Of the Advancement of Learning.
(London, 1605.)
CYPHARS
ForCyphars; they are commonly in Letters or Alphabets, but may bee in Wordes.The kindes ofCyphars, (besides theSimple Cypharswith Changes, and intermixtures ofNvlles, andNonsignificants) 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 writeOmnia Per Omnia; which is vndoubtedly possible, with a proportion Quintuple at most, of the writing infoulding, to the writing infoulded, and no other restrainte whatsoeuer. This Arte ofCypheringe, hath for Relatiue, an Art ofDiscypheringe; by supposition vnprofitable; but, as things are, of great vse. For suppose thatCypharswere well mannaged, there bee Multitudes of them which exclude theDiscypherer. But in regarde of the rawnesse and vnskilfulnesse of the handes, through which they passe, the greatest Matters, are many times carryed in the weakestCyphars.