National Treasure (2004)
The Cipher Poem Decoded
From the film · 00:24:15
“Fifty-five signatures on the Declaration. Iron-gall ink. Mr. Matlack — Timothy Matlack, the man who engrossed it.”
Patrick Gates' Maryland house, Ben mapping the poem to its references
What we know
A whiteboard, a marker, and Patrick Henry Gates' kitchen table
Fifty-five is a number that historians will quibble about. Fifty-six men ultimately signed the Declaration of Independence, but several signatures were added late — Thomas McKean in particular wasn't on the document until 1781. At the time the cipher was composed, fifty-five names were on the parchment. Iron-gall ink is the standard ink of the period: tannic acid from oak galls, iron from nails, gum arabic as a binder. Timothy Matlack — Pennsylvania State House clerk, Quaker, Patriot — was hired by the Continental Congress on July 19, 1776 to engross the document by hand in Copperplate script. Matlack is the only proper name in the poem. He's the timestamp. He's the where.
The Puzzle
Five triplets pulled from the Declaration’s reverse. Each is paragraph - sentence - word against a chosen key text. Pick the right key, decode, and confirm the message.
Triplets
- 011 - 1 - 6
- 021 - 2 - 1
- 032 - 1 - 3
- 043 - 1 - 2
- 053 - 2 - 1
Key Text
Preview the chosen text
Sir reader I am a Virtue keeper. Although a humble pen serves my purpose. I send Unto thee these letters. These Letters by lamplight written. To the Courant only do I commit them.