Mary Queen of Scots' lost letters deciphered.

[glazbagun]

Smithsonian article

Preliminary paper

Heard about this on TRIH & so looked it up as couldn't find it on here.

A few years ago a team of three historical cryptography enthusiasts were working on an Italian archive of historical cyphers for the joy of cracking them when they realised that the language was French, not Italian. Further, they spoke of captivity, yearning for their child and eventually produced the name "Walsingham"- the name of Queen Elizabeth's spymaster.

This was the eureka moment when they realised they were deciphering the letters of Mary, Queen of Scots, in captivity in England! They cross referenced them with the letters the British had preserved from Walsingham's spy network and found that 50 of the 57 texts were brand new, never read letters.

In total 50,000 words of new history on Mary's discussions approaching the Babbington plot to overthrow Elizabeth, but also from years earlier than Walsingham's eventual compromising of her network.

Edited by glazbagun on Saturday 8th August 10:13

[hidetheelephants]

I guess Bessie was right having her topped then.

[glazbagun]

I find it remarkable just how sophisticated the whole thing was. You've been under house arrest for 18 years in the foreign country you fled to but are still secretly communicating with France & Spain at a time of intense state paranoia.