich und Oesterreich**: *embittered against me and Austria*
4. p. 416: "…kan man suchen **22 24 [M]** all **[C] 20 [N] 15 38 23 36 [E] 23 13** inutili et honorifico zu machen…"
   - I H M + all + C O N V E N I E N Z = **ihm all convenienz** *in utili et honorifico*: *to show him every
     consideration in profit and honour.*

dec_R5018_letters.md

# Letters in the second key (R5018): decryptions

Key R5018 (see key5018.md): each letter has a number from 10 to 38 and a graphic sign; the vowels have a second
number. Codes 39–210 and two-letter groups stand for words; 3–7 and 9 are nulls. Words are written
continuously, one symbol per letter. Numbers are from the register copy (SOA Plzeň, RA Windischgrätz, inv. 5,
book 5). Signs are given as the letter they stand for, in brackets, e.g. [E] for the reversed-C sign.
The copyist's sign forms drift: the q-with-crossbars sign serves D and, once, N (in "convenienz"), so the
reading of each sign is settled by the letter-number around it. Every passage below reads as German that fits its clear context.

## No. 2, Vienna, 13 April 1720 (R5021 autograph, R5022 copy, book pp. 404–407)

1. p. 405: "…gut zu machen. Das ob **[V] 23 29 159** sich endlich wider **[M] 36 14 38 [I] 23 35 [N] 29 [E] 19 15 28 [R] 16 14 [E] 23** werden, ist schir zu besorgen…"
   - V N D + 159 → **und Orleans**
   - M I T E I N A N D E R V E R S T E N → **mit einander versten[den]**
   - Reading: *ob … und Orleans sich endlich wider miteinander verstehen werden* (whether … and the Duke of
     Orleans will in the end come to terms with one another again). The subject is presumably Spain, named in the
     clear text just before, which is not transcribed here.
2. p. 405: "…project, hätte wie man sich völlig **37 34 23 [D] [E] [M] 20 23 [E] 19 38 29 28 [R] 54** befreyen könnte…"
   - V O N D E M O N E R E D E R + 54 → **von dem onere der Barriere**
   - Reading: *how one could entirely free oneself from the burden of the Barrier* (the Dutch Barrier fortresses in
     the Austrian Netherlands, whose upkeep the Emperor paid).

## No. 3, Vienna, 24 July 1720 (R5023 copy, book pp. 407–409; autograph not found)

All the cipher is on p. 408.

1. "Was nemblich **29 38 19 69 [E] 37 [C] 24 23 35 [M] 28 [N]** seines **zi** über **[E] 36 23 18 19 [P] 34 16 36 [Z?] [I] 20 23** gethan eine **24 28 11 [R] 35 14 [H] [Z] 10 22 [S] 31 24 [E] 23** ein oder andern **38 [R] [M] 38 22 23 [E] [R] [K] 36 23 [D] 28 19** und **ab [S] 34 24 [N] [E]** belangt…"
   - D E R + 69 = **der Beretti Landi**; E U C H N A M E N = **euch Namen**; zi = **Hof(s)**
   - E I N P R P O S I ? I O N = **ein Proposition** (the copyist wrote P for O and Z for T)
   - H E Y R A T H Z W I S C H E N = **Heyrath zwischen**
   - E R M E I N E R K I N D E R = **[ander]er meiner Kinder**
   - ab S O H N E = **Anjou Söhne** (ab = Anjou, i.e. Philip V of Spain)
   - Reading: *As for what Beretti Landi put to you in the name of his court: a proposal of a marriage between
     one or other of my children and Anjou's sons…*
2. "…die antwort erhalten, das **36 [C] 24** (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben)
   allzeit nun gehen in **[G] 15 14 28 19 37 [E] [R] [S] 14 38 23 29 23 15 16** mit **16 28 22 [N] [E] 23 zi** stehen würde…"
   - I C H = **ich**; G V T E R V E R S T E N D N V S = **guter Verstendnus**; S E I N E N zi = **seinen Hof**
   - Reading: *that I, especially now that the situation has turned this way, would always be ready to stand on good
     terms with his court.*
3. "Was aber **29 22 [E] [H] 38 28 [Y?] 19 35 14 24** betrifft, wer **28 23 32 [E] [D] 28 [S] 34 [K] 21 [E] 22 23**, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden…"
   - D I E H E Y R A T H = **die Heyrath** (the copyist wrote an extra E); E N B E D E S O K L E I N = **[wer]en beede so klein**
   - Reading: *As for the marriage: they are both so small that nothing should be made known of it yet.*

