THE ART OF MEMORY, THAT otherwise is called the Phoenix. A book very behoveful and profitable to all professors of sciences. Grammaryens/ Rethoryciens Dialectyke/ Legystes/ Phylosophres & Theologiens.   

¶ The prologue of this present book.  
FOr asmuch as many (in this time modern that pnsently runneth) be of a slow memory & late minded, this little book was made & composed, for to give and present it to all people, albeit that at the beginning it was directed to the Italyke nation. Know ye therefore all noble readers that if any do keep these precepts and commandments of this book, easily & in short time he may touch the summite, & reach the height of this art It is of a great effect and profit to them that have not their minds prompt, strong and ready. For it seemeth more to be invented by divine inspiration than by art or science of mankind. I have also found by writing that when the author of this present work experimented his knowledge through all the Itallies that many affirmed to have say this work more divine than human, so that some did bliss them by great admiration The author reported that he had no teacher of this art, but that it came to him by invention through the succour and help of god that lightened and inspired his spirit. Reed therefore my precepts right dear & dyscret persons and if thou take labour & diligence to understand these purposes perfitly thou shalt gather the grain thereof, and bear with the great & prosperous work of profit and honour.   

THe first conclusion shallbe such. This art is, and consisteth of places and magnitudes The places be as cards or scrollꝭ or other things for to writ in. The images be the similitudes of the things that we will retain in mind. Than I will first prepare my card wherein we may colloke & order the images in places. And for the foundation of this first conclusion I will put four rules. THE first is this. The places are the windows set in walls, pillars, & anglets, with other like. THE ii rule is. The places ought not to be to near together nor to far asunder. For the nearness trouble greatly the natural memory, by the opposition of things for if the places were to far distant. We will recite with a little leaser the things that shallbe given to places, where by they shallbe of mean distance. And that shallbe done when one is. vi. foot fro the other. THE iii rule is such. But it is vain as me seemeth. For it is the opinion of talkers that the places ought not to be made where as men do haunt, as in church and common places. For it sufficeth to have seen church vacaunt where as people walk not always and in that hath been taught the contrary experience. Which is the master of those things. THE four rule is this. That the places be not to high. For I will that the men set for the images or in the stead of images may touch the places, that which I have judged as behoveful. I take than the church greatly known by me, the parties where of I do consider, and go into it walking it iii or four times, and than return home to my house, & there I turn in my thought to remember the things by me seen. And in that manner I give the beginning of the work to the places on the right side of the gate fro the which men go in the right path or isle to the high altar there I fix and ordain the first place, and the second on the wall next it a .v. or vi foot of. And if there be any notable thing set, as a pillar in the window, or other like, there put the place. And if the notable thing be not there, or lack I feyn that in my imagination or at mine arbiter ymagynary although some forging these placis would leave them, fearing that he should put in forgetfulness. The thing opposed to that is taken & suffered, so that he be mindful to have constituted and ordained the place. And so to be proceeded fro place to place till that the fabrycant of the places return to the same gate. And these things to be done on the first wall of the church, all things lest that be in the mids thereof. And if any desire to have the circumference of the places entre by order in to a monastery, and fill it full all of places or compare the places on the walls without the church. And he that willbe remembered of many things, must compare many placis. But because that I have willed to surmount all the men of Itally by abundance of things and holy scriptures, in Canone law and civil, and in other authorities of many things, while that I was but young adolescent I have prepared a C. M. places. And now I have added to them the other ten M. places wherein I have put the things which are to say & utter by myself, so that they be promptements when I will experiment the virtues and strengths of my memory. And when I do leave my country assigned I visit the cities of Itally as a pilgrim or a wayfarer. I may freely say that I bear with me all my things, and yet I cease not to edify. I do you to wite that the places in any church or minster is seen only for to repose & mark the thigꝭ which must be recited every day as be the arguments, reasons, histories, fables and predications made in Lenten. And let this office be deputed to these places only. And I have set & declared at the end for these places a thing that shallbe judged necessary and utile. For I will that the young infants shallbe covyetous hereof by my right document ensygned by the places so constituted & put in order, by often repeating, three or four times in a month. For the repetition of placis can not be praised in any manner.  
