Specimens of English ciphers during the reign of Charles II are found in TNA SP106/6, "Charles II Ciphers", and BL Add MS 40677, "A Collection of Late Seventeenth Century English Diplomatic Cypher Keys" (Alan Marshall, Intelligence and Espionage in the Reign of Charles II p.91,n.57).
While English ciphers during the Restoration Period are similar to other contemporary ciphers (in using Arabic figures for the substitution alphabet and including words/names and sometimes syllables in the nomenclature), some different formats are discernible.
(1) Alphabetic section (arranged regularly or not) + nomenclature of elements arranged alphabetically. This is a basic form, not limited to English ciphers of this period.
(2) Alphabetic section + nomenclature consisting of two series of alphabetically ordered entries. This form was used at least as early as 1645 (see "Cipher with Ministers in Oxford" in another article).
(3) Sometimes, the nomenclature includes a series of symbols including letters. A "letter+digit" is used in R428, which form was used as early as 1642 in a Second Cipher between Charles I and Henrietta-Maria. (The first cipher between Charles I and Henrietta-Maria used two letter combinations as homophones for single letters.) (See another article.)
(4) Row-block array format as called herein, in which numbers run vertically but the rows are divided into blocks, with each block reserved for words with the same initial letter. Single letters, typically given in the leftmost column, are assigned low numbers. This format was used at least as early as 1659 by Charles II, Edward Hyde, and John Barwick (see another article).
(4') An array format in which numbers run vertically and words run horizontally (or vice versa, as in Manning's cipher mentioned in another article) were also used in other countries. Not found among the ciphers listed below.
(5) Code numbers with diacritics. This was a typical format in contemporary French ciphers. The instances among the ciphers listed below are either in French or Spanish.
(6) Two-part code, providing for separate tables for enciphering (alphabetically ordered) and deciphering (numerically ordered). The instances among the ciphers below are either in French or Spanish (see the one given for (5)).
(7) Printed template. See another article. The content is either in the format (1), (2), or (4).
This is a collection of ciphers from the reign of Charles II, including 46 items covering at least 1657-1684.
(The numbers in the headline are a record number and image file name numbering in the DECRYPT database)
Substitution alphabet.
(1) Filled printed template. Row-block array format (E=34,35,36).
Endorsed "Lord Arlington's Cypher with Sr Joseph William[son?] & Sr W. Lockhart." Another endorsement "Will[?] Beukell 1672" also seems to belong to this, which is consistent with the fact that Henry Bennet was created baron Arlington in 1665, and William Lockhart (Wikipedia) (d. 1676) was sent to Brandenburg and Luneburg in of soon after 1671.
Handwritten additional entries include: "de Ruyter" (d. 1676), "Pensionary" (leader of Holland until 1672), "Brandenb. E.", "Lunenburg D.", and many place names in the Netherlands and Germany.
(2) Substitution alphabet (E=14,44,74). Endorsed "The Key of the Recyplyde[???] / 1684" "No. 5"
Printed template same as R422 filled differently (E=75,76).
Printed template same as R422 filled differently (E=1140,1141,1142).
Printed template same as R422 filled differently (E=24,25).
Numerical code including letters, syllables, and words (E=147,148).
Alphabet section assigns three figures (E=27,28,29) with an overbar to single letters.
The nomenclature includes letters (E=832,833), syllables, and words alphabetically arranged. Numbering includes some blocks of regular arrangement. Some numbers are with an overbar.
Endorsed "Lord Arlington and Sir W Godolphin" "My Lord Arlington's Cypher wth Sr William Godolphin (?Wikipedia)"
Alphabet section assigns one to four figures (E=11,12,121) to single letters.
The nomenclature includes three series of generally alphabetically ordered entries covering letters (121, repeated in the alphabet section), syllables, and words. The first two series are represented by figures (50-473, 474-950), and the third series is in the form of letter+digit.
Endorsed "Cipher with Sr. k: B:"
Letters (e.g., E=169,170), syllables, and words and names are arranged generally in alphabetical order.
Endorsed "wth B. dV. / wth Mons Blance in Spain 1675" "Mons Blance / Spain 1675"
Same printed template as R422 filled differently (E=25). Nearly two hundred numbers 1, 2, 3, ...1042 are reserved as "nulls".
Row-block array format (THE=564,565,566, E=14,15,16).
The entry "de witt Penssr" suggests this is no later than 1672.
