help on the 4

[MarcoP]

Hi David,
I think the first example you posted is "Vita et felicitas": the 4 is created by joining an "e" and a "t".

The transcription of (a) is available here:
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I cannot read (b1).
I think (b2) is "et" again:
Sic fuit primus imp[er]ator declinato et exempto (should have been declinatus et exemptus)
So the first ruler was subsided and removed