Text (translated from the 1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581 French, 1584 Latin, 1587 French, 1588 Spanish, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1598 Dutch, 1598 French, 1601L, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin edition)
46.1. {1579/1580L2Add{PICARDIA.
46.2. THe name of Picardia is not ancient, as stated by all who write about France, and none of them can present its origins or derivation. Cœnalis does not venture to say that it got its name from the Begardes. Belleforest flatly denies it, supposing <as he does> that the Picardes are more ancient than the Begardes. Some think they were named as they are after the warlike weapon called the Pike, which, as they imagine, was first invented here. It is certain that the province of Picardia was larger in former times <than it is now>. For we read that Artois, and a part of Flanders as far as the river Lis, <as well as> the county of Boulogne were all included under the name of Picardia. The region which is now properly called Picardia does not extend so far, as you can see on the Map.
46.3. This Region is part of Gallica Belgica, once inhabited by those from Amiens, Beauvais and Veromandois {not in 1598D{(or, as Ptolemæus calls them, Romandui}not in 1598D}. The river Somme which some think to be Ptolemæus' Phrudis, refreshes the whole country, and renders it fertile for all kinds of grain, {not in 1580/1589G, 1598D & 1602G{and the towns and cities too abound with all necessities}not in 1580/1589G, 1598D & 1602G}, for it yields so much wheat that it is called by a common saying The Barn or Granary of Paris. It has no vineyards, which defect some think is to be attributed to the laziness of the inhabitants, rather than to the inappropriateness of either the soil or the climate.
46.4. The cities here of prime importance are Amiens, {not in 1581F, 1587F, 1598D, 1598F & 1608/1612I{in Latin Ambianum}not in 1581F, 1587F, 1598D, 1598F & 1608/1612I}, famous both for <its> antiquity and its Episcopal see. It is surrounded by the river Somme, for which reason some fondly think it was named Ambianum, ab ambitu aquarum <= from the surrounding of waters> because it is surrounded by waters. It is one of the strongest towns in all of France. The common people think it to have been built by the soldiers of Alexander the Great. The diocese of Amiens includes Abbeville, which is a new name, as becomes clear from its derivation, {not in 1598D{which in Latin is Abbatis villa, that is The Abbots town, for out of an Abbey it increased in size to the greatness and shape of a city}not in 1598D}. It is now the main city of the county <of> Ponthieu, which region is so called a multitudine pontium, <= after its multitude of bridges>, because it is in many places infested by Marshes and Fens {1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F & 1602S only{of the sort that you cannot go there without bridges}1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1598F & 1602S only}.
46.5. Piquenie is also to be found in this province, built {1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L & 1609/1612/1641S only{if we are to believe this}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L & 1609/1612/1641S} as a standard town by a certain Pignon, an important soldier of Alexander the Great. Also in Vermandois you have the town of St. Quintin which many people suppose to have been Augusta Veromanduorum, the ancient seat of the Earls of Vermandois, and the chief <city> of that region. Who does not know about Peronne, so often spoilt in wars? Guise also seems to be a Fort against Lutzenburgh. From this the Guisian family derives its name. Other cities of less importance <there are>, such as Corbeil, Roye, Nelle, Han, Castelette, Mondidier &c.
46.6. In a little French pamphlet called Chemins de France, {1588S, 1602G & 1606E only{or the roads of France,}1588S, 1602G & 1606E only} Picardia is divided into three parts: The Lower, The Higher and Picardia proper, in which are contained the Regions of Vermandoys, Reteloys, Tartenoys and Tirasse {1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S only{which is much easier to use than by making up new Latin/German/Spanish}1579/1580L2Add, 1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S only} {1602G has instead{I prefer to mention these names in their native tongue, rather than make German names for them, for these places have also been entered in this map of ours with their proper names}1602G instead, which ends here}. Picardia proper, as it is called, is depicted in this Map of ours as well}1579/1580L2Add} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.