There is always a lot of talk on the rootweb sites on how to read some of the old handwriting. This site might prove to be helpful. Palaeography Tutorial http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/ "Palaeography is the study of old handwriting. This web tutorial will help you learn to read the handwriting found in documents written in English between 1500 and 1800." If you have ever tried to browse through old documents and realized that the handwriting in not as easy to decipher as modern day printing, use the Paleography Tutorial to help with the transcription process. You'll find tips on reading and translating, a Quick Reference section, ten different tutorials of 'varying levels of difficulty' with their associated historical backgrounds and, last but not least, practice documents so that you can become an expert palaeographer yourself. Before exiting, check your skill level by trying to save the woman in the 'Ducking Stool Game.' Fortunately, you can have a second go or the poor woman would be doomed from the start!