Ciphers
17th and 18th Century Ciphers
Ciphers were commonly employed in the 17th and 18th Centuries. They were used to disguise scientific knowledge from the Inquisition, and for political messages, and to communicate within secret societies. No messages were secure without being encrypted through at least one method. There were many to choose from: simple letter substitutes, circle ciphers, key ciphers, numerical and alphnumerical ciphers, kabbalistic, Masonic and Hermetic ciphers, and more.
For the Novice, the letters to his Superior are to be written in cipher: "he must make himself master of that cypher, which is to serve him until initiated into the higher degrees, when he will be entrusted with the hieroglyphics of the Order." [AB: 429] Barruel (p.438) displays the first cipher 18 introduced to the Illuminati Novice:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W | X | Y | Z |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
The Pigpen Cipher was used by Freemasons in the 18th Century to keep their records private. The cipher does not substitute one letter for another; rather it substitutes each letter for a symbol. The alphabet is written in the grids shown, and then each letter is enciphered by replacing it with a symbol that corresponds to the portion of the pigpen grid that contains the letter.
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Ciphers continued to be used by occult adepts to this day.
The Cipher Manuscripts are a collection of 60 folios containing the structural outline of a series of magical initiation rituals corresponding to the spiritual elements of Earth, Air, Water and Fire. The "occult" materials in the Manuscripts are a compendium of the classical magical theory and symbolism known in the Western world up until the middle of the 19th century, combined to create an encompassing model of the Western Mystery Tradition, and arranged into a syllabus of a graded course of instruction in magical symbolism. It was used as the structure for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
he folios are drawn in black ink on cotton paper watermarked 1809.[1] The text is plain English written from right to left in a simple substitution cryptogram known as the Trithemius cipher, attributed to Johannes Trithemius, a medieval German abbot.[2] Numerals are substituted by Hebrew letters – Aleph=1, Beth=2, etc. Crude drawings of diagrams, magical implements and tarot cards are interspersed in the text. One final page translates into French and Latin.[3]
The Ciphers contain the outlines of a series of graded rituals and the syllabus for a course of instruction in Qabalah and Hermetic magic, including Astrology, Tarot, Geomancy and Alchemy. It also contains several diagrams and crude drawings of various ritual implements. The Cipher Manuscripts are the original source upon which the rituals and the knowledge lectures of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn were based.[4]
The actual material itself described in the Manuscript is of known origins. Hermeticism, Alchemy, Qabalah, Astrology and Tarot were certainly not unknown to 19th century scholars of the Magical arts; the Cipher is a compendium of previously known Magical traditions. The basic structure of the rituals and the names of the Grades are similar to those of the Rosicrucian orders Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia and the 'Gold und Rosekreuzes.'
Cipher Types
Whether St. Germain was Sir Francis Bacon in his past life or not, he certainly would have learned his ciphers during his two years in London. He would have used them in both his secret societies and espionage. He undoubtedly used them to secure his own messages, and wrote his acknowledged books using them.
A Modern Wheel, or Disc, Cipher The above diagram shows a wheel cipher. The smaller, or inner, alphabet moves around so that any one of its letters may be brought opposite any one of the letters on the larger, or outer, alphabet. In some cases the inner alphabet is written backwards, but in the present example, both alphabets read the same way. MPH | |
From Bacon’s De Augmentis Scientiarum This plate is reproduced from Bacon’s De Augmentis Scientiarum, and shows the two alphabets as designed by him for the purpose of his cipher. Each capital and small letter has two distinct forms which are designated "a" and "b". The biliteral system did not in every instance make use of two alphabets in which the differences were as perceptible as in the example here given, but two alphabets were always used; sometimes the variations are so minute that it requires a powerful magnifying glass to distinguish the difference between the "a" and the "b" types of letters. MPH |
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The Key to the Biliteral Cipher From Bacon’s De Augmentis Scientiarum After the document to be deciphered has been reduced to its "a" and "b" equivalents, it is then broken up into five-letter groups and the message read with the aid of the above table. MPH | |
| Strictly speaking the Baconian Cipher is a stenographic code rather than a true cipher. A message is hidden in the way the text is written, instead of its content. Certain letters are replaced with either bold or italic letters. The complete text is split into groups of five letters and then the letters in these groups represented as 'A' or 'B'. The 'B's are the placement of the altered font or style, this is then matched to its letter code according to the alphabet of the Baconian cipher. There are two different versions of the Baconian alphabet, one has the same codes for I/J and U/V whereas the second one treats these letters individually, as both methods may be encountered I have included both versions here. | ||||||||||
Version 1 - containing combined letters
Version 2 - containing separated letters
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http://www.purplehell.com/riddletools/bacon.htm
BACON'S Ciphers
Bacon's Writings on Ciphers
From Three Editions of De Augmentis
ERTAINLY any man may assume the liberty (Excellent King) if he be so humourd, to jest and laugh at himselfe, or his owne Projects. Who then knowes whether this worke of ours be not perchance a Transcript out of an Ancient Booke found amongst the Books of that famous Library of S. Victor , a Catalogue whereof M. Fra. Rabelais hath collected? ([side note:] Liv. 2.C.7. des faicts & dicts du bon Pantagv.) For there a Book is found entitled FORMICARIUM ARTIVM; wee have indeed accumulated a litle heape of small Dust; and laid up many Graines of Arts and Sciences therein, whereto Ants may creepe, and there repose a while, and so betake themselves to new labours. Nay the wisest of Kings sends the slothful, of what ranke or qualitie soever, unto the Ants; and those we define to be slothfull, whose only care is to live upon the maine stock, but not to improve it by sowing the Ground of Sciences over againe, and reaping a new Harvest.... III But the measure of words hath brought us forth an immense body of Art, namely Poesie; not in respect of the matter (of which we have spoken before) but in respect of stile and the forme of words, as Metre or Verse; touching which the Art is very small and briefe, but the accesse of examples large and infinite....
