1. Pop Culture and Historical Fiction as "Cribs":
   • The theory draws heavily on Blackadder, a comedic historical television series, as a cipher for deciphering the Voynich Manuscript. The idea of using fictional or pop culture elements as "cribs" for decipherment isn't new, but it's typically seen as problematic because it relies on arbitrary connections between fictional material and cryptographic data.
     
   • The claim that the names "Blackadder" and "Baldrick" correspond to certain Voynich glyphs appears to be a stretch. While it is not uncommon for cryptographers to experiment with different sources, the lack of a coherent linguistic or grammatical framework weakens the theory.
     
2. Claim of Historical Truths:
   • The theory makes bold claims about the historical accuracy of certain events, such as the existence of Richard IV and his supposed murder of his nephews, which has been debated by historians. However, these claims are often made without solid evidence or citations, relying instead on alternative interpretations of historical events, many of which are based on unverified or fringe ideas.
     
   • The notion of Richard IV being erased from history by "Big Tudor" conspiracies is reminiscent of other conspiracy theories but lacks scholarly support. There's no substantial evidence to suggest that Tudor history has been deliberately falsified in the manner suggested.
     
3. The Imagery of the Voynich Manuscript:
   • The theory's interpretation of the zodiac folios as representations of Blackadder’s alleged sexual conquests is an amusing yet unsubstantiated claim. While it's true that some cryptanalysts have attempted to link the imagery of the manuscript to specific historical events or figures, such wild associations with pop culture and non-historical sources lead more toward fiction than factual research.
     
   • The analysis of the Libra folio and the identification of crowns, and their supposed connection to historical figures like Beatrice of Naples, seems more like creative reinterpretation than a well-supported theory.
     
4. Cryptographic Analysis:
   • The mention of Currier and EVA transcription systems is a real attempt to engage with the structure of the manuscript’s text, but the interpretation of specific glyphs as corresponding to letters or names from Blackadder seems highly speculative. A rigorous cryptographic analysis should be grounded in statistical properties of the manuscript's text, which the theory admits it largely ignores, making it unconvincing to those who adhere to more formal methods.
     
5. Humor and Satire:
   • The "Blackadder solution" is clearly a parody of conspiracy theories, historical revisionism, and over-complicated decipherment methods. The references to "Big Tudor," Masonic orders, and the introduction of quirky characters from Blackadder and other works of fiction create a satirical narrative that pokes fun at how convoluted and unfounded some conspiracy theories can become.
     
   • The author's playful tone in discussing topics such as Richard III, the "widow's son," and the intricacies of the Voynich Manuscript suggests that this theory is intended more as a humorous commentary on both the manuscript's enigma and modern cryptographic and historical research than as a serious contribution to the field.
     

(01-04-2022, 07:43 PM)kckluge Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Though at first glance I seem mild snake,

T'would be a foolish error to make!

No garter snake, I! Don't void your bladder --

I am, in fact, the loathsome Adder!



While I seem brown, I fade, alack!

So know, in truth, my hue is BLACK!

Heed me well, though 'tis hard to imagine it,

For I am the glorious serpent Plantagenet!



The snake loomed larger, its jaws gaping, and I found myself falling into its ravenous maw. Waking bathed in sweat, I somehow knew I had been given the key to the Voynich manuscript.



Puzzled, I did a Google search for some sort of "black adder" or "blackadder". Buried among results for William Blackadder (executed for his role in the murder of Lord Darnley), St. Andrew Blackadder Parish Church, and every Thursday being Curry Night at The Blackadder Hotel Bar & Restaurant [1], I found references to a BBC historical drama involving a fringe theory regarding the final years of the Plantagenet dynasty [2]. A thrilling dramatization that features all the historical accuracy that viewers of _I, Claudius_ had come to expect [3] from the Beeb, it follows the adventures of the Black Adder (Prince Edmumd, younger son of Richard IV (sic!)), and his associates Baldrick and Lord Percy Percy.