Texts, closely resembling those of the previous two Americas plates, Ort9 and Ort10, come in 2 versions. The first scholarly text version is translated from the 1588 Spanish, 1589 German, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin edition; the second vernacular text from the 1587 French, 1598/1610/1613 Dutch and 1598 French editions:
11.1.{1588S{The New World,
{only 1606E{commonly called
AMERICA}1606E only}
11.2. That this entire hemisphere (which is called America, and with regard to its large size the New world) should have been concealed from our ancestors until the year of Christ 1492, at which time Christopher Columbus from Genoa first discovered it, seems to be a matter surpassing the measure of human admiration. For considering on the one hand the diligence of ancient cartographers in describing the world, and the commodious opportunities of most large empires to search for new regions, on the other hand the insatiable avarice of mankind, leaving nothing unattempted to attain gold and silver, with which these regions abound incredibly, I have often wondered how this {not in 1606E{gold and silver}not in 1606E} could have remained hidden from our world so long. There are some who suppose that this continent was described by Plato under the name of Atlantis. {1595L, but not in 1602G{I think that Plutarchus, speaking of the image of a face on the body of the moon refers to it under the name of a vast continent}1595L, but not in 1602G}. {the following paragraph not here but under paragraph 11.28 in 1601L, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L{and Marinæus Siculus in his Spanish Chronicle that this region in this gold mine an old coin of gold was found, with the image on it of emperor Augustus which was sent for verification by Johannes Rufus [1588S & 1602S instead{Bermejo}1588S & 1602S instead}, archbishop of Cosenza, to the pope}in paragraph 11.28 in 1601L, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L}. Some think that Seneca, in a fit of poetical fury predicted the discovery of it in the following prophetic verses {1606E only{in the very end of the 2nd act. of Medea}1606E only}.
11.3. Venient annis
11.4. Secula feris, quibus Oceanus
11.5. Vincula rerum laxet & ingens
11.6. [next column, except 1606E & 1608/1612I:] Pateat tellus, Typhisque novos
11.7. Detegat Orbes,
11.8. Nec fit terris ultima Thyle.
11.9. [translation adapted from the 1606E edition] which reads in English:
11.10. Long from now the years will come,
11.11. When the Ocean shall dissolve
11.12. Nature's fixed bonds and bars.
11.13. Then huge lands shall appear,
11.14. Typhis shall then detect
11.15. New worlds, nor shall Thyle
11.16. Then restrict the paths of men}adapted from the 1606E edition].
11.16a. [translation from the 1589 & 1602 German edition, which is rather different:]
{1589G & 1602G only{After the latest years a time will come when the ocean expands the narrow space of all things, the Earth will open itself and the artful Typhis will discover a new world in which the island Thyle will no longer be the end of the world}1589G & 1602G only}.
11.17. Also those Sibyllin verses, (about which Iacobus Navarchus writes that they {not in 1606E & 1609/1612L{in the year 1505}not in 1606E & 1609/1612L}, were found at the foot of the promontory of the moon (commonly called Rochan de Sinna) upon the ocean shore, engraved upon a square pillar, in the time of Manuel, king of Portugal, like this:
11.18. Volventur saxa literis & ordine rectis
11.19. Cùm videas Occidens Orientis opes.
11.20. [next column except in 1588S, 1592L, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E & 1608/1612I] Ganges, Indus, Tagus, erit mirabile visu,
11.21. Merces commutabit suas uterque sibi.
11.22. (translation adapted from the 1606E edition) which reads in English:
11.23. The stone with mystical letters shall be rolled
11.24. When West the treasures of the East shall see.
11.25. The Portuguese and Indians (a thing to be admired)
11.26. Shall transport their merchandise, desired by either part [adapted from the 1606E edition].
[1588S, 1589G, 1602G, 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S{have diverging translations in their respective languages}1588S, 1589G, 1602G, 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S].
11.27. But it seems that these verses are not so ancient, but were written in our times, nor part of Sibyllines prophecies, but comments on them. I was informed, {1588S, 1592L and later except 1602G{(when preparing the second edition of our Theatrum)}1588S, 1592L and later except 1602G} by Cæsar Orlando, a lawyer from Rome, through his letters about some printed works by Gaspar de Varrenne {1606E & 1609/1612L instead{Varerius}1606E & 1609/1612L instead}, in which I have also later read this. And I found it confirmed {1601L, not in 1602G{by Amil Resende in his Antiquities of Portugal, namely}1601L, not in 1602G} that in the time of Manuel, king of Portugal, a certain Hermes Caiado of that country caused them to be engraved and buried in the earth. And when he suspected that the marble began to deteriorate because of the moisture in the ground, pretending some cause to celebrate, he invited his friends to his country house near where this feigned prophecy lay hidden. When all are set to start eating, in comes his bailiff with the news that his labourers have by chance dug up a stone engraved with letters. They all run to it immediately, read it, admire it, praise it, and are ready to adore it, &c. See how skilful Caiado was in deluding his friends.
11.28 {1595L but not in 1602G{Marinæus Siculus in his Chronicle of Spain writes that an ancient coin was found in some gold mine with Augustus Cæsar's image on it, and to be quite sure about this, it was sent {1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L & 1608/1612I only{by Ioannes Rufus}1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L & 1608/1612I only}, the archbishop of Cosenza, to the pope. I think that it was lost there by the same family that first found it}1595L, but not in 1602G}. {1601L, but not in 1602G{Iosephus Acosta in his book De Natura {1606E only{novi}1606E only} Orbis [about the nature of the [New] World], endeavours with many reasons to prove that this part of America was originally inhabited by certain Indians, who were pushed there by tempestuous weather over the South sea, which they now call Mare del Zur [Pacific].
11.29. But to me it seems more probable, on the basis of the history of the two Zeni, gentlemen of Venice (about whom we have written before on the map of the Pacific, and before that on the map of Scandia) that this new world was reached a long time ago by some islanders from Europe, notably from Greenland, Iceland and Friesland. This because they were much closer to America than the Indians, nor separated (as appears from the map) by an ocean so huge and so difficult for the Indians to navigate. {1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I but not in 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S{Also, from what else can the word Norumbega, (the name of the Northern region of America) be derived than from Norway, signifying a Northern country, to which a colony has been transferred in former times?}1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I, but not in 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S}. The reasons why I think that the main ocean was never sailed by the ancient navigators are given in my book Thesaurus Geographicus when speaking of OPHIR}1601L, but not in 1602G}.
11.30. This whole part of the world, (except for the Northern tract, of which the coasts have not yet been explored) has in recent times been circumnavigated. From North to South, it stretches in the form of two peninsulas, connected by a narrow isthmus. The Northern part of the two contains New Spain, the province of Mexico, the country of Florida [1589G and 1602G instead {Green Land}1589G & 1602G instead} and New-foundland. The Southern part, (which the Spaniards call Terra firma [Firm Land]) contains Peru and Brasil. Those who are studious in geography may read descriptions of all those regions in Lævinus Apollonius, in {only in 1606E{the Decads of}1606E only} Peter {1602G instead{Pæuino}1602G instead} Martyr {not in 1606E{of Milan}not in 1606E} and in Maximilianus Transylvanus, who wrote in Latin about them. {1588S, 1592L and later except 1602G{There are also many useful observations in the Epistles by the Jesuits}1588S, 1592L and later except 1602G}, {1595L, not in 1602G{and in Maffeius' history of the Indies}1595L, not in 1602G}. Postel announces discussions of Atlantic {1606E has instead{West Indies}1606E instead} matters, and so does Fredericus Furius Cæriolanus.
11.31. The authors that follow have all specifically written about this [i.e.America], but all in their native language, for the most part Spanish, but the better half of them have been translated into Italian.
11.32. Cieça, Pedro, de Leon,
11.33. Oviedus, Gonsalvus Fernandus [or Ovetanus],
11.34. {not in 1608/1612I{Cortez, Fernandus}not in 1608/1612I},
11.35. Alvaredo, Pedro,
11.36. Diegus, Godoyus,
11.37. Alveres Nunnez,
11.38. Guzman, Nunnius, [also Pintianus] [next column in 1588S, 1602G & 1602S:]
11.39. Ulloa, Francisco,
11.40. Vasquez, Francisco {1606E only{de Coronado}1606E only},
11.41. Mendez, Antonio, [next column in 1589G, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1603L & 1606E:]
11.42. Frater Marco di Nizza,[next column in 1608/1612I:]
11.43. Alarcon, Fernando,
11.44. Xeresius, Franciscus,
11.45. Verrazzano, Giovanni, [next column in 1588S, 1602G & 1602S:]
11.46. Vespucci, Amerigo,{1608/1612I only{the last two both from Florence}1608/1612I only}
11.47. Lopez de Gomara, Franciscus,
11.48. Benzo, Hieronymus, {1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I only{in Italian}1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I only}.
11.49. Cartier, Jacques &
11.50. Thevet, André, who wrote in French.
11.51. Staden, Hans, in Flemish/German}1588S, 1589G, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S and 1609/1612L end here}.
11.52. {1606E only{Various of these authors, and many that have written since, have been translated into English in the third volume of Hakluyt's English voyages}1606E only}.
Now the vernacular text, based on the 1587 French, 1598/1610/1613 Dutch and 1598 is presented:
11.53. {1587F{The New World.