THe second conclusion shallbe that when any hath the card or scroll I will show the manner to writ in the same, as I was some time being young adolescent in the company of sundry noble men. It was proposed of them to recite names of men, that one of the assysten●s should say I deny not that. And these be the names that follow. I did set in the first place a certain friend of mine having the same name. In the second place likewise, and as names did I colloke & set in place as they had named, and they thus collocated were by me recited afterward. And let the collocatoure advise him to set always his friend doing the thing that he is accustomed to do commonly, and proceed this conclusion clearly, and names known. And if the friend be known have such a name Boxdrab, zorobabel, than set the same thing that is spoken or named in his place I say asmuch of like things in names of beasts as of the horse, the ox, and ass, do that the horse be set in the first place. In the second the ox, and the ass in the third. And thus must be done in things that have no life, as the book, the cote, the gown, & of other things in likewise. But he well aware that thou be not deceived, if the book were set in the first place, and the cote in the second for so thou mayst simply when thou should recite the names The office of this art is to excite the mind natural that never is not nor can be admonested. For the gest of the image is to set and unset & apposyted therefore the ought to be set in the place that moveth. And if it can not move to be moved with another, put such a thing in the hand of mover, because that by the moving the memory be moved to the natural. But some young man of his spirit & subtle wit will say that these precepts & commandments be not perfit in all parties. For the ampt set in the place moveth. And howbeit because that it is so little it can not move for the grain of pepper put in the hand of the mover nor also life it, which I grant, if the only ampt be there collocat. But if ye set a multitude of ampts mounting & descending on a tree. That that the only ampt could not do alone, the multitude will do it. And the friend also will move in the place divers grains of pepper. Some other youngling will contraryenge. The full belly doth not move me the multitude of fleas, may not be set nor well collocated. But I will collocat there for the flea the friend taking a flea. And I have afore set in the place of the flea the right excellent master of all them of our time the good physician Gyrard of Uelonne, the which I beheld ones taking a flea.  
THe iii conclusion is all of gold if I take men for the letters of the alphebete, and so I have the living amages. For I set for the letter. A. Anthony. B. for Benet, & so the other persons and names of whom the first letter is that which I will collocat. And I do set by the letters some fair maidens for they excite greatly my mind and frequentation when I was young I did collocat junipere pistorien or of pyse which I loved greatly. Believe hardily to my sayings that if I set the fanyre maidens most facylly and decently recite this that I have set in my memory. Retain this secret very behoveful than into the artificial memory, which I have of a long while put in science. And for fear of blame or shame the thou would have a remembrance incontinent collocat fair maidens. For the mind by the location of maidens & virgins is a marvelous moving to him that hath seen the witness testifieth the thing. But this behoveful precept can not profit to them that have women in hate and dyspyle them. Nor shall not follow the fruit of this art but dyfficylly, and slowly, howbeit all good and chaste men are except. For the precepts that hath borne me so much honesty I ought not to hide, saying that I desire, & enforce me with all my powers to leave it to my successors excellently learned in goodness.  
THe four conclusion is, that the images of the alphabet, or the names demonstratyfs of lies should be well retained & fixed in mind and often repeated, I begin than this wise if it chance me to set in place of this copulative. And I set in place Eusebe & Thomas, howbeit that in this order eusebe be in place, & Thomas standing afore him, but if Thomas hold of eusebe, and eusebe hold the copulatif of Thomas that is mas, that of mass we see this pronoun of Thomas And in the place opposed in this art the rule is such that first in order is most pressed of the place, and so of the end. And first we write in this copulatyfe and likewise in the place. And like things is to be observed generally in all dyctions, & other things to be colloqued.  
THe .v. conclusion is in the syllables of iii lets, in whom we proceed thus, for if the vowel be in the middle as this syllable (bar) I take than the image of the last letter and add some thing thereto, of the which let be the beginning in likewise to the two other letters that do proceed. Than if I set in the place of Raymonde smytting the place with his n1, the syllable (bar) shallbe raised in the place. And if Simon it the place we shall have the syllable below. Than let this rule be kept which is thus. repeated there where the vowel is in the middle of the syllable of the letters the image of the last letter. R. is taken apposing another mobile, or moving herself to the two letters afore. But if the vowel beyne the end as the syllable (bra) than I colloke to that image of the first letter of that thing mobile or moving, whereof let the beginning be like to the two following Than I set & appose Benet among the Frogs in the place shall have the syllable (bra) And if I set Thomas I shall have the syllable (troth) The abundance than of these things that begin as the syllable if they be readily had here great utility and profit. But if the vowel be in the beginning, making any syllablꝭ as in this word (Amo) than always the image of the first letter is to be colloqued in the place of the thing having his like beginning of the syllable follow, if the harnessed turn the millstone, this word (Amo) set there shallbe the place. And if, this eusebe, read, this word, enio to us ye must always know if we may profitably collocat, the diction of three or four syllables, and it is no need. For in vain one is to be made by many things when it may be by few. It suffyfeth to have set the first or second syllable, we may always collocat the total diction of two syllables as, Pater, I will set in the place the thing or the man for the image of the syllable. Pa. as Paul, and for the syllable, ter, sith that the vowel is in the middle I will take Raymonde having a piece of lynnene cloth in his hand. I conclude than thus nobly that the images of the alphabet adjoined together, and the abundance of the things beginning as the syllables will serve us ever, if the images do lack in them. For if I can have other I will leave these whereof we shall speak in the other conclusions.  
THe vi conclusion is in these dyctions, bread, wine, wood, and other like. And in all dignities as is the Emperor, the King. etc. And so of each I make collocation by the sonunde of the voice, the which all things do understand, and the Rustykes in their demonstration, and to speak more evident they are concording & unyformal in speech vulgar and latin. In such dyctions I demand none other images. But put that same that the said diction sound, and all the syllables of such dyctions may be by good mention collocate easily. For in the body of man I have sound images of cases so that the head is the case Iwima. The right hand the genityfe. The life hand the dative, The right foot the accusative, the lift foot the vocative. And the belly or stomach the ablative. And for the singular number I set a fair maiden naked. And for the plural the same maid, well arrayed and richly or her that I would be remembered of. Or I will collocate some thing, or a man if it be some thing as bread I will collocate a maiden all naked in the place touching the bread with her right foot And if I will collocat any diction I set a man constituted in office or dignity as a bishop, I collocat a bishop in the place, smiting the bare earth with his right foot. And if thou consider diligently these things, O right sweet reder, this mention will show very goodly unto thee, and thus I was accustomed for to collocat these dyctions.  
THe vii conclusion is that we may collocat dyctions by sound of the voice, gestures of the body, of the similitudes, and of their images. I use it ofter for I set my friend for the diction. I knew a doctor that had always in his mouth communication of the law speaking of the time of appellations. This doctor of law said he could say all the law by heart or rote only I than willing to collocat the said law I set this dolour that always hytteth laughters, & by the jests of the body are set the images when any gestures be made in the diction I make my friend (for this word spolio) the which dyspoyleth another. And for this word, Rapio, I set my friend ravishing somewhat by force, by similitude I set the images when I find the thing at the diction semblable letters, howbeit that they are unlike in signification when I colloke well for this word cano.  
THe viii conclusion is for the lords jurisconsultes, a lawyers. And I will begin to speak of the volumes of the civil law. And when I will give these things to the places I take the colours of the coverings, as for F. veteri. a black skin. For the Code a green skin. For a volume a skin of variable colour. For the instytutions a little book. And the authentic a Notary having a great Instrument. For the authentic I set a maiden having a privilege. For the book of feodes, I set some castle. For the decret authentic I set an old man writing in the place, by cause the authorities of holy fathers is in it. For that decretals a bishop sitting in a chair. For clementines, a maiden named Clemence. For the sixth, an instrument, so called in Itally, whereof Ovid writeth. Altera pars staret, pars altera duceret orbet. For the conmentatours of the law I set them that have like name. But I take the image of the gloze of the doctrine by myself of me first given in the collocations of dyctions. And I have for the Dygestes fair junipera giving a harp to a florentyne, that he may sing the jester of Rome. The allegations of the decrete shallbe thus collocated, for a maiden is set for the allegation. And this maiden maketh a cloth or a cedule. And set for the question the fair junipera beating her maid. And for the consideration I set a pressed consecrating the host. And for Penance I set junipera shryving her to me of her light sins.  
THe ix conclusion shallbe, that I will show how placis ought to be given to the rubrysshes of each law, & set two images for the same as I am wont, for if I will remember me of the rubrysshe of transaction I set Thomas having frogs or the gest of the body. I feyn two men that would not of long time cease their contention and debate and gyvynnge each to other tokens of peace. That is the fair image of the rubryshe of the transactions But the principles of the laws where as chapters be set in place by alphabet or sound of voice similitude or gestures of the body, whereof is spoken afore and plainly enough.  
THe ten is in collocating, arguments. For the which I am accustomed to set two images. The first is the gest of the body, as if one said thus. The testament a availeth to none but if it be made with vii witnesses. Therefore I feign the testator to have made this testament before two witnesses, and a ring that sealeth the said testament. The second image is it that collogateth two other diction more principal of the argument. Take here of an example, thou jurisconsul, of this philosophers wot my meaning. When in the act the will is demanded of any, he ought to proceed. Here be sundry words, but it sufficeth to collocat & set the will fro proceeding. And than we may say by and in memory the other parties of the argument of the collocation of two or three dyctions. The other things we shall recite elegantly, & believe this that the master hath experimented it right well.  
THe xi conclusion, and thus I have the images unto the non of a C. which are ten I have also ix images of the number beginning from one to the number ten The which I have divided on the fingers of men. I have given to the first finger of the right hand for the fyr●t number, or for one. The second for the second, or for two. And so I proceed to the four finger of the left hand. And because that these things may the better be retained in mind. I say the first finger of the right hand to be of the Gelfes, The second of the Gelbilayts. The third of the jews the forth of the rings. The v. of the ears. And so of the left hand I call the first finger of the Gelfes, for Gelfes be esteemed rich and of great estimation, the second of the Gelbelayts. And the third of the jews, For if ye point to a jew with that finger he will look away fiercely. And who that will know the cause, shall find it evident. Therefore I call the forth and the .v. even so for the number of a M. I have set here, if any number be to me proposed easily to have the image of the same. The conclusion is such, if any should ask if that in one self place he ought to set many things. I answer thus if I would put the things in places that are proposed to me of other because that I ought forthwith to rehearse the said things proposed I will collocat only in the place the images of one thing. But if I dispose to set in places the things that I read in my books, so that I may recite by heart in remembering them, I doubt not to set very often in one place the images of many things  
THe xii conclusion shallbe very proper. That is I will make and show in what manner ought to be made the images of numbers for all numbers that we can think I have only found twenty images. And therefore I will describe them chiefly, For the number of ten I take a great cross of gold or silver, for the number of twenty I take the similitude of the letter of iron or of wood unjoined to any thing that is round. For we shall write the number of twenty in the card or scroll in this manner, or for xxx and the similitude of this figure is conjunct in this manner to the thing. Therefore I shall find some examples which I will set whereby the reder may understand in the more easily, although it be of a rude wit or conclusion, if I will say. ii.q.iii. I must have a g●lfe in the place holding in his right hand a cross. and a jew that with all his strengths seeketh to take it fro him by violence of that made fro the right-hand. If I will say ii Corinthios four I will feyn the Gebelyn in the place that shall hold a curtain in his right-hand showing it to a fair maiden which shall receive it in her right-hand, for the fourth finger I will set a maiden married. And so I collocat and set for the. iiii. and ix number, if I will remember me of penance in the four distinction, I will colloke an old priest and not young to whom junipera shall shrive her faults. And she shall do a wounderous thing, for she shall absolve the pressed holding her right hand over his head, and so of the other. And because that this be not that process let us here make an end of the art of memory artificyall, and precepts, of whom all things is comprised simplycytyvely, at the lest so explycityvely to leave any thing, that I promised to writ in this place to judge an utile thing herein in place to set in the .v. place a hand of gold In the ten a cross guilded, in the xu a hand of silver. And in the twenty the image of the same number. And this my doctrine teacheth for to do in all other things   

Thus endeth the art of memory/ other wise called the Phoenix. Translated out of french in to english by Roberte Coplande. And Impryted at London in Fleetstreet at the sign of the George by Wyliyam Myddylton.