Chapter One

On Preparation of Words, as yet generically considered.

In the final chapter of Book 3, above, I have established three Modes of secret-making depending on the Superinduction of Non-significant letters, which takes place only through the mediation of Preparation of Words. These are (1) the Preparation of real Words; (2) the Preparation of Fictitious Words; and (3) the Preparation of certain Artificially-Placed Words. In as much as the elucidation of Trithemius’s Steganographia, to which I have designed to devote the whole Third Book, seems fully to have completed the explanation of the first of these Modes, depending on the Preparation of Real Words, my next step would be to advance directly to the other two Modes, were it not the case that there still remain certain considerations belonging to this first Mode which were omitted by Trithemius. Hence I will address myself to the task of once more considering in few words the same first Mode and of again giving in outline a complete scheme of this Preparation of Words, in all its varieties.  First, then, this Fact stands fixed: Preparation of Words is (1) that of Real Words, (2) that of Fictitious Words, and (3) that of Artificially-Placed Words; each class differing, it would seem, from the other two classes.

Preparation of Real Words is accomplished by Simple Nomenclation, of by Qualified Nomenclation, or by the construction of Real Speech and Discourse.

Of Simple and Qualified Nomenclation I will treat in the second chapter of the present Book. As to composition of Real Speech, this refers to the first letter, to the last letter, or to any letter indeterminately, of a nonsignificant word, that is , a word that contributes both to the secret narrative and to the ordinary narrative, which undergoes disguise. If we have occasion to employ Preparation of Discourse relating to the first letter, we then make use of the Direct process, the Oblique process, or the Inverted process. If we use the Direct process, this takes place by what may be called the more Common method, by the method restricted to the devices of Scattering, or arbitrarily through the selection of a Key. If it is a question of the more Common method, the Preparation of Words is accomplished in Simple manner, in Altered manner, or in Clothed manner. So far the division of the subject may be carried. Now with regard to the more Common Direct Preparation of Real Discourse and its subordinate Modes, the Simple, the Altered, and the Clothed, this subject has been treated in chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the preceding Book. Also that form of Direct Preparation which is restricted to the devices of Strewing has been accounted for in chapters 10 and 11 of the same Book. That form or Preparation, however, which I have called the Arbitrary Selection of a Key I find has not been taken up; wherefore I shall give some explanation of it in C. 3 of the present Book. After I have completed by treatment of Direct Preparation, my next step will be to consider Oblique Preparation, which is accomplished through Transposition, and Inverted Preparation, which in all respects proceeds by reverse method; and in fact I have already discussed these in part in the same Bk. 3.c.12, as well as in the preceding eleventh chapter. But I must now shorten sail and proceed to the consideration of those Modes wherein the last letter or some letter of the word other than the first and the last, is the Significant letter, as well as to the consideration of the other remaining Modes; and this, as will later appear in the proper place, I shall do in the third and the following chapters if this Book.