11.54. That this half of the entire World (which is called America) should lie concealed from our ancestors until the year of Christ 1492, at which time Christopher Columbus first discovered it, is a matter surpassing the measure of human admiration. For considering on the one hand the diligence of ancient cartographers in describing the world, as we see in Ptolemæus, Strabo, Plinius, Mela and others, and the commodious opportunities of most large empires such as those of the Greek and Romans) to search for new regions, on the other hand the insatiable avarice of mankind, leaving nothing unattempted to attain gold, with which these regions abound incredibly, I have often wondered how it could have remained hidden from our world so long.
11.55. There are some who suppose that this continent was described by Plato under the name Atlantis. Some think that Seneca predicted the discovery of it in the following prophetic verses in his Tragedies
11.56. Long from now the years will come,
11.57. When the ocean shall dissolve
11.58. Nature's fixed bonds and bars.
11.59. Then huge lands shall appear,
11.60. And we shall then detect
11.61. New worlds, nor shall Iceland
11.62. Then be the end of the World.
11.63. Also those Sibyllin verses which, (as Iacobus Navarchus writes) in the year 1505, were found in Portugal at Rochan de Sinna upon the ocean floor, engraved upon a square pillar, in the time of Manuel, King of Portugal, more or less like this:
11.64. The stone with perfect letters shall be read
11.65. When West the treasures of the East shall see.
11.66. The Ganges, Indus and Tagus, (a thing admired)
11.67. Shall offer to each other their merchandise.
11.68. {not in 1587F & 1598F{It seems that these verses are not ancient, but written in our times, I was informed about, (regarding the second edition of my Theatrum in Latin) by Cæsar Orlandius, through his letters about some printed works by Gaspar de Varrenne, in which I have also read this.
11.69. How in the time of Manuel, king of Portugal, a certain Hermes Caradus of that country caused them to be engraved and buried in the earth. And when he expected that the marble began to deteriorate because of the moisture in the ground, pretending some cause to celebrate, he invited his friends to his country house near where this feigned prophecy lay hidden. When all were sitting down, in comes his bailiff with the news that his labourers have by chance dug up a stone engraved with some letters.
11.70. They all run to it immediately, read it, admire it, praise it, and are ready to adore it, &c. See how skilful he was in deluding his friends}not in 1587F & 1598F}. Marinæus Siculus writes that in these new lands an ancient coin was found with Augustus' image on it. And to prove that this was true, he said it had been sent to the pope by Johannes Rufius, bishop of Cosenza which should demonstrate that it was known in Augustus' time. I prefer think that it was lost there by some Spaniard who in our own time came there, and that it was thus found back. But let anyone believe what he likes.
11.71. This whole part of the world, (except for the northern tract, of which the coasts have not yet been explored) has in recent times been circumnavigated. From North to South, it stretches in the form of two peninsulas, connected by a very narrow neck-land. The Northern part of the two contains New Spain, Florida, New-foundland and some other areas. The Southern part contains Peru and Brazil &c.
11.72. The islands belonging to this America are Hispaniola, now called St. Domingo, Cuba and others, of which there are many there. Further the Azores and others near Terra Nova [New-Foundland]. This entire land, as far as it is known, is under the governance of the king of Spain, except Brazil, which belongs to the king of Portugal, and Terra Nova [Newfound-land], which belongs to the French. These lands abound with gold to such an extent, that it can hardly be believed, and therefore I must adduce here three {1598/1610/1613D has instead{some}1598/1610/1613D instead} pieces of evidence from which it is clear that I speak the truth.
11.73. In the first place because Gemma Frisius on his World map says that in Callao, situated in Peru, there was a house of which the walls and ceiling were entirely made of gold. Also, de Girava writes that in a region of Peru called Anzerma the soldiers are armoured from head to toe in golden harnasses, as we do with iron.
11.74. In the same Peru the Spanish, as they have put on record, their horses, which arrived shod with iron, had no choice but to shod them with golden hooves. But this is no wonder, if it is true what de Girava writes, that in Quito there is a mine where more gold than earth is dug up.
11.75. In summary, these are rich and fertile lands. Among other things they have provided so much sugar to our countries, that now you find it in every kitchen, to be consumed by gluttonous people, whereas in former days it could only be obtained in pharmacies, for the benefit of the sick only. But (which should not be omitted) these lands when the Spanish first came had a total lack of useful animals to assist people, because there were no elephants, camels, horses, mules, asses, or other animals that can carry loads or give milk, except for one animal which the Spanish call the sheep of Peru, which we once saw in Mechelen. It has the size of a donkey and the shape of a camel, but somewhat more reddish}1587F, 1598F & 1598/1610/1613D end here.}