Steganography Vindicated, Unlocked and Illustrated

setting the date for July 29, they meanwhile summoned those absent from the monastery through messengers and letters. After a three-day fast and the usual prayers, they called the visitors appointed for them by the order: Hermann, Abbot of St. James near Mainz original: "Moguntiam", and Conrad, Abbot of St. John in the Rheingau. Along with Lord John Colnhausen—formerly the Abbot here, but then the Abbot in Seligenstadt—they appeared. In the name of God, they began the business of the election on the feast day of Pope Felix, Martyr, which is the 4th Calends of August July 29th, and was the Tuesday after the feast of St. James.

Therefore, after the Mass of the Holy Spirit was solemnly celebrated, the brothers gathered in the chapter house and decided to follow the "way of compromise" A canonical method of election where the community delegates the choice to a small group of trusted electors. for the election, which seemed safer. They entrusted the decision to two Abbots—Hermann of St. James and John of Seligenstadt—and three from the community: Henry of Gelnhausen the President, John of Dona the Custodian, and John of Dreysa, Master of the Donates A "donate" was a layman who lived according to monastic rules without taking full vows.. Their task was to hear the secret votes of each individual in the presence of a Notary and witnesses and to elect as Abbot of this monastery, in the name of the whole community, the one toward whom the greater and more sound part of the members directed their votes.

When the votes of all were scrutinized, the greater and more sound part elected Johannes Trithemius as Abbot. He had been in the order for only 8 months and 7 days since his profession, and was the most junior of all the professed monks; indeed, from the time he first took the novice’s habit, he had lived in the monastery for only 1 year, 4 months, and 7 days until the day of his election. Once the election was published, all unanimously consented to him and each signed the decree of election with their own hand. In that same year, on the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he was confirmed by Albert, Administrator of the See of Mainz, in the castle of Steinheim, in the presence of Hermann of St. James, John of Seligenstadt, and Melchior of Schönau, Abbots of our order, and many others. Afterward, in the same year on November 9 original: "5. Idus Novembris", which was the Sunday before the feast of Saint Martin, he received the blessing from Berthold, Bishop of Pariada and Vicar in Pontificals to the aforementioned Lord Administrator, in the Church of Saint James near Mainz. He was assisted, as is custom, by the Abbots Hermann of that place and Anselm of Limpurg, whom he had invited, both wearing their pontifical vestments.

CHAPTER VI.

THE DEPARTURE OF TRITHEMIUS FROM THE MONASTERY OF SPONHEIM.

In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 1505, in the 22nd year of his abbacy (or 21 years and 8 months completed), and in the 44th year of his age (or 43 years and 2 months completed), Johannes Trithemius left the monastery on horseback on the morning of the first day of April, around seven o’clock. He traveled toward Heidelberg accompanied by a messenger from Philip, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Arch-Steward The "Archidapifer" was one of the high ceremonial offices held by the Prince-Electors of the Holy Roman Empire. of the Sacred Roman Empire and Prince Elector, and one servant, by the command of the Prince