"Penn Sr Will" refers to the founder of Pennsylvania (Wikipedia) visited Germany between 1671 and 1677, or his father (Wikipedia).
31 code names in French.
Endorsed "Mr De" "Copie / Cypher that the des F. ... wth his friends in France ... 1668"
Filled printed template. Separate sheets for letters (E=892), some syllables, and words and for letters (E=395), words, and phrases. The two sheets are parts of one cipher, because the alphabet section for the latter (E=395,892) includes the symbols of the first sheet. Numbers are assigned in descending order.
Handwritten additions relate to Anglo-Dutch relations (in the 1660s): "Act of Navigation", "St Albans, Earle" (created 1660), "Albemarle Duke" (created 1660), "Baron Batteville" (Spanish ambassador in London from 1660), "Herring Fishing", ....
Endorsed "Sr Geo. Downing...." (Downing is one of the handwritten additions.)
Two series of alphabetically ordered entries covering letters (E=8,543), syllables, and words (4-360, 361-1040).
Samuel Morland's scheme. See another article.
Arranged in row blocks of elements with the same initial letter. But the number is assigned sequentially for each block. So, this is equivalent with ordinary alphabetically arranged code covering letters (E=191,201,211,221), syllables, and words and names (THE =754).
The entry for marshal Turenne indicates this was before his death in 1675. "Spaine Queen Regent of", regent of Spain for most of the time in 1665-1696 (Wikipedia), is not of much help.
f."17" Simple substitution cipher with two figures for each letter (E=14,38), with instructions in French.
(1) f."18B" Letters (e.g., E=163,164), syllables, and words and names. Endorsed "Cypher wth Haller 167[3] / [Pr. Rupert" "1673 M. Haller & Prince Rupert"
(2) f."18" "Projet de la Methode pour tenir une secrete Correspnodence" describing how to exchange secret letters with the writer's contact address (Mr Johan Haller Marchand à Nuremberg). Endorsed "Projet de la Methode pour tenir une secrette Correspondence / Apr. 1673 / wth Monsr Haller & [Pr. Rupert" "1673 M. Haller and Prince Rupert."
(3) f."18A" Substitution alphabet with two figures for each letter (E=15,29) and code words for words and names. Endorsed "Cypher of my Ld Inscar[???] with his Lady."
Letters (E=111,112,112[sic]), syllables, and words and names (THE=214).
Letters (E=23,33,43), syllables, and words and names (THE=347).
Some irregularity in numbering is introduced by assigning a fixed digit in ones' place.
Filled printed template same as R433 filled differently (E=8,32).
Handwritten additions relate to maritime issues: "Affrica", "Algiers", "Archipellago", "Brazile", "Barbadoes", ....
Alphabet section assigns two figures (E=9,191) and a graphic symbol to each letter.
The nomenclature is in French. The entry "La republic dangre" indicates this was before the Restoration. "Mr fairfax" (240) retired soon after the Restoration.
Filled printed template same as R433 filled differently (E=169,615).
Handwritten entries relate to Anglo-Dutch relations. "Downing Sr Geo" was ambassador in the Hague.
Row-block array format. Numerical code with diacritics (DE=47+) in French. Similar to French ciphers at the time.
Samuel Morland's scheme. See another article.
Letters (E=147,148), syllables, and words and names (THE=498).
Filled printed template (E=832,372, THE=64). Two series of alphabetically ordered blocks. The second series consists of syllables and basic words. (Numbers are not completely ordered.)
Letters (E=8), syllables, and words and names in French.
Filled printed template same as R502 filled differently (E=347).
Numerical code with diacritics (1-3 digits). In French. Two-part code. R505 is a deciphering sheet, ordered numerically. R511 is an enciphering sheet, ordered alphabetically.
Marginal annotation in R505 is faded.
Numerical code with diacritics (1-2 digits). In French. Two-part code. R506 is an enciphering sheet, ordered alphabetically. R509 is a deciphering sheet, ordered numerically.
This is a cipher used by Williamson's informants (SP106/6 no.32 and no.33) described in another article.
Numerical code with diacritics (1-3 digits). In Spanish. Two-part code. Deciphering sheet, ordered numerically.
This is what I described as SP106/6 no.34 in another article.
Alphabet section assigns two figures (E=28,19) and a symbol to each Letter. In French.
Low numbers are for single letters (E=20,44,66,77,98).
Endorsed "France 1659 cipher / See Letters of 27.31 May and 7.10 June in the Correspondence"
Alphabet section assigns one or two figures to each letter (E=8,24).
