Simon Renard mentioned yesterday was a familiar figure to me as the "bad guy" in Jane Grey's story I read as a child (Ainsworth's The Tower of London adapted for junior readers) or in a 1986 film "Lady Jane".
I mentioned some episodes related to him from CSP in "Ciphers during the Reign of Emperor Charles V". At one time, Renard was puzzled because he received a power from Prince Philip but it was in cipher.
While writing these letters I received a packet from his Highness dated November 12th. The courier was delayed 40 days at the port of Plaisance. I have no news of the other three who passed this way. His Highness's letters confer upon me full power to promise whatever is necessary for the marriage, but as they are in cipher, I do not see how I can use them. I will inform the Queen, however, the better to confirm her in her resolve.
(Renard to Charles V, 18 January 1554) (CSP Spain)
The Spanish ambassadors in England had been negotiating for the marriage with authorities from the Emperor, but the English required a power signed by Prince Philip himself because they wanted to be assured that the Prince would not repudiate the agreement to restrict his power in England.
I suppose the problem here was not about cryptography but that the original power in clear (rather than decipherment) should be presented to the English government.
Soon after this, the Emperor in Brussels signed the agreement and required the Prince in Spain to ratify it and return it with powers for the contraction of the marriage (CSP Spain).
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