Abstract
Cryptomenysis Patefacta by John Falconer is only the second text written in English on the subject of cryptology. We will examine what types of ciphers Falconer addressed, and pay particular attention to some of the math he used. We will also look at what can or can’t be said about John Falconer himself.
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Notes
- 1.
The Earl’s letters were decrypted by a Mr. Gray of Crichie, later Lord Gray.
- 2.
This is not Falconer’s example but a shorter one which was chosen for demonstration purposes.
- 3.
As opposed to individuals like John Wallis, Thomas Phelippes, and the Rossignol family who had been directly employed by royalty in England and France for their skills.
References
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Rocca, C.F. (2015). Falconer’s Cryptology. In: Zack, M., Landry, E. (eds) Research in History and Philosophy of Mathematics. Proceedings of the Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics/La Société Canadienne d’Histoire et de Philosophie des Mathématiques. Birkhäuser, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22258-5_1
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