diff --git a/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/Character.java b/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/Character.java
index 61680bb..d34ced3 100644
--- a/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/Character.java
+++ b/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/Character.java
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ public abstract class Character extends AbstractFile
   public int characterLevel;
   public int possessionsCount;
 
+  public boolean mysteryBit;                 // first bit in spellsKnown
+  public final boolean[] spellsKnown = new boolean[50];
+  public final int[][] spellAllowance = new int[2][7];
+
   public enum Race
   {
     NORACE, HUMAN, ELF, DWARF, GNOME, HOBBIT
@@ -70,6 +74,25 @@ public abstract class Character extends AbstractFile
     attributes[ptr + 1] = (value & 0x03E0) >>> 5;
   }
 
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
+  protected void checkKnownSpells (byte[] buffer, int ptr)
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
+  {
+    int bit = 1;                  // skip first bit
+    int val = buffer[ptr];
+    mysteryBit = (val & 0x01) == 1;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < spellsKnown.length; i++)
+    {
+      if (bit == 8)
+      {
+        val = buffer[++ptr];
+        bit = 0;
+      }
+      spellsKnown[i] = ((val >>> bit++) & 0x01) != 0;
+    }
+  }
+
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
   public String getAwardString ()
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
diff --git a/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV1.java b/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV1.java
index 4b655e0..a0d6d7e 100755
--- a/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV1.java
+++ b/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV1.java
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ class CharacterV1 extends Character
     hpLeft = Utility.getShort (buffer, 134);
     hpMax = Utility.getShort (buffer, 136);
 
+    checkKnownSpells (buffer, 138);
+
     for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)
       mageSpells[i] = buffer[146 + i * 2];
 
@@ -98,16 +100,9 @@ class CharacterV1 extends Character
       assetValue += baggage.item.getCost ();
     }
 
-    int index = 0;
-    for (int i = 138; i < 145; i++)
-      for (int bit = 0; bit < 8; bit++)
-      {
-        if (((buffer[i] >>> bit) & 0x01) != 0)
-          spellBook.add (spellList.get (index));
-
-        if (++index >= spellList.size ())
-          break;
-      }
+    for (int i = 0; i < spellsKnown.length; i++)
+      if (spellsKnown[i])
+        spellBook.add (spellList.get (i));
 
     nextLevel = experienceLevels.get (typeInt).getExperiencePoints (characterLevel + 1);
   }
diff --git a/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV4.java b/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV4.java
index 2d21924..84e7f13 100644
--- a/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV4.java
+++ b/src/com/bytezone/diskbrowser/wizardry/CharacterV4.java
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ public class CharacterV4 extends Character
   public final long experience;
   public final int maxlevac;                       // max level armour class?
 
-  public final boolean mysteryBit;                 // first bit in spellsKnown
-  public final boolean[] spellsKnown = new boolean[50];
-  public final int[][] spellAllowance = new int[2][7];
-
   public final int hpCalCmd;
   public final int healPts;
 
@@ -101,18 +97,7 @@ public class CharacterV4 extends Character
     hpLeft = Utility.getShort (buffer, 135);
     hpMax = Utility.getShort (buffer, 137);
 
-    mysteryBit = (buffer[139] & 0x01) == 1;
-    int index = -1;                         // skip mystery bit
-    for (int i = 139; i < 146; i++)
-      for (int bit = 0; bit < 8; bit++)
-      {
-        if (((buffer[i] >>> bit) & 0x01) != 0)
-          if (index >= 0)
-            spellsKnown[index] = true;
-
-        if (++index >= MAX_SPELLS)
-          break;
-      }
+    checkKnownSpells (buffer, 139);
 
     for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)
     {