Ross G Caldwell said:
Focusing in on explicit examples of the practice around the time and in the place where the trumps were created, Moakley noted a particularly close one – Francesco Sforza’s father, Muzio Attendolo (nicknamed Sforza, “the Strong”), had been a subject of shame painting in Rome in 1412, during the pontificate (soon thereafter considered an anti-pontificate) of John XXIII (Pope 1410-1419):
Thus Moakely was able to associate the card with an event in the past directly related to the Sforza family, for whom Bembo painted the cards (and also, without explicitly noting it, to the traditional number of the card, XII).
"I am the peasant Sforza of Cotignola, traitor, who have committed
XII treasons against my honour; promises, agreements, pacts I have broken."
Assum, Clemente
Francesco Sforza, quoted by Gertrude Moakley in
Tarot Cards Painted by Bembo p.95
Did the Pope specify the 12 treasons, or is the number symbolic, referencing Judas Iscariot the 12th apostle and traitor ~ as he is listed in all the gospel listings of the apostles:
Matthew x.2-4
Matthew 10:2 The names of the twelve apostles are these. The first Simon which is called(MT: also) Peter: and Andrew his brother. James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.
Matthew 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas and Matthew the publican. James the son of Alphe and Lebbeus, otherwise called Thaddeus.
Matthew 10:4 Simon of Chane, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him.
Mark iii. 13-19
Mark 3:13 And he went up into a mountain, and called unto him whom he would, and they came unto him.
Mark 3:14 And he ordained the twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them to preach.
Mark 3:15 And that they might have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out devils.
Mark 3:16 And he gave Simon, to name, Peter.
Mark 3:17 And he called James the son of Zebedee, and John James brother, and gave them Bonargs to name, which is to say the sons of thunder.
Mark 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartelemew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphey, and Taddeus, and Simon of Cane,
Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscarioth, which same also betrayed him.
Luke vi.12-17
Luke 6:12 (MT: And) It fortuned in those days,(MT: that) he went out into a mountain for to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:13 And as soon as it was day, he called his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, which also he called his apostles.
Luke 6:14 Simon, whom also he named Peter: and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartlemew;
Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus and Simon called Zelotes,
Luke 6:16 and Judas James' son, and Judas Iscariot, which same was the traitor.
In connection with early representation of the traitor with purse bags, Judas was keeper of the purse bag:
John 13:29
Some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, buy those things that we have need of against the feast: or that he should give something to the poor.
It is also possible his name is derived from or plays upon the Syriac for purse
sicariot.
The connection with Judas the traitor seems the most simple and probable explanation for the Pope's use of the number 12 ~ unless there were in actual fact 12 counts of treason?