The nomenclature includes two series of alphabetically ordered entries (33-553, 555-981, THE=896).
"Queen Bohemia" (d.1662), "Mazarin Cardll" (d. 1661), "Fanshaw" (Wikipedia) (d.1666).
Row-block array format (E=17,18,19, THE=205).
"Slingesby" (Wikipedia) (d.1658), "Mazarin" (d. 1661), "Bennet Sr: He:" (created baron Arlington in 1665).
Alphabet section assigns one figure to each letter (E=54).
Endorsed "Cypher with F Lovelace (Wikipedia) / S[?] July 6th 57" ....
Alphabet section assigns two figures (E=8,19) and one symbol to each letter.
Numerical code with diacritics (1-3 digits). In Spanish. Two-part code.
Alphabet section assigns 1-4 figures to each letter (E=11,12,121).
Endorsed "A Monsr: Adam Spencer, marchand Anglois A Bruges / S.[?] July 27 57" "This is referred to in Genl Reynolds letter / 3 Augt 1657. Army in France" ...
Alphabet section assigns 4 figures (E=21,70,22,71) to each letter.
(1) The nomenclature includes alphabetically ordered entries up to 385. Endorsed "Cypher - Army in France 1657 27 July / Referred to in Genl Roynolds letter 3 Augt 1657"
(2) List of code names. Since the entries "England" and "Zealand" are also included in (1), this list may be separate from (1).
Filled printed template. The same as the second series in the template R502. Handwritten additional entries for numerals, months, and days of the week.
The same printed template as R1501, filled differently.
List of code names.
Endorsed "f. Sr h: febr: the 1st 58"[??]
Two-letter code symbols "aa"-"az" and "ea"-"er."
Endorsed "Zifra cum Lobkowit...." See metadata.
Alphabet section assigns 1-4 figures with one or two dots to each letter (E=15.16.17.18). (The dots seem to be insignificant.)
Syllables and some common words (in Latin) are assigned figures.
Alphabet section assigns a figure, a graphic symbol, a two-letter code, and a "z" with various diacritics to each letter.
Nomenclature in Latin.
This is "A Collection of Late Seventeenth Century English Diplomatic Cypher Keys" including 21 items.
Alphabet section assigns three two-digit figures to each letter of the alphabet (E=27,28,29). The nomenclature section also covers single letters (E=1004,1005) as well as syllables (ea=1006, eb=1007) and names (House of Commons=3013). R3031 is for A-L, and R3032 is for L-Z and includes sections for "Terminations", "Weeke Dayes", "Months", "Numbers". (The highest number is 3064 except for nulls, but there are many gaps.) Some numbers has an overbar (e.g., 12 is "Lend", but 12 with an overbar is "ko.").
The nomenclature is in blockwise alphabetical ordering.
The entries for the Prince of Orange and the Duke of York suggest this belongs to the reign of Charles II.
Endorsed "Cypher between Mr Secretary Trever (Wikipedia) & Sr Sr Wm Godolphin / Now with Mr Henry[???] Couentry[?]"
Trevor was Secretary of State for the Northern Department in 1668-1672, succeeded by Henry Coventry.
Alphabet section assigns three two-digit figures to each letter of the alphabet (E=23,24,25). The nomenclature section covers words, names, and a few syllables, arranged alphabetically. The highest number is 589 for Prince Rupert, who died in 1682. The entry for Monsieur de Witt suggest this was before his death in 1672.
Alphabet section assigns five two- or three-digit figures (E=108,109,110,111,112,113). The nomenclature covers words and names, arranged alphabetically. Separate sections for "Terminations", "Numbers", "Months", and "Dayes." The highest number is 1135. The entry for the Duke of York suggests this belongs to the reign of Charles II.
Alphabet section is written in the left margin (E=21,22). The nomenclature covers syllables and words. Row-block array format.
The entry for the Dutch admiral Ruyter suggests this was before his death in 1676.
Endorsed "26o[?] Octobre 1673 / Between My L. ambr and m. 66[be] 18[d] 259[for] 19[d]" (Bedford (Wikipedia)).
This appears to be the same as R3035.
Endorsed "Cypher between Ld Treasurer[?] and Sir L. Jenkins (?Wikipedia, linked from Henry Sideney's diary page)
Letters (E=144,154), syllables, and words are arranged together. Section for "Numbers" is appended.Some irregularity in numbering is introduced by assigning a fixed digit in ones' place. Thus, the numbers in one column runs like: 9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, ..., 549, 559, 569. The entry for Prince Rupert suggests this was before his death in 1682.