§ Wherefore let us come to CYPHARS. Their kinds are many as, Cyphars simple; Cyphars intermixt wifh Nulloes, or non-significant Characters; Cyphers of double Letters under one Character; Wheele-Cyphars; Kay-Cyphars; Cyphars of words; Others; But the virtues of them whereby they are to be preferr'd are Three; That they be ready, and not laborious to write; That they be sure, and lie not open to Deciphering; And lastly, if it be possible, that they may be managed without suspition. For if Letters Missive fall into their hands, that have some command and authority over those that write; or over those to whom they were written; though the Cypher it selfe bee sure and impossible to be decypher'd, yet the matter is liable to examination and question; unless the Cypher be such, as may be voide of all suspition, or may elude all examination. As for the shifting off examination, there is ready prepared a new and profitable invention to this purpose; which, seeing it is easily procured, to what end should we report it, as Deficient. The invention is this: That you have two sorts of Alphabets, one of true letters, the other of Non-significants; and that you likewise fould up two Letters; one which may carrie the secret, another such as is probable the Writer might send yet without perill.
Now if the Messenger be strictly examined concerning the Cypher, let him present the Alphabet of Non-significants for true Letters, but the Alphabet of true Letters for Non-significants: by this Art the examiner falling upon the exterior Letter, and finding it probable, shall suspect nothing of the interior Letter. But that jealousies may be taken away, we will annexe an other invention, which, in truth, we devised in our youth, when we were at Paris: and is a thing that yet seemeth to us not worthy to be lost. It containeth the highest degree of Cypher, which is to signifie omnia per omnia, yet so as the writing infolding, may beare a quintuple proportion to the writing infolded; no other condition or restriction whatsoever is required. It shall be performed thus: First let all the Letters of the Alphabet, by transposition, be resolved into two Letters onely; for the transposition of two Letters by five placeings will be sufficient for 32. Differences, much more for 24. which is the number of the Alphabet. The example of such an Alphabet is on this wise.
An Example of a Bi-literarie Alphabet.
Neither is it a small matter these Cypher-Characters have, and may performe: For by this Art a way is opened, whereby a man may expresse and signifie the intentions of his minde, at any distance of place, by objects which may be presented to the eye, and accommodated to the eare: provided those objects be capable of a twofold difference onely; as by Bells, by Trumpets, by Lights and Torches, by the report of Muskets, and any instruments of like nature. But to pursue our enterprise, when you addresse your selfe to write, resolve your inward-infolded Letter into this Bi-literarie Alphabet. Say the interior Letter be
Fuge.
Example of Solution.
Together with this, you must have ready at hand a Biformed Alphabet, which may represent all the Letters of the Common Alphabet, as well Capitall Letters as the Smaller Characters in a double forme, as may fit every mans occasion. An Example of a Bi-formed Alphabet.
Now to the interiour letter, which is Biliterate, you shall fit a biformed exteriour letter, which shall answer the other, letter for letter, and afterwards set it downe. Let the exteriour example be,
Manere te volo, donec venero. An Example of Accommodation.
We have annext likewise a more ample example of the cypher of writing omnia per omnia: An interiour letter, which to expresse, we have made choice of a Spartan letter sent once in a Scytale or round cypher'd staffe.
An exteriour letter, taken out of the first Epistle of Cicero, wherein a Spartan Letter is involved.
ERTAINLY any man may assume the liberty (Excellent King) if he be so humourd, to jest and laugh at himselfe, or his owne Projects. Who then knowes whether this worke of ours be not perchance a Transcript out of an Ancient Booke found amongst the Books of that famous Library of S. Victor , a Catalogue whereof M. Fra. Rabelais hath collected? ([side note:] Liv. 2.C.7. des faicts & dicts du bon Pantagv.) For there a Book is found entitled FORMICARIUM ARTIVM; wee have indeed accumulated a litle heape of small Dust; and laid up many Graines of Arts and Sciences therein, whereto Ants may creepe, and there repose a while, and so betake themselves to new labours. Nay the wisest of Kings sends the slothful, of what ranke or qualitie soever, unto the Ants; and those we define to be slothfull, whose only care is to live upon the maine stock, but not to improve it by sowing the Ground of Sciences over againe, and reaping a new Harvest....
