Hi Gary, Here are the first few lines. 1 In the name of God amen the Fifthe day of Novembre 2 in the fifteenth yere of the Raigne of our Soveraigne [last 3 words ruled out] of our Soveraigne 3 James by the grace of god kyng of England Frannce and Ireland Defend[e]r [Page3] 4 of the faithe [?] and of Scotland the one and Fiftithe I Mary Radcleife sometime 5 one of the gentlewomen of her late Maiesties <honorable> privie Chamber being at the 6 present thankes be to god [ruled out] Almightie god in good and perfect memorye I do by theise 7 presents thus make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and 8 forme following that is to saye: First I recommend my soule into the hands of god 9 my Savyoure and Redemer and my bodie I will to be buryed in the parish churche 10 of that place where I shall fortune to departe this life. And I will that there 11 shalbe bestowed by my Executor hereunder named amongst the poore people of the 12 saied parish where I shall decease the somme of twentie pounds to be distributed 13 amongest them according to the discretion of my saied Executor. And moreover I will 14 that my saied Executor shall cause or procure to be made and set up in or near suche 15 place where I shalbe buried a comelie and convenient Monument in Stone shewing 16 bothe the race and birthe whereof I am descended and allso the Roome[?] and place where 17 I lyved and served under her saied late Maiestie. And furthermore I do by theise 18 presents will and bequeathe unto my brother Sir Edward Radcliffe knighte and his 19 assignes for and during his naturall life one yerelie Annuitie of Fiftie poundes by 20 the yere to be payed by my Executor fourth of suche goodes and chattells as I shall 21 leave at the tyme of my Decease unto hym the saied Sir Edward and his Assignes 22 yerelie at the feast of the Annunciacon of oure blessed Ladie Sainte Marye 23 the virgin yerelie and St Michael the Archanngell by equall and even partions I could go on but perhaps you would like to try again yourself, given this as a guide. See also the sample alphabet at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/handwriting.html You may well be surprised at how much you can read with a little practice. Of course if you are truly stumped, please ask for more help! Good luck, Cheers, Liz in Melbourne, heading back into the garden... On Sunday, March 14, 2004 8:46 AM, GaryIvoDe@aol.com [SMTP:GaryIvoDe@aol.com] wrote: > http://www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk/download.asp?T=108234&S=I/04/00105000W&E > =GaryIvoDe@aol.com > > There is a will online at the above URL which is indecipherable to me except > for > six or seven words. The penmanship is beautiful but..... > > I doubt that anyone can make this out but I thought I'd try. After reaching > the > site, just click DOWNLOAD. > > I'll repeat the URL in case Rootsweb deletes it: > > http://www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk/download.asp? > T=108234&S=I/04/00105000W&E-GaryIvoDe@aol.com > > Gary Radcliffe >