Endorsed "A Cipher betwene Sr Lionell Jenkins & Sr Jossenden[???].
Row-block array format.
Endorsed "Copy of Mr Secretary Williamsons Cypher with Sr Edward Wood (?WikiTree)". Williamson (Wikipedia) was Secretary of State for the Northern Department in 1674-1679.
Alphabet section assigns three two-digit figures to each letter of the alphabet (E=29,30,31). The nomenclature section covers words, names, and a few syllables, arranged alphabetically. The highest number is 847 for Sunday. The entries "Mr Secry Coventry" (823) and "Mr Secry Williamson" (824) suggest the dating 1674-1679, during which Williamson was Secretary of State for the Northern Department and Coventry was Secretary of State for the Southern Department.
Endorsed "Cypher betw: Mr Secretary Coventry & Ld Berkley".
Alphabet section assigns one figure for each letter and one substitution letter for some letters. The nomenclature represents syllables with figures with an overbar or an umlaut and names with figures with an overbar.
The entries "M. Sec. Coventry" and "M. Sec. Williamson" suggest the dating 1674-1679, during which Williamson was Secretary of State for the Northern Department and Coventry was Secretary of State for the Southern Department.
Row-block array format. Letters, syllables, words, and names are included. The entries "de Ruyter" (d.1676) and "Triple League" (1668) help dating.
Endorsed "Cypher with M. 129[el] 80[l] 289[is] / 6[?] March 77/8[?]", probably referring to John Ellis, who worked for Williamson.
Alphabet section assigns three figures for each letter (E=34,35,36). The nomenclature represents words and names, such as "Williamson Secr."
The marginal instruction prescribes use of diacritics to indicate vowels: "The vowells may be added to Consonants, thus. Take any figure signifying a consonant (as 23, wch is B) & marke it thus ...."
Endorsed "Cypher between Sr L. G & Sir Ileb. Ev:[???]"
Row-block array format.
Endorsed "Cypher with Sir Henry Goodrick (Wikipedia) 1679 and with Col: Kirk Govr of Tanger 82." Sir Percy Kirke was Governor of Tangier in 1681-1683 (Wikipedia).
Filled printed template. Row-block array format. Handwritten additional entries in the nomenclature include "Triple Allyance" (1668), "De Ruyter" (d.1676).
Endorsed "Cypher wth Mr Secr. Williamson & Mr[?] Skelton". Maybe Sir John Skelton (d.1673), lieutenant-governor of Plymouth from 1660 (The Diary of Samuel Pepys).
Filled printed template. Row-block array format.
Endorsed "Cypher between [Ear]le of Sunderland & Mr Savile in France & Sr Wm Temple in Spaine 1680" The template is substantially the same as R3044, but has more spacing to accommodate additions.
Row-block array format. Low numbers are single letters (34-106, 204).
Note about addressing for Mr. Henry Wilmot, Heer François de Mol Koopman, Mademoiselle du Pré, Monsieur de Launoy.
Entries "Jenkins Sr. L.", "Skelton Mr", "Ronquilles du Podr.[?]", "Sr Victo:[?] Pardini" may help dating.
Endorsement is incomplete? "m Paradin / M Sar / Cyphers"
Row-block array format. Separate sections for "Names of Ministers and others at Home", "English ministers abroad", "Forrain Ministers in England". Low numbers are single letters (101-199).
Endorsed "Cypher 1682 with Marq. d'Albyville (Indiana University), m Holland"
Letters (1-79, irregular), syllables (80-165, regular) and words and names up to 364.
Endorsedment struck out.
Instruction for a simple substitution cipher (in French).
Endorsement crossed out and occluded by binding.
Substitution alphabet plus a small code (in French).
Endorsed "first Cypher with Le Cresson[??]"
Figures for single letters and syllables. Some numbers are with an overbar, which, however, does not seem to be distinguishing (e.g., "85 with an overbar" is da, but "85 without an overbar" is not defined, so the overbar is not significant). The substitution alphabet includes "ll", represented with "26 with an underline" and "27 with an underline." These are distinguished from 26 and 27 ("l").
The name in the endorsement erased.
Alphabet section assigns three figures to each letter (E=26,27,28). The nomenclature includes syllables and words.
Endorsed "... Caerecart"
Héder, M ; Megyesi, B. The DECODE Database of Historical Ciphers and Keys: Version 2. In: Dahlke, C; Megyesi, B (eds.) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Historical Cryptology HistoCrypt 2022. Linkoping, Sweden : LiU E-Press (2022) pp. 111-114. , 4 p. [pdf]
Megyesi Beáta, Esslinger Bernhard, Fornés Alicia, Kopal Nils, Láng Benedek, Lasry George, Leeuw Karl de, Pettersson Eva, Wacker Arno, Waldispühl Michelle. Decryption of historical manuscripts: the DECRYPT project. CRYPTOLOGIA 44 : 6 pp. 545-559. , 15 p. (2020) [link]
Megyesi, B., Blomqvist, N., and Pettersson, E. (2019) The DECODE Database: Collection of Historical Ciphers and Keys. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Historical Cryptology. HistoCrypt 2019, June 23-25, 2019, Mons, Belgium. NEALT Proceedings Series 37, Linköping Electronic Press. [pdf]
The correspondence of the Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1661-1668), records some ciphers.
Reference: Calendar of the manuscripts of the Marquess of Ormonde, K.P., preserved at Kilkenny Castle. New Siries, vol.1-3 (Internet Archive, vol.4-5 (Internet Archive), vol.6 (Internet Archive), vol. 7 (Internet Archive).
Two letters with undeciphered ciphertext from the 1630s are already mentioned in another article.
Many letters partially in cipher from 1663-1664 between the Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1661-1668), and the Earl of Anglesey, Vice-Treasurer of Ireland (1660-1667), are printed in vol.3 (Internet Archive, p.vii, p.64 ff.). The deciphered text allows reconstruction of the cipher.
Numbers are arranged in a row-block array format. It is noted that the first column apparently includes different numbers of syllables for different initials (e.g., four for "c*", two or three for "d*"). As it turned out, this pattern of syllables as well as placement of other words match the printed template of DECODE R422. This shows a printed template was used as early as 1663. (I already pointed out an entry of "Queen Bohemia", who died in 1662, in the template of DECODE R433 suggests the template was prepared right after the Restoration (another article). But this does not prove the template was actually prepared before the death of the Queen of Bohemia.)
Two-letter code symbols are used in a letter from the Earl of Arran (Ormond's son (Wikipedia)) to Ormond, dated 9 February 1678 (vol.4, p.105 (Internet Archive)). The entries appear to be alphabetically arranged. Symbols "w*" "x*" "y*" and "z*" are reserved for single letters, but the assignment seems to be regular.
A few days before this, it appears the Earl of Arran expressed his confidence in this cipher.
The same code appears to have been used in letters from Sir Robert Southwell to Ormond in 1677-1678 (p.376, 379).
The cipher used by Ormond, the Earl of Longford (Wikipedia), and the Earl of Arran (1680) (vol.5, p.454 ff.) can be reconstructed as below.
Two series of numbers 23-46, 47-70 are assigned to letters in the alphabet in regular order. Higher numbers up to about 840 are for letters, syllables and words in alphabetical order, followed by numerals and proper names such as Sunderland (1063).
This must be the one prepared during the summer.
A letter from the Earl of Longford to Ormond, 20 November 1680, includes a short undeciphered ciphertext (vol.5, p.498 (Internet Archive)).
This can be read with the reconstructed key. The plaintext immediately follows the ciphertext: 579[our] 446[letter] 64[s] 725[to] 566[Ormond] 86[ar] 27[e] 552[o] 582[pe] 59[n] 240[ed] 551[on] 736[that] 681[si] 206[de].
The Earl of Arran appears to have had trouble with this cipher.
The cipher in undeciphered segments in a letter from Ormond to Arran, 24 January 1678 (vol.4, p.93), looks similar to this, but seems different.
A reconstructed cipher used in letters from the Earl of Longford to the Duke of Ormond is printed in vol.6, p.xix (Internet Archive) (the volume covers 1681-1683).
Single letters are given 1-56. Syllables and words are arranged in two alphabetically ordered series (64-577, 587-1019), followed by numerals and proper names.
Another reconstructed cipehr used in letters from the Earl of Longford to the Duke of Ormond is printed in vol.7, p.xx (Internet Archive) (the volume covers 1683-1687). Letters, syllables, and words are arranged alphabetically in one series. While the alphabetical ordering is a weakness, placing single letters among syllables and words is a merit of this code.
An anonymous letter dated 15 October 1681 has portions in cipher (vol.6, p.192, vii). The following is my tentative reconstruction from cipher figures transcribed in the footnote.