III But the measure of words hath brought us forth an immense body of Art, namely Poesie; not in respect of the matter (of which we have spoken before) but in respect of stile and the forme of words, as Metre or Verse; touching which the Art is very small and briefe, but the accesse of examples large and infinite....
§ Wherefore let us come to CYPHARS. Their kinds are many as, Cyphars simple; Cyphars intermixt wifh Nulloes, or non-significant Characters; Cyphers of double Letters under one Character; Wheele-Cyphars; Kay-Cyphars; Cyphars of words; Others; But the virtues of them whereby they are to be preferr'd are Three; That they be ready, and not laborious to write; That they be sure, and lie not open to Deciphering; And lastly, if it be possible, that they may be managed without suspition. For if Letters Missive fall into their hands, that have some command and authority over those that write; or over those to whom they were written; though the Cypher it selfe bee sure and impossible to be decypher'd, yet the matter is liable to examination and question; unless the Cypher be such, as may be voide of all suspition, or may elude all examination. As for the shifting off examination, there is ready prepared a new and profitable invention to this purpose; which, seeing it is easily procured, to what end should we report it, as Deficient. The invention is this: That you have two sorts of Alphabets, one of true letters, the other of Non-significants; and that you likewise fould up two Letters; one which may carrie the secret, another such as is probable the Writer might send yet without perill.
Now if the Messenger be strictly examined concerning the Cypher, let him present the Alphabet of Non-significants for true Letters, but the Alphabet of true Letters for Non-significants: by this Art the examiner falling upon the exterior Letter, and finding it probable, shall suspect nothing of the interior Letter. But that jealousies may be taken away, we will annexe an other invention, which, in truth, we devised in our youth, when we were at Paris: and is a thing that yet seemeth to us not worthy to be lost. It containeth the highest degree of Cypher, which is to signifie omnia per omnia, yet so as the writing infolding, may beare a quintuple proportion to the writing infolded; no other condition or restriction whatsoever is required. It shall be performed thus: First let all the Letters of the Alphabet, by transposition, be resolved into two Letters onely; for the transposition of two Letters by five placeings will be sufficient for 32. Differences, much more for 24. which is the number of the Alphabet. The example of such an Alphabet is on this wise.
An Example of a Bi-literarie Alphabet.
Neither is it a small matter these Cypher-Characters have, and may performe: For by this Art a way is opened, whereby a man may expresse and signifie the intentions of his minde, at any distance of place, by objects which may be presented to the eye, and accommodated to the eare: provided those objects be capable of a twofold difference onely; as by Bells, by Trumpets, by Lights and Torches, by the report of Muskets, and any instruments of like nature. But to pursue our enterprise, when you addresse your selfe to write, resolve your inward-infolded Letter into this Bi-literarie Alphabet. Say the interior Letter be
Fuge.
Example of Solution.
Together with this, you must have ready at hand a Biformed Alphabet, which may represent all the Letters of the Common Alphabet, as well Capitall Letters as the Smaller Characters in a double forme, as may fit every mans occasion. An Example of a Bi-formed Alphabet. Now to the interiour letter, which is Biliterate, you shall fit a biformed exteriour letter, which shall answer the other, letter for letter, and afterwards set it downe. Let the exteriour example be, Manere te volo, donec venero. An Example of Accommodation.
We have annext likewise a more ample example of the cypher of writing omnia per omnia: An interiour letter, which to expresse, we have made choice of a Spartan letter sent once in a Scytale or round cypher'd staffe. An exteriour letter, taken out of the first Epistle of Cicero, wherein a Spartan Letter is involved. -- Francis Bacon, De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum, 1623.
For CYPHARS; they are commonly in Letters or Alphabets, but may bee in Wordes. The kindes of CYPHARS, (besides the SIMPLE CYPHARS with Changes, and intermixtures of NVLLES, and NONSIGNIFICANTS) are many, according to the Nature or Rule of the infoulding: WHEELE-CYPHARS, KAY-CYPHARS, DOVBLES, &c. But the vertues of them, whereby they are to be preferred, are three; that they be not laborious to write and reade; that they bee impossible to discypher; and in some cases, that they bee without suspition. The highest Degree whereof, is to write OMNIA PER OMNIA; which is vndoubtedly possible, with a proportion Quintuple at most, of the writing infoulding, to the writing infoulded, and no other restrainte whatsoever. This Arte of Cypheringe, hath for Relatiue, an Art of Discypheringe; by supposition vnprofitable; but, as things are, of great vse. For suppose that Cyphars were well mannaged, there bee Multitudes of them which exclude the Discypherer. But in regarde of the rawnesse and Vnskilfulnesse of the handes, through which they passe, the greatest Matters, are many times carryed in the weakest CYPHARS. -- Francis Bacon, Of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning
