Texts: two versions, the first, scholarly text version has been translated from the 1570L(ABC), 1571L, 1573L(AB), 1574L and 1575L editions; the second, vernacular text derives from the 1571/1573D, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F editions)
9.1. {1570L(AC){The New World,
9.2. That this entire hemisphere (which is now called America, and with regard to its large size the New World) should lie concealed from our ancestors until the year of Christ 1492, at which time Christopher Columbus from Genoa first discovered it, is a matter which seems to surpass 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, then, 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 it 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. Marinæus Siculus wonders in his Spanish Chronicle that here an ancient coin with emperor Augustus' image on it was found in a gold mine. And to prove that this was true, he said it had been sent to the Pope by Ioannes Rufius [Giovanni Ruffo], archbishop of Consentia [Cosenza]. Some think that Seneca, in a fit of poetical fury, predicted the discovery of it in the following prophetic verses:
[in two columns:]
9.3. --venient annis
9.4. Sæcula feris, quibus Oceanus
9.5. Vincula rerum laxet & ingens
9.6. Pateat tellus, Typhisque nouos
9.7. Detegat Orbes,
9.8. Nec fit terris vltima Thyle
9.9. [adapted from 1606E], which reads in English:
9.10. Long from now the years will come,
9.11. When the Ocean shall dissolve
9.12. Nature's fixed bonds and bars.
9.13. Then huge lands shall appear,
9.14. Typhis shall then detect
9.15. New worlds, nor shall Thyle
9.16. Then restrict the paths of men. [as adapted from 1606E]
9.17. Also those Sibyllin verses which, as Jacobus Navarchus writes, were found in 1505 at the foot of the promontory of the Moon (commonly called Rochan de Sinna) on the ocean floor, engraved upon a square pillar, in the time of Emmanuel, king of Portugal:
9.18. Volventur saxa litteris & ordine rectis,
9.19. Cum videas Occidens, Orientis opes.
9.20. Gangus, Indus, Tagus, erit mirabile visu,
9.21. Merces commutabit suas uterque sibi.
9.22. which reads in English [adapted from the 1606 English edition]:
9.23. The stone with mystical letters shall be rolled
9.24. When West the treasures of the East shall see.
9.25. The Portuguese and Indians (a thing admired)
9.26. Shall transport their merchandise, desired by either part. [as adapted from 1606E].
{1573L(A){But this verse is not ancient, but written in our times, and not from the Sibyllines, but from comments upon them. Cæsar Orlando Iurisconsultus, basing himself on the writings of Gaspar Varrenus, which I later read myself, informed me about this in Rome (which I entered when preparing the second edition of our Theatrum). Later, I found it confirmed that in the time of Emanuël, king of Portugal, a certain Hermes Caradus of that country, caused them to be engraved in marble, 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 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 skillful he was in deluding his friends}1573L(A)}.
9.27. 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 or demi-isles, connected by a narrow isthmus. The Northern peninsula of the two contains New Spain, the province of Mexico, the country of Florida and New-foundland. The Southern one, (which the Spaniards call Terra firma) contains Peru and Brazil. Those who are studious in geography may read descriptions of all those regions in Levinus Apollonius, Peter Martyr of Milan, and in Maximilianus Transylvanus, who wrote in Latin about them. For our purpose, there also seems to be more in the Epistles by the Jesuits. And Postel announces Comments on Atlantic matters.
9.28. The authors that here follow have all specifically written about America, but all in their native language, for the most part Spanish, but more than half of them have been translated into Italian.
9.29. Cieça, Pedro de Léon,
9.30. Oviedus, Gonsalvus Fernandus or Ovetanus,
9.31. Ferdinand Cortez,
9.32. Pedro [de] Alvaredo,
9.33. Diegus Godoyus,
9.34. Alveres Nunnez,
9.35. Guzman, Nunnius, also called Pintianus,
9.36. Ulloa, Francisco,
9.37. Vasquez, Francisco,
9.38. Mendez, Antonio,
(next column:)
9.39. Frater Marco di Nizza ,
9.40. Alarcon, Fernando,
9.41. Xeresius, Franciscus ,
9.42. Verrazzano, Giovanni,
9.43. Vespucci, Amerigo,
9.44. Lopez de Gomara, Franciscus,
9.45. Benzo, Hieronymus, {1570L(B) only{in Italian}1570L(B) only}
9.46. Cartier, Jacques, &
9.47. Thevet, André, who wrote in French,
9.48. Staden, Hans, in German.}1570L(ABC), 1571L, 1573L(AB), 1574L and 1575L end here}.
Now the vernacular texts of the 1571/1573 Dutch, 1572/1573 German & 1572/1574 French edition will be presented:
9.49. {1571D{The New World.
9.50. That this half of the entire world (which is called America) should have been 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 knowing and 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 and explore new regions, on the other hand the insatiable avarice of mankind, leaving nothing unattempted to attempt with all kinds of tricks and with persistent labour to attain the gold with which these regions naturally abound incredibly, I have often wondered how it could have remained hidden from our world so long.
9.51. There are some who suppose that this continent was described by Plato under the name Atlantis. Some think that Seneca predicted its discovery in the following verses in his Tragedies: Venient annis, etc. which we translate as follows:
9.52. Many Years from now
9.53. A Time will come
9.54. When Neptune will produce a vast country
9.55. For everyone to see.
9.56. The Sea will dissolve it,
9.57. This fine and new Land;
9.58. And the darkest part of the World
9.59. will no longer be Iceland.
9.60. Also those Sibyllin {1572/1573G{prophetic}1572/1573G} verses which, (as Jacobus Navarchus writes) in the year 1505, were found in Portugal at Rochan de Sinna on the ocean floor, engraved upon a square pillar, beginning with Voluentur saxa, etc. which translated is this:
9.61. The stone with perfect letters shall be read
9.62. When West the treasures of the East shall see.
9.63. The Ganges, Indus and Tagus, (a thing admired)
9.64. Shall offer to each other their merchandise.
9.65. Marinæus Siculus also writes that in these new lands an ancient gold 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 Joannes Rufius, Bishop of Cosenza which should demonstrate that it was already 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.
9.66. 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. The shape of this America seems to be that from North to South, it stretches in the form of two islands, connected by a very narrow piece of land. The Northern part of the two contains New Spain, Florida, Terra Nova [New-foundland] and some other areas. The Southern part contains Peru and Brazil etc.
9.67. 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 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 pieces of evidence from which it is clear that I speak the truth.
9.68. In the first place 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.
9.69. In the same Peru the Spanish, (as they have put on record), their horses, {1572/1573G{when they first arrived there}1572/1573G} because of lack of 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.
9.70. 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 in great quantities by gluttonous people, whereas in former days it could only be obtained in pharmacies, for the benefit of the sick (so to speak) only, so that now it is used as food which previously was taken as a medicine. But (which should not be omitted) these lands (before the Spanish first came) had a total lack of useful animals to assist people, because there were no elephants, camels, corses, mules, asses, or any 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 of a somewhat reddish colour}1571/1573Dutch, 1572/1573G & 1572/1574F end here}.