## No. 6, Vienna, 11 April 1722, to Windischgrätz as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cambrai
(R5024 copy, book pp. 414–416)

1. p. 415: "…was ihr **10 38 27 [E] [N] 29 28 16 69** schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch **[M] 22 [T] 69 10 28 [G] 38 23** eine**19 24 [E] 11 [R] 35 14 24** gerissen, **fb 37 [N] 29 25 36 [R]** unterredt habt…"
   - W E G E N D E S + 69 = **wegen des Beretti**; M I T + 69 + W E G E N = **mit Beretti wegen**
   - R H E Y R A T H = **[eine]r Heyrath**; fb V N D M I R = **Spanien und mir**
   - Reading: *what you write about Beretti, above all what you discussed with Beretti about a marriage between Spain and me…*
2. p. 416: "…aber sich des **69 [G] 37 32 [R] 35 [V] [C] 24 [E] 23** findt eins theil nit übel…"
   - + 69, G V B R A V C H E N = **Beretti gebrauchen**: *but to make use of Beretti is in some ways not bad…*
3. p. 416: "…erbittert **V[?] [N] 29 28 19 25 36 31 [H]** und **151**…"
   - V N D E R M I C H + 151 = **under (wider) mich und Oesterreich**: *embittered against me and Austria*
4. p. 416: "…kan man suchen **22 24 [M]** all **[C] 20 [N] 15 38 23 36 [E] 23 13** inutili et honorifico zu machen…"
   - I H M + all + C O N V E N I E N Z = **ihm all convenienz** *in utili et honorifico*: *to show him every
     consideration in profit and honour.*

No3_reading.md

<!-- Reading of No. 3 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the cipher passages of No. 3 in dec_R5018_letters.md (key R5018; register copy, SOA Plzeň inv. 5 book 5), each in the clear words quoted around it there, the cipher in ⟦ ⟧ written as the decoded letters give it (copyist slips noted there; [x] = letters supplied there). An excerpt, one passage per paragraph: the clear letter is quoted only around the passages; the rest is not transcribed in the repository. -->

# No. 3, Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz, Vienna, 24 July 1720: reading of the cipher passages

## Reading

Was nemblich ⟦der Beretti Landi euch Namen⟧ seines ⟦Hofs⟧ über ⟦ein Pr[o]posi[t]ion⟧ gethan eine ⟦Heyrath zwischen⟧ ein oder andern ⟦er meiner Kinder⟧ und ⟦Anjou Söhne⟧ belangt

die antwort erhalten, das ⟦ich⟧ (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben) allzeit nun gehen in ⟦guter Verstendnus⟧ mit ⟦seinen Hof⟧ stehen würde

Was aber ⟦die Heyrath⟧ betrifft, wer⟦en beede so klein⟧, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden

No3_en.md

<!-- English translation of No3_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the cipher passages (in ⟦ ⟧) of No. 3 in their quoted clear context. An excerpt. -->

# No. 3, Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz, Vienna, 24 July 1720: English translation of the cipher passages

As for what ⟦Beretti Landi⟧ [put] ⟦to you in the name⟧ of his ⟦court⟧ by way of ⟦a proposal⟧ made, a ⟦marriage between⟧ one or other ⟦of my children⟧ and ⟦Anjou's sons⟧

received the answer that ⟦I⟧ (especially now that the conjuncture has turned so far) would always now stand ⟦on good terms⟧ with ⟦his court⟧

But as for ⟦the marriage⟧, ⟦they are both so small⟧ that nothing of it should yet be made known

dec_R5018_letters.md

# Letters in the second key (R5018): decryptions

Key R5018 (see key5018.md): each letter has a number from 10 to 38 and a graphic sign; the vowels have a second
number. Codes 39–210 and two-letter groups stand for words; 3–7 and 9 are nulls. Words are written
continuously, one symbol per letter. Numbers are from the register copy (SOA Plzeň, RA Windischgrätz, inv. 5,
book 5). Signs are given as the letter they stand for, in brackets, e.g. [E] for the reversed-C sign.
The copyist's sign forms drift: the q-with-crossbars sign serves D and, once, N (in "convenienz"), so the
reading of each sign is settled by the letter-number around it. Every passage below reads as German that fits its clear context.

