Text, one scholarly version only, translated from the 1590 Latin 4 Add, 1591 German 4 Add., 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1598 French, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612 Latin and 1609/1612/1641 Spanish edition:
138.1. {1590L4Add{APRVTIVM, {1606E{now called ABRVZZO}1606E}.
138.2. In the kingdom of Naples there is a province which the common people call Abruzzo, the Romans anciently named it Aprutium. Why it was called by that name is uncertain, but I am certain that it did not take its name from the Brutij, as some think. Others think it was named like this ab apris, {1591G4Add, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{[that is] after boars}1591G4Add, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only}, because this country, being forest-like and full of woods, swarms with wild hogs. Others [again] derive it ab asperitate montis Apenini, {1591G4Add, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead{[that is] after the cragginess of the mountain range Apeninus}1591G4Add, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead} which in this area is very hideous, steep and high. Most {1606E instead{the greater and better sort of}1606E instead} writers believe that in some part of it the ancient name of Prętutiana as yet remains.
138.3. For Volaterranus, Blondus, Dominicus Niger, Leander and Scipio Mazella are convinced that the Samnites {1591G4Add & 1602G only{peoples of Italy who formerly lived between Campania, Piceno & Apulia}1591G4Add & 1602G only} (and among them the Prętutiani), the Peligni, Marucini, Ferentini, Vestini, Marsi, Caraceni and Albaneses have formerly inhabited these places. It is bounded now on its North side by the Hadriatic sea, on the West by the river Tronto, anciently called Truentum, on the East by the river Fortore, formerly called Frento, on the South it has [the] mountain range Apennine, although it extends itself in some places beyond it.
138.4. This province was divided by Alphonsus the Stout, king of Arragon into two parts, Abruzzo the Lower and Abruzzo the Higher. Abruzzo the Higher which we have depicted separately by itself on this map is separated from the Lower by the river Pescara which old writers called Aternus. Scipio Mazella in his very accurate description of the kingdom of Naples says that this country is by location and nature of the place very strong, and inhabited by a stout and sturdy nation, and that their soil is very fertile for wines and cattle.
138.5. Its chief cities are Aquila, Interamno {1606E & 1608/1612I instead{or Teramo}1606E & 1608/1612I instead}, {1595L, not in 1602G{Amatrica}1595L, not in 1602G}, Atria [and] Pinna. And a long time ago here stood Amiterno and Furconio, both now gone, yet, from their ruins and ashes Aquila was built some five miles from there, erected on the top of a hill, as Volaterranus and others have written. This city is situated in a place most fertile in all kinds of necessary things, so that the cabbages here {not in 1598F(cauli caputij they call them)}not in 1598F} often weigh, as Mazella reports, some thirty, or even some forty pounds.
138.6. And therefore Martialis was quite right in saying that Nos Amiternus ager felicibus educat hortis, {1591G4Add, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{[that is:] In Amiternoes' fertile fields we happily live and spend our days}1591G4Add, 1598F, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only}. The fields in front of this city yield such quantities of saffron that they yearly make [a profit] on it of 40,000 ducats. Once a year a great fair is held here for the people who live in this area. It has 110 churches. Near this city, as Blondus says, is a stone from under which a stream of oil runs which they call stone oil {1590L4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1603L & 1609/1612L only{Petronicum}1590L4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1603L & 1609/1612L only}{1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Petroleum}1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S instead}, and this oil is desired and sought after by many, but it is more collected by and sent to {1606E instead{more esteemed by}1606E instead} the Germans and Hungarians than by the Italians themselves.
138.7. The same Blondus records that the country people showed him a pear tree growing on a hill not far from the head of the river {1606E only{Pescara or}1606E only} Aterno sticking up to such an extent, that the water that falls onto this tree is divided into three parts, which grow into three great rivers, [the] Velino, Tronto and Aterno {1606E has instead, 1608/1612I additionally{Pescara}1606E instead, 1608/1612I additionally}, [each] running their three separate ways. Amiterno, in former times an excellent city, famous in histories and the native country of Salustius the noble historian, can hardly be located now.
138.8. Yet Blondus says that some remnants of their theatre, churches and turrets are still to be seen. Mazella confirms that the temple of Saturnus still remains, [as well as] the tomb of Drusus' daughter and a triumphant [scene] of the Samnites, engraved in marble, a memorial of their happy victory obtained against the Roman army at furcae Caudinae. Teramo, a long time ago called Interamnia [between the rivers] because it is situated between the three rivers Fiumicello, Trontino and Vitiole, is the main city of this province. Its bishop is graced with many titles and dignities, and the lord of the soil is called the duke {1606E only{of Teramo}1606E only}. Adria, the ancient settlement of the Romans is now called Atri.
138.9. Some think that emperor Hadrianus was born here, and derived his name from this area, as did the Hadriatic sea, {1606E only{now called Mare superum, the higher sea, [or] the Gulf or Bay of Venice}1606E only}. Furconium was once a famous bishopric, whose bishops are often mentioned in the councils and synods held 800 years ago at Rome and other places in Italy. Nowadays, it is hardly mentioned any more {Latin editions, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{for it was destroyed by the Lombards}Latin editions, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only}, and its bishops See was from there removed to Aquila by pope Alexander the fourth.
138.10. The [coat of] arms of this country, as Scipio Mazella writes, is a crowned argent eagle, standing upon three mounts of gold in an Azure {not in 1598F, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S{or Cyan}not in 1598F, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S} field. Whoever wishes to know more about this country, let him resort to the authors mentioned before}1591L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S end here}, who no doubt will be fully satisfactory}1598F, 1606E end here}.