How to Improve Your Memory, 1563
Edward Topsell, The History of Four-Footed Beasts, 1607
To make one have a good memorie. Take a Tooth or the lefte legge of a Badgre… and binde it aboute youre riggt arme nexte unto the flesh. Take also the gall of a Partrich, and rubbe your temples with it that it maie soke into the skin and fleshe, ones in a moneth, and it will make you have a good memorie.
The Second Part of the Secretes of Maister Alexis of Piemont
This is a bit of a Faustian bargain, isn’t it? Your improved memory comes at the cost of having to adorn yourself with badger parts and partridge goo. Well, at least others will definitely remember you.
If you use the gall of a homing pigeon will you have a 16th century GPS in your head?
Rhyming fun. Three cheers for a wonderful blog, Earle
I only have the right leg of a Badgre. Will this do instead of a left leg?
Have a badger dog, thus the badger, and a pointing bird dog. All set for memory, good for 120!
A wonderfulle, ſasyſying blogge,