Decades of the New World

Decades of the New World (Latin: De orbe novo decades; Spanish: Décadas del nuevo mundo), by Peter Martyr d'Anghiera, is a collection of eight narrative tracts recounting early Spanish exploration, conquest and colonization of the New World, exploration of the Pacific, and related miscellany. The first four of these tracts were first published disjointly in three volumes in 1511, 1516, and 1521. All eight tracts were first anthologized, that is, first published as the completed Decades of the New World collection, in 1530. Being among the earliest histories of the Age of Discovery, the Decades are of great value to the history of geography and discovery.

Decades of the New World
Title page of 1530 De orbe novo (1st ed.).

1511 P. Martyris angli mediolanensis opera Legatio babylonica Oceani decas Poemata Epigrammata [1st dec.]
1516 Anglerius Petrus Martyr De Orbe Novo Decades [1st–3rd dec.]
1521 De nuper sub D. Carolo repertis insulis, simulq[ue] incolarum moribus, r. Petri Martyris Enchiridion, dominae Margaritae, divi Max. caes. filiae dicatum [4th dec.]
1530 De orbe nouo Petri Martyris ab Angleria Mediolanensis Protonotarij Cesaris senatoris decades [1st–8th dec.]

AuthorPeter Martyr d'Anghiera
CountrySpain, Switzerland
LanguageLatin
DisciplineOfficial, narrative history
Publisher
Jacobo Cromberger, Arnao Guillén de Brocar, Adam Petri, Michaelis de Eguia
Published1511–1530
Published in English1555–1612
Media typePrint
No. of books4

History

In 1530 the eight Decades were published together for the first time at Alcalá. Later editions of single or of all the Decades appeared at Basel (1533), Cologne (1574), Paris (1587), and Madrid (1892). A German translation was published in Basle in 1582; a French one by Gaffarel in Recueil de voyages et de documents pour servir à l'histoire de la Geographie (Paris, 1907).

The first three decades were translated into English by Richard Eden and published in 1555 (found in Arber's The first three English books on America Birmingham, 1885), thus beginning the genre of English discovery travel writing, which stimulated English exploration of the New World.[1] Eden's translations were reprinted with supplementary materials in 1577 by Richard Willes under the new title, The historie of travayle into the West and east Indies. Richard Hakluyt had the remaining five decades translated into English by Michael Lok and published in London in 1612.

Contents

The Decades describe the early contacts of Europeans and Native Americans derived from narratives of the voyages of Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean, reports from Hernán Cortés's Mexican expedition, and other such resources. They consisted of eight reports, two of which Martyr had previously sent as letters describing the voyages of Columbus, to Cardinal Ascanius Sforza in 1493 and 1494. In 1501 Martyr, as requested by the Cardinal of Aragon, added eight chapters on the voyage of Columbus and the exploits of Martin Alonzo Pinzón. In 1511 he added a supplement giving an account of events from 1501 to 1511. By 1516 he had finished two other Decades:

Table

Contents of Decades of the New World.[3][n 1]
Decade Length Contents Written Published Colophon OCLC Note
First 10 lib. 128 pp.
  • on first three Columbus voyages
  • on New World
  • on Hispaniola colony
  • on other non-Columbus voyages
14 May 1493 – Dec. 1510 Apr. 1511 Hispali: Jacobu[m] Corumberger alemanu[m] 744565159 Originally denominated Oceani decas. Revised in 1516 edition. Plagiarized translation of incomplete 1501 draft published 1504.[n 2]
Second 10 lib. 86 pp.
  • on Middle American voyages
  • con Darién colonization
1514 9 Nov. 1516 Alcala: contubernio Arnaldi Guillelmi 1046912819
Third 10 lib. 127 pp.
  • on last Columbus voyage
  • on Balboa voyages
  • on Pedrarias Dávila expedition
  • on Hispaniola
  • on Darién
1514–1516 9 Nov. 1516 Alcala: contubernio Arnaldi Guillelmi 1046912819
Fourth 10 lib. 47 pp.
  • on Yucatán expeditions
  • on Mesoamerica
  • on Hispaniola
  • on Darién
1520 1521 Basileae: [Adam Petri] 824268303
Fifth 10 lib. 149 pp.
  • on Cortés conquest
  • on Tenochtitlan
  • on Magallanes circumnavigation
1521–1523 Dec. 1530 Compluti: Michaele[m] d[e] Eguia 1334839188
Sixth 10 lib. 27 pp.
  • on southern Central America
  • on Maluku Islands controversy
1524 Dec. 1530 Compluti: Michaele[m] d[e] Eguia 1334839188
Seventh 10 lib. 78 pp.
  • on Cortés rivalry
  • on conquistadors
  • on cosmography
  • on Hispaniola
1524 Dec. 1530 Compluti: Michaele[m] d[e] Eguia 1334839188
Eighth 10 lib. 85 pp.
  • on Cortés rivalry
  • on Mesoamerica
  • on other voyages
  • on Maluku Islands
1524–1525 Dec. 1530 Compluti: Michaele[m] d[e] Eguia 1334839188

Editions

  • P. Martyris ab Angleria Mediolonensi. Opera: Legatio babylonica; Occeanea decas; Poemata. Impressum Hispali (Seville): per Jacobu(m) Corumberger alemanu(m), 1511 (Includes only first Decade).
  • Petri Martyris. De orbe novo Decades. In illustri oppido Carpetanae p(ro)vinciae Co(m)pluto quod vulgariter dicitur Alcala: in contubernio Arnaldi Guillelmi, 1516 (Includes only first three Decades).
  • Petri Martyris ab Angleria Mediolanensis protonotarij Cęsaris senatoris. De orbe novo decades. Compluti: apud Michaele(m) de Eguia, 1530 (First complete edition).
  • Petri Martyris ab Angleria Mediolanen. De rebus oceanicis & Orbe nouo decades tres Apud Ioannem Bebelium (Basileae), 1533.
  • Peter Martyr of Angleria. The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India, conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and Ilandes lately founde in the west Ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne […]. Wrytten in the Latine tounge and translated into Englysche by Rycharde Eden. Londini (London): in ædibus Guilhelmi Powell, 1555.
  • Peter Martyr d'Anghiera, De orbe novo, translated from the Latin with notes and introduction by Francis Augustus MacNutt (2 vol.), Putnam (New York), 1912.
  • Peter Martyr d'Anghiera, Decadas del nuevo mundo, 1944.
  