Text (translated from the 1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S and 1609/1612L editions)
127.1. {1579/1580L2Add{The liberties {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{Territory}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead} of CREMONA.
127.2. That this city is very ancient everyone knows by that saying {1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1606E only{of Vergilius,}1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1606E only} Mantua væ miseræ nimium vicina Cremonæ, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I only{[that is:] O great Mantua, you are too near to poor Cremona}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I only}. Yet Livius and others report it to have been reduced to a Settlement of the Romans long before that time, namely around the year 536 after the building of Rome. This city is situated in Gallia Cisalpina {1606E only{(now called Lombardie)}1606E only} among the Cenomanes, as Ptolemæus records, or in the tenth province of Italy as Plinius states, on the bank of the river Po or Padus. The soil of its liberties is excellent ground, very fertile for all kinds of grain, as also wine. Other things which are necessarily required for the preservation of mans life are plentifully transported to this place with the help of [this] stream.
127.3. It has endured many bitter storms of misfortune, having often been sacked and spoiled. First in those furious wars of Marcus Antonius when the territories of this city, Augustus {1608/1612I has instead{Ottavianus}1608/1612I instead} Cæsar being the winner, were given to the soldiers. Then again in the time of Vitellius, when after the battle of Bebriacum, 40,000 soldiers assaulted and sacked it. The company of freebooters, swaggers and mean slaves was such, as Tacitus reports, that they had respect for nothing, whether it be profane or holy {1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L{and burned it}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L}, {1606E only{[for] all was fish [to them] that came to the net}1606E only}. Only Memphitis Templum, standing [there] outside the walls, remained untouched, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1602G & 1602S and later{whether [this was] by Gods providence or {1581F, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{by the strength of the place, I do not know}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1602G, 1602S and later}.
127.4. And it was spoilt again by the tyrannous and roguish Goths {1595L only{and Vandals}1595L only}, then by the barbarous Lombards {not in 1606E{led by their king Gedulphus}not in 1606E} around the year 630 after Christ. Moreover it suffered the violent assault by Fredericus surnamed Aënobarbe {1606E & 1608/1612I only{or Barbarosso}1606E & 1608/1612I only} who tore down its walls, and levelled them to the ground. After this the Civil wars between the Guelfs and Gibellines raged here in particular, in the year 1312. Finally, under the government of the viscounts of Milan and then under its Dukes, it gradually began to rise up again and recover itself. Under their rule, it has since then prosperously and peacefully enjoyed the state of a flourishing Commonwealth.
127.5. This city has a tower higher than any other in Italy, most strong and fearful to the enemy. It is famous [as expressed] in this common bye-word and rhyme which they use: Vnus Petrus in Roma, vnus Portus in Ancona, vna turris in Cremona, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S instead; 1606E only, 1608/1612I additionally{[that is:] One Peter in Rome, one harbour in Ancone, and one turret in Cremone}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1602G & 1609/1612/1641S instead; 1606E only, 1608/1612I additionally}. {1592L, not in 1598F & 1602G{Ludovicus Cavitellius, {not in 1608/1612I{an Alderman's son}not in 1608/1612I}, has recently published the histories of this city}1592L}. The author of this very map has [also] published a book on the antiquities and worthy deeds of it}1592L, not in 1598F & 1602G}.
127.6. The jurisdiction or liberties {1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{territory}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead} of the City of CREMA.
127.7. Crema, a town on the limits of Milan is a Castle and garrison of the Venetians. This [town], {not in 1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S{as Leander reports}not in 1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S}, under the government of those Venetians has so increased its multitude of citizens and excellent buildings that it may well be included among the most famous places of all of Italy. For which reason they tend to say in a common proverb in the vernacular tongue: Barleta [is the most important city] in Puglia, Pratum in Toscana, and Crema in Lombardia, referring to the excellence, stateliness and richness of these three places.
127.8. The Venetians have often tried to adorn the town with the title of a city, but its citizens, fearing that while it is now considered [to belong] to the best towns, it might then be considered the most insignificant among the cities, have so far withstood this purpose of them. It is situated in a pleasant plain, in size large and wide, fortified with a strong wall, famous for [its] wealth, very populous and abounding with all necessary things. For the soil of the territory and liberties of this town is very fertile, and still by the great diligence and industry of its farmers, is daily improved and amended.
127.9. Many brooks, well provided with various kinds of fish, water this province everywhere. Blondus writes that after Fredericus Barbarossa had spoiled Cremona, he built Crema out of spite, to hinder and disgrace it [Cremona]. There are others, as Leander observes, who think it to have been built by the citizens of the city of Parasium, which was overthrown and razed to the ground by the Bishop of Milan {not in 1580/1589G{because of the heresy it harboured}not in 1580/1589G}, and therefore they called it Crema, in memoriam Crematæ patriæ, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598F, 1602G, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{in memory of their native city [which had been] burnt and spoilt}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598F, 1602G, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only}. But this I leave to the judgment of the prudent Reader}1579/1580L2Add} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.