VMs: Crypto timeline needed (+ some thoughts)

["PK#01" <pklist01@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Now... I only recall reading about such ciphers in the context of
> Renaissance cryptography (say, 1550 or later).

I see that we need to make a timeline for VMS related cryptography along the
lines of http://web.bham.ac.uk/G.Landini/evmt/vtimel.htm Th discussion is
getting a bit muddy, but the question is stil clear:

What was the common level of cryptography around the time we think the VMS
was written?

Which might be:
- between 1400 -1500 if straight encrytion is assumed (based on the
illustrations)
- between 1500 -1600 if we assume a hoax by Kelly

This is a question that can be answered by us.

Now I have been quite specific about my sources of crypto history (see
http://uair01.xs4all.nl ) and I would be pleased with more specific
references. At the moment I have the feeling that the books by Dr. Meister
from 1902 / 1904 contain information that is not widely known. But I don't
mind to be corrected.

+ some thoughts

I was wondering how a Fourier Transform of the VMS would look like on a "per
character" basis. So a FFT of the VMS where <a = 1> and <every other
character = 0>. And then for every character or combination like <iin>. This
might show the difference between real characters and nulls. I've been
looking for FFT programs, but found only some that do a FFT of a .wav file.
An Excel macro would be ideal but I had no luck with finding that that
either.

But probably this has been tried already somewhere in the VMS archives?

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