CROWN SERVANTS:

Series One: The Papers of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford,

1593-1641, from Sheffield City Libraries

Notes on Ciphers Used in Stafford Correspondence

Three different ciphers are used in the collection:

i)  Cipher used in correspondence passing between Strafford and the King.  This is given at the beginning of:  WWM  STRAFFORD PAPERS  Str P 3  Letterbook of Strafford’s correspondence with Charles I,  Cottington and Weston,  June 1633 – April 1640.

A  =  50, 51, 52, 53, 54  The King  =  155

E  =  55, 56, 57, 58, 59  The Deputy  =  173

I  =  60, 61, 62, 63, 64  The Treasurer  =  161

O  =  65, 66, 67, 68, 69  The Lord Marshal Arundel  =  162

U  =  70, 71, 72, 73, 74  Secretary Windebank  =  182

B  =  20, 21, 22  Earl of St Albans  =  185

C  =  23, 24, 25  Earl of Essex  =  183

D  =  26, 27, 28  Earl of Carlisle  =  166

F  =  29, 30, 31

G  =  32, 33, 34

H  =  35, 36, 37

K  =  38, 39, 40

L  =  41, 42, 43

M  =  44, 45, 46  Additional numbers were used to conceal the code.  When deciphering the text these additional numbers not corresponding to a letter or individual should be  disregarded.

N  =  47, 48, 49

P  =  75, 76, 77

Q  =  78, 79, 80

R  =  81, 82, 83

S  =  84, 85, 86

T  =  87, 88, 89

W  =  90, 91, 92

X  =  93, 94, 95

Y  =  96, 97, 98

Z  =  99, 100, 101

Th  =  111, 112

St  =  113, 114

that  =  115, 116, 117

of  =  119, 120

the  =  121, 122

and  =  123, 124

by  =  125, 126

to  =  145, 146

him  =  127

Lord  =  137, 138

For example, this cipher is used in a letter to the King written by Wentworth from Dublin Castle on 5 December 1635 (see Str P 3).  The first partially en scripted paragraph of the letter decodes as follows: 

“In ye next place, I must humbly crave your pardon for giving your Majestie ye trouble of a cipher, occasioned by a letter lately procured the King in the behalf of the Lord Marshal Arundel by our sto Secretary Windebank.  The King will find the judgement had of it here, and how it is indeed no other than an exact Collection of all the prejuditial clauses that have been in all the severall letters procured since ye happy accession of your blessed Father to ye Crown, and yet in Conclusion we offer a means how the King may extend a gratiouse favoure towards the Lord Marshall Arundel soe as in moderation ought to be desired pursuant the King’s later direction therein received.”

ii) Cipher used in correspondence between Strafford and Laud

his is given at the beginning of WWM

STRAFFORD PAPERS

Str P 6

Letterbook of Strafford’s correspondence with Archbishop Laud, November 1633 – November 1636.

A  =  40, 41, 42  The King  =  100

E  =  43, 44, 45  The Queen  =  101

I  =  46, 47, 48  the Archbishop Laud  =  102

O  =  49, 50, 51  The Keeper Coventry  =  104

U  =  52, 53, 54  The Treasurer Portland  =  105

B  =  30, 31  The D. of Lenox  =  106

C  =  32, 33  Earl Marshal Arundel  =  107

D  =  34, 35  Lord Chamberlain Pembroke  =  108

F  =  36, 37  Lord Salisbury.  Capt of the Band

G  =  38, 39  of Pensioners  =  109

H  =  55, 56  Lord Cottington.  Chancellor of

K  =  57, 58  the Exchequer  =  110

L  =  59, 60  Lord Carlisle  =  111

M  =  61, 62  Lord Holland  =  112

N  =  63, 64  Secretary Coke  =  114

P  =  65, 66  Secretary Windebank  =  115

Q  =  67, 68  England  =  127

R  =  69, 70  The Deputy  =  130

S  =  71, 72  Chancellor Loftus  =  131

T  =  73, 74  The Earl of Corke  =  132

W  =  75, 76  The Primate  =  133

X  =  77, 78  Lord Mountnorris  =  134, 135, 136

Y  =  79, 80  Council Board in Ireland  =  163

Z  =  81, 82  The College of Dublin  =  166

of  =  83, 84  Provost of Dublin College  =  167

the  =  85, 86  Bishoprick of Lismore  =  150

that  =  87, 88  College of Goughall  =  151

at  =  91, 92  Bishop of Corke/Boyle  =  152

whych  =  93, 94  Boyle, Bishop of Waterford  =  153

him  =  95, 96  The Castle Chamber  =  158  Ireland  =  170  Dublin  =  171

An extract from Wentworth’s letter (folio 124 Str P 6) from Dublin, 9 December 1634, to William Laud, uses this cipher and decodes as follows:

…”Your Grace’s letter of ye 26th of October from Hampton Court albeit but short yet is of great waight.  And first considering the King purposeth that the matter against the Earle of Corke go on it is not to be feared but the Deputy will be answerable to the King the Course held therein shall be without inst exception, and upon ye let it rest amongst us …

The direction of the King to the Deputy concerning the Treasurer Portland will (as I am made to assure your Lordship) be punctually obeyed, if there be occasion, How beit the Treasurer Portland did never yet faulte me for writing anything of complaint against him to the King.  Which yet nevertheless as I heare the Deputy doth not conceave hereto be less offended with him; but rather apprehends the silence more dangerous than the expostulation, yet to say truthe I do not find the Deputy at all troubled with ye matter, initirely reposeing upon the honour of the King who in his goodnesse will not suffer the Deputy to perishe for his obedience; and wills me to send the coppies to Archbishop Laud of two letters of mine to Portland of his last to me which will considered even by ye Confession of Portland to the King may judge whether there was more truth in what the Deputy wrote, or in that the other affirmed, yet now all is well and in my opinion the whole.  The King may let it soe rest.  And soe indeed the Deputy desires, yet submitts all to the will of ye Superior, and bids me tell you he will sure doe without any daintynesse as he shall be advised by the King.  Therefore seeing he putts himself so freely in your hands I pray you preserve him a well as you can, and let there be no questions stirred, but such as are necessary, and as many of them as you please, Gentlemen, spare not sport, as Leake the mad man said when halfe a dozen lusty fellows were lashing him on the bare shoulders…”

iii) Cipher used in correspondence between Strafford and Secretary Windebank.

This is given at Str P 40/77

A  =  21, 22, 23, 24, 25

E  =  26, 27, 28, 29, 30

I  =  31, 32, 33, 34, 35

O  =  36, 37, 38, 39, 40

U  =  41, 42, 43, 44, 45

B  =  72, 73, 74

C  =  75, 76, 77

D  =  78, 79, 80

F  =  81, 82, 83

G  =  84, 85, 86

H  =  87, 88, 89

K  =  90, 91, 92

L  =  93, 94, 95

M  =  96, 97, 98

N  =  99, 100, 101

P  =  102, 103, 104

Q  =  105, 106, 107

R  =  108, 109, 110

S  =  111, 112, 113

T  =  114, 115, 116

W  =  117, 118, 119

X  =  120, 121, 122

Z  =  123, 124, 125

Arundel  =  154

The King  =  148

The Deputy  =  116

Ireland  =  219

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