The cipher, described by Bacon in De Augmentis Scientiarum, is simplicity itself, being in principle mere combinations and alternations of any two unlike things, and in practice as used by him consisting of alternations of letters from two slightly different founts of Italic type, arranged in groups of five. This affords thirty-two possible combinations, being eight in excess of the twenty-four letters of the alphabet he used. The free use of these Italics is a notable feature in all his literature, and has been the cause of much speculation. Sometimes the differences between the letters of the two founts are bold and marked, often delicate and very difficult for the novice to distinguish, but possible of determination by the practised eye. The differences, especially in the capitals used in the 1623 Folio of the Shakespeare Plays, are apparent to the dullest vision, and photographic copies of it are in nearly every public and many private libraries, and so accessible to all.
In making up his alphabet the two founts are called by him the 'a fount’ and the 'b fount,’ and the several groups of five, representing each letter of the alphabet he used in the cipher, are as follows: aaaaa, a; aaaab, b; aaaba, c; etc., etc.
After the full exposition of this cipher by Mr. Mallock, a repetition here would seem superfluous, and I will only take space to say that the detailed explanation is to be found in De Augmentis Scientiarum in every edition of Bacon’s complete works.
One of the interesting incidents of the use of this bi-literal method is, that it did not at all require taking the printer into the writer’s confidence. A peculiar mark under the letter would indicate the fount from which the letter was to be taken. The printer may have thought Bacon insane, or what not, but the marking gave him no clue to the cipher.
Perhaps I cannot better illustrate the scope of the researches that have brought out such strange and unexpected disclosures than by giving the bibliography of my work. This will have an attraction for many, who will sympathise with me in the pleasure I have known in working in these rare and costly old books.
The deciphering has been from the following original editions in my possession:
| The Advancement of Learning | 1605 |
| The Shepheards’ Calender | 1611 |
| The Faerie Queene | 1613 |
| Novum Organum | 1620 |
| Parasceve | 1620 |
| The History of Henry VII. | 1622 |
| Edward Second | 1622 |
| The Anatomy of Melancholy | *1628 |
| The New Atlantis | *1635 |
| Sylva Sylvarum | *1635 |
and also a beautifully bound full folio facsimile of the 1623 edition of the Shakespeare plays, bearing the name of Coleridge on the title page.
*These three bear dates after Bacon’s death, and were undoubtedly completed by Dr. Rawley, his secretary, whose explanation regarding them is found on pages 339-340 of the Bi-literal Cypher.
In the Boston Library I obtained: