Text, one version only, translated from the 1579/1580L2Add, 1579L(AB), 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L, 1609/1612/1641S editions:
127.1. {1579/1580L2Add{The area{1606E instead{liberties}1606E instead} of {1580/1589G & 1602G only{the city of}1580/1589G & 1602G only} CREMONA.
127.2. That this city is very ancient everyone knows by that saying {1580/1589G & 1602G only{of the poet}1580/1589G & 1602G only}{1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1606E only{Vergilius,}1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1606E only} Mantua væ miseræ nimium vicina Cremonæ, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598F, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I only{[that is:] beware great Mantua, you are too near to poor Cremona}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1598F, 1602G, 1606E & 1608/1612I only}. Yet Titus Livius and others report it to have been reduced to a settlement of the Roman citizens sent there 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 Lombardy)}1606E only} under the Cenomanes, as Ptolemæus records, or in the tenth province of Italy as Plinius states, on the bank of the river Po. The soil is excellent ground, very fertile for all kinds of grain, and 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 additionally{Ottavianus}1608/1612I additionally} Cæsar being the winner, were given to the soldiers. Then again in the time of Vitellius, when after the battle of Bebriaco, 40,000 soldiers assaulted and sacked it. The company of freebooters and mean slaves was such, as Tacitus reports, that they had respect for nothing, whether it be profane or holy and burned it, {1606E only{[for] all was fish [to them] that came to the net}1606E only}. Only the church Memphitis, standing outside the walls, remained untouched, whether [this was] by divine providence or by the strength of the place, I do not know.
127.4. And it was spoilt again by the tyrannous Goths, then by the {1606E only{barbarous}1606E only} Lombards {not in 1606E{led by their king Gedulpho}not in 1606E} around the year 630 after Christ. Moreover it suffered the violent assault by Fredericus surnamed Aënobarbe {1606E additionally, 1608/1612I instead{or Barbarosso}1606E additionally, 1608/1612I instead} who tore down its walls, and levelled them to the ground. After this the civil wars between the Guelphs and Ghibellines 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 recover. Under their rule, it has since then prosperously and peacefully enjoyed the state of a flourishing commonwealth.
127.5. This city has a castle as strong as any other in Italy, most fearful to the enemy. There is also a tower of admirable height among the highest in Italy, famous [as expressed] in this common rhyme which they use: Vnus Petrus in Roma, vnus Portus in Ancona, vna turris in Cremona, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1602G, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead; 1606E only, 1608/1612I additionally{[that is:] One Peter in Rome, one harbour in Ancona, and one tower in Cremona}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1602G, 1602S & 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}. {1595L{The author of this very map has [also] published a book on the antiquities and worthy deeds of it}1595L, not in 1598F & 1602G}.
127.6. The territory {1606E instead{jurisdiction or liberties of the city}1606E instead} 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: Barletta is the most important city in Pugliano, Prato in Tuscany, 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 things necessary for people. For the soil of the territory of this town is very fertile, and still by the great diligence and industry of its farmers, it is daily improved.
127.9. Many brooks, well provided with various kinds of fish, water this province everywhere. Blondus writes that after Frederick Barbarossa had spoiled Cremona, he built Crema out of spite, to hinder and disgrace it [i.e. Cremona]. There are others, as Leander observes, who think it to have been built by the citizens of the city of Paratico, 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, 1588S, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{in memory of their native city [which had been] burnt and spoilt}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only}. But this I leave to the judgment of the prudent reader}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L(AB), 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S end here}.