## No. 2, Vienna, 13 April 1720 (R5021 autograph, R5022 copy, book pp. 404–407)

1. p. 405: "…gut zu machen. Das ob **[V] 23 29 159** sich endlich wider **[M] 36 14 38 [I] 23 35 [N] 29 [E] 19 15 28 [R] 16 14 [E] 23** werden, ist schir zu besorgen…"
   - V N D + 159 → **und Orleans**
   - M I T E I N A N D E R V E R S T E N → **mit einander versten[den]**
   - Reading: *ob … und Orleans sich endlich wider miteinander verstehen werden* (whether … and the Duke of
     Orleans will in the end come to terms with one another again). The subject is presumably Spain, named in the
     clear text just before, which is not transcribed here.
2. p. 405: "…project, hätte wie man sich völlig **37 34 23 [D] [E] [M] 20 23 [E] 19 38 29 28 [R] 54** befreyen könnte…"
   - V O N D E M O N E R E D E R + 54 → **von dem onere der Barriere**
   - Reading: *how one could entirely free oneself from the burden of the Barrier* (the Dutch Barrier fortresses in
     the Austrian Netherlands, whose upkeep the Emperor paid).

## No. 3, Vienna, 24 July 1720 (R5023 copy, book pp. 407–409; autograph not found)

All the cipher is on p. 408.

1. "Was nemblich **29 38 19 69 [E] 37 [C] 24 23 35 [M] 28 [N]** seines **zi** über **[E] 36 23 18 19 [P] 34 16 36 [Z?] [I] 20 23** gethan eine **24 28 11 [R] 35 14 [H] [Z] 10 22 [S] 31 24 [E] 23** ein oder andern **38 [R] [M] 38 22 23 [E] [R] [K] 36 23 [D] 28 19** und **ab [S] 34 24 [N] [E]** belangt…"
   - D E R + 69 = **der Beretti Landi**; E U C H N A M E N = **euch Namen**; zi = **Hof(s)**
   - E I N P R P O S I ? I O N = **ein Proposition** (the copyist wrote P for O and Z for T)
   - H E Y R A T H Z W I S C H E N = **Heyrath zwischen**
   - E R M E I N E R K I N D E R = **[ander]er meiner Kinder**
   - ab S O H N E = **Anjou Söhne** (ab = Anjou, i.e. Philip V of Spain)
   - Reading: *As for what Beretti Landi put to you in the name of his court: a proposal of a marriage between
     one or other of my children and Anjou's sons…*
2. "…die antwort erhalten, das **36 [C] 24** (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben)
   allzeit nun gehen in **[G] 15 14 28 19 37 [E] [R] [S] 14 38 23 29 23 15 16** mit **16 28 22 [N] [E] 23 zi** stehen würde…"
   - I C H = **ich**; G V T E R V E R S T E N D N V S = **guter Verstendnus**; S E I N E N zi = **seinen Hof**
   - Reading: *that I, especially now that the situation has turned this way, would always be ready to stand on good
     terms with his court.*
3. "Was aber **29 22 [E] [H] 38 28 [Y?] 19 35 14 24** betrifft, wer **28 23 32 [E] [D] 28 [S] 34 [K] 21 [E] 22 23**, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden…"
   - D I E H E Y R A T H = **die Heyrath** (the copyist wrote an extra E); E N B E D E S O K L E I N = **[wer]en beede so klein**
   - Reading: *As for the marriage: they are both so small that nothing should be made known of it yet.*

## No. 6, Vienna, 11 April 1722, to Windischgrätz as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cambrai
(R5024 copy, book pp. 414–416)

