Text (translated from the 1579/1580 Latin 2nd Add., 1579 Latin, 1580/1589 German, 1581 French, 1584 Latin, 1587 French, 1588 Spanish, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1598 Dutch, 1598 French, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish, and 1609/1612 Latin edition).
38.1. {1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L only{PICTAVIA,}1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1592L, 1595L, 1602G, 1603L only}{other editions have instead{POICTOV}other editions; 1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S have both}
38.2. Among the people of Aquitanica some are called Pectones by Ptolemæus and Plinius. By Cæsar and Strabo <they are called> Pictones, {not in 1609/1612L{with an i in the first syllable}not in 1609/1612L}, and Ammianus Marcellinus <calls them> Pictauos. {1595L, not in 1598D, 1598F & 1602G{Ausonius calls the country Pictonicam regionem}1595L, not in 1598D, 1598F & 1602G}, but later writers call it in Latin Pictauia. The inhabitants in their own language call themselves Poicteuins, the region Poictou, and the main city Poictiers which perhaps is the same as Ptolemæus' Augustoritum. {not in 1598D{The opinion of those who say it was thus named after the Picts I consider altogether a fable, for from the classical writers it is clear that Pictones is a more ancient name than Picti}not in 1598D}. Poictou is now divided into Lower and Upper Poictou. The Lower Poictou we call that <region> which ends Westwards at the sea of Aquitaigne{1608/1612I has instead{Guascogna}1608/1612I instead}, and the Upper, which lies Eastwards towards Tourain and Berry. South, it borders on Xantoigne, Angolesme and Limousin, and North on Bretaigne and Anjou.
38.3. It is a country most fertile for corn and cattle, rich in wheat and wine, and abounding with fish. <Of> wild fowl and beasts there are plenty, and for that reason there is much hunting and hawking {1581F, 1587F & 1598F only{and fishing}1581F, 1587F & 1598F only}.
38.4. This region contains 1200 Dioceses or rather Parishes under three Bishoprics, namely Poictiers, Luçon and Maillezais {1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L only{as they are commonly called}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L only}. The main cities next to these are, as the inhabitants call them, Roche-sur-Yon, Talmont, Meroil, Vouuant, Meruant, Bressuire, Lodun <and> Fontenay le Conte, all of which are in Upper Poictou. In the Lower there are Nyort, Partenay, Touars, Moncontoul, Hernault, Mirebeau, Chastelleraudt &c. The head of all these is Poictiers which next to Paris is the main city of all France, and is mostly surrounded by the river Clain. The antiquity of this town becomes sufficiently clear from its <Amphi->Theatre (commonly called Arenas) as also from the Palace of Gallienus, and the Arches of Waterconducts still extant, {not in 1598D{which the inhabitants call Arceaux de Parigné}not in 1598D}, all <of> which are Monuments of the Roman government of this place.
38.5. {not in 1598D{However, before their arrival this city was located on another plot of ground, as may be gathered from the writings of Ammonius and Adonis, for they mention a place called Old Poictiers, where the division was made between the kingdoms of Charlemaigne and Pepin {1588S has instead{Philipe}1588S instead}, King of the Franks. {1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I only{Also on this Map at the very same river Clain towards Chastellerault you may see a place called Vieu Poictiers, that is to say Old Poictiers}1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1606E & 1608/1612I only}. The town of Talmont or rather Talon du Monde {1602G & 1606E only{(The heel of the World)}1602G & 1606E only} is so called by the French because it stands at the utmost border of this country {not in 1580/1589G{towards the Ocean}not in 1580/1589G}, and therefore it was to be considered the most extreme part of the World}not in 1598D}.
38.6. Opposite the shore of Poictou are these islands: Oleron {not in 1598D{(by Plinius called Vliarius)}not in 1598D} at the mouth of the river Charente, {not in 1598D{called Charentonus fluvius by Ausonius, and Canentelum by Ptolemæus}not in 1598D}. <Also> L'Isle de Rez, {1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F, 1598D, 1602S, 1603L & 1608/1612I only{opposite Rochel,}1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F, 1598D, 1602S, 1603L & 1608/1612I only} {1579/1580L2Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L & 1602G have instead{Rupella}1579/1580L2Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L & 1602G instead}, abounding with wine after which it has been named. {not in 1580/1589G{<Then> the isle of Noir or Marmonstier, which yields plenty of salt}not in 1580/1589G}. <Then> the isle of Aulonne which on this Map is rather a Peninsula. It abounds with wine and salt, as does another small island called Chauet.
38.7. The Map also presents to you L'Isle de Dieu {1602G & 1606E only{or God's isle,}1602G & 1606E only} and one which is called Nostre-dame de Bouin. <It is> by Saint Hillary, the Apostle of Aquitaigne, <as> Ecclesiastical Writers say, that this region was converted to Christianity. A more exact description of it may be found in {not in 1598D{the Cosmography of}not in 1598D} Belleforest, {not in 1598D{who will refer you from himself to}not in 1598D} Ioannes Bouchet's {not in 1598D{Chronicle of Aquitaigne.
38.8. Something you may learn from}not in 1598D} {not in 1579/1580L2Add, 1580/1589G & 1602G{Antonius Pinetus' {not in 1598D & 1598F{description of Cities}not in 1579/1580L2Add, 1580/1589G, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G}. Thevet {1581F & 1587F only{Cosmography}1581F & 1587F only} should also be consulted}1579L, 1581F, 1588S, 1592L & 1602G end here}. {1595L, not in 1598D & 1598F{Ioannes de la Haye also wrote a specific Treatise in French about this region}1595L, not in 1598D & 1598F} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.