1. p. 415: "…was ihr **10 38 27 [E] [N] 29 28 16 69** schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch **[M] 22 [T] 69 10 28 [G] 38 23** eine**19 24 [E] 11 [R] 35 14 24** gerissen, **fb 37 [N] 29 25 36 [R]** unterredt habt…"
   - W E G E N D E S + 69 = **wegen des Beretti**; M I T + 69 + W E G E N = **mit Beretti wegen**
   - R H E Y R A T H = **[eine]r Heyrath**; fb V N D M I R = **Spanien und mir**
   - Reading: *what you write about Beretti, above all what you discussed with Beretti about a marriage between Spain and me…*
2. p. 416: "…aber sich des **69 [G] 37 32 [R] 35 [V] [C] 24 [E] 23** findt eins theil nit übel…"
   - + 69, G V B R A V C H E N = **Beretti gebrauchen**: *but to make use of Beretti is in some ways not bad…*
3. p. 416: "…erbittert **V[?] [N] 29 28 19 25 36 31 [H]** und **151**…"
   - V N D E R M I C H + 151 = **under (wider) mich und Oesterreich**: *embittered against me and Austria*
4. p. 416: "…kan man suchen **22 24 [M]** all **[C] 20 [N] 15 38 23 36 [E] 23 13** inutili et honorifico zu machen…"
   - I H M + all + C O N V E N I E N Z = **ihm all convenienz** *in utili et honorifico*: *to show him every
     consideration in profit and honour.*

dec_R5018_letters.md

# Letters in the second key (R5018): decryptions

Key R5018 (see key5018.md): each letter has a number from 10 to 38 and a graphic sign; the vowels have a second
number. Codes 39–210 and two-letter groups stand for words; 3–7 and 9 are nulls. Words are written
continuously, one symbol per letter. Numbers are from the register copy (SOA Plzeň, RA Windischgrätz, inv. 5,
book 5). Signs are given as the letter they stand for, in brackets, e.g. [E] for the reversed-C sign.
The copyist's sign forms drift: the q-with-crossbars sign serves D and, once, N (in "convenienz"), so the
reading of each sign is settled by the letter-number around it. Every passage below reads as German that fits its clear context.

## No. 2, Vienna, 13 April 1720 (R5021 autograph, R5022 copy, book pp. 404–407)

1. p. 405: "…gut zu machen. Das ob **[V] 23 29 159** sich endlich wider **[M] 36 14 38 [I] 23 35 [N] 29 [E] 19 15 28 [R] 16 14 [E] 23** werden, ist schir zu besorgen…"
   - V N D + 159 → **und Orleans**
   - M I T E I N A N D E R V E R S T E N → **mit einander versten[den]**
   - Reading: *ob … und Orleans sich endlich wider miteinander verstehen werden* (whether … and the Duke of
     Orleans will in the end come to terms with one another again). The subject is presumably Spain, named in the
     clear text just before, which is not transcribed here.
2. p. 405: "…project, hätte wie man sich völlig **37 34 23 [D] [E] [M] 20 23 [E] 19 38 29 28 [R] 54** befreyen könnte…"
   - V O N D E M O N E R E D E R + 54 → **von dem onere der Barriere**
   - Reading: *how one could entirely free oneself from the burden of the Barrier* (the Dutch Barrier fortresses in
     the Austrian Netherlands, whose upkeep the Emperor paid).

## No. 3, Vienna, 24 July 1720 (R5023 copy, book pp. 407–409; autograph not found)

All the cipher is on p. 408.

1. "Was nemblich **29 38 19 69 [E] 37 [C] 24 23 35 [M] 28 [N]** seines **zi** über **[E] 36 23 18 19 [P] 34 16 36 [Z?] [I] 20 23** gethan eine **24 28 11 [R] 35 14 [H] [Z] 10 22 [S] 31 24 [E] 23** ein oder andern **38 [R] [M] 38 22 23 [E] [R] [K] 36 23 [D] 28 19** und **ab [S] 34 24 [N] [E]** belangt…"
   - D E R + 69 = **der Beretti Landi**; E U C H N A M E N = **euch Namen**; zi = **Hof(s)**
   - E I N P R P O S I ? I O N = **ein Proposition** (the copyist wrote P for O and Z for T)
   - H E Y R A T H Z W I S C H E N = **Heyrath zwischen**
   - E R M E I N E R K I N D E R = **[ander]er meiner Kinder**
   - ab S O H N E = **Anjou Söhne** (ab = Anjou, i.e. Philip V of Spain)
   - Reading: *As for what Beretti Landi put to you in the name of his court: a proposal of a marriage between
     one or other of my children and Anjou's sons…*
2. "…die antwort erhalten, das **36 [C] 24** (absonderlich da sich die conjunctur so weit nun geben haben)
   allzeit nun gehen in **[G] 15 14 28 19 37 [E] [R] [S] 14 38 23 29 23 15 16** mit **16 28 22 [N] [E] 23 zi** stehen würde…"
   - I C H = **ich**; G V T E R V E R S T E N D N V S = **guter Verstendnus**; S E I N E N zi = **seinen Hof**
   - Reading: *that I, especially now that the situation has turned this way, would always be ready to stand on good
     terms with his court.*
3. "Was aber **29 22 [E] [H] 38 28 [Y?] 19 35 14 24** betrifft, wer **28 23 32 [E] [D] 28 [S] 34 [K] 21 [E] 22 23**, das wohl noch davon nichts kund gemacht werden…"
   - D I E H E Y R A T H = **die Heyrath** (the copyist wrote an extra E); E N B E D E S O K L E I N = **[wer]en beede so klein**
   - Reading: *As for the marriage: they are both so small that nothing should be made known of it yet.*

## No. 6, Vienna, 11 April 1722, to Windischgrätz as plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cambrai
(R5024 copy, book pp. 414–416)

1. p. 415: "…was ihr **10 38 27 [E] [N] 29 28 16 69** schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch **[M] 22 [T] 69 10 28 [G] 38 23** eine**19 24 [E] 11 [R] 35 14 24** gerissen, **fb 37 [N] 29 25 36 [R]** unterredt habt…"
   - W E G E N D E S + 69 = **wegen des Beretti**; M I T + 69 + W E G E N = **mit Beretti wegen**
   - R H E Y R A T H = **[eine]r Heyrath**; fb V N D M I R = **Spanien und mir**
   - Reading: *what you write about Beretti, above all what you discussed with Beretti about a marriage between Spain and me…*
2. p. 416: "…aber sich des **69 [G] 37 32 [R] 35 [V] [C] 24 [E] 23** findt eins theil nit übel…"
   - + 69, G V B R A V C H E N = **Beretti gebrauchen**: *but to make use of Beretti is in some ways not bad…*
3. p. 416: "…erbittert **V[?] [N] 29 28 19 25 36 31 [H]** und **151**…"
   - V N D E R M I C H + 151 = **under (wider) mich und Oesterreich**: *embittered against me and Austria*
4. p. 416: "…kan man suchen **22 24 [M]** all **[C] 20 [N] 15 38 23 36 [E] 23 13** inutili et honorifico zu machen…"
   - I H M + all + C O N V E N I E N Z = **ihm all convenienz** *in utili et honorifico*: *to show him every
     consideration in profit and honour.*

No6_reading.md

<!-- Reading of No. 6 (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the cipher passages of No. 6 in dec_R5018_letters.md (key R5018; register copy, SOA Plzeň inv. 5 book 5), each in the clear words quoted around it there, the cipher in ⟦ ⟧ written as the decoded letters give it (copyist slips noted there; [x] = letters supplied there). An excerpt, one passage per paragraph: the clear letter is quoted only around the passages; the rest is not transcribed in the repository. -->

# No. 6, Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz, Vienna, 11 April 1722: reading of the cipher passages

## Reading

was ihr ⟦wegen des Beretti⟧ schreibt, absonderlich was ihr auch ⟦mit Beretti wegen⟧ eine⟦r Heyrath⟧ gerissen ⟦Spanien und mir⟧ unterredt habt

aber sich des ⟦Beretti gebrauchen⟧ findt eins theil nit übel

erbittert ⟦under mich⟧ und ⟦Oesterreich⟧

kan man suchen ⟦ihm⟧ all ⟦convenienz⟧ inutili et honorifico zu machen

No6_en.md

<!-- English translation of No6_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the cipher passages (in ⟦ ⟧) of No. 6 in their quoted clear context. An excerpt. -->

# No. 6, Charles VI to Count Windischgrätz, Vienna, 11 April 1722: English translation of the cipher passages

what you write ⟦about Beretti⟧, especially what you also discussed ⟦with Beretti about⟧ a ⟦marriage⟧ gerissen [between] ⟦Spain and me⟧

but ⟦to make use of Beretti⟧ is in part not bad

embittered ⟦against me⟧ and ⟦Austria⟧

one can seek to make ⟦him⟧ every ⟦consideration⟧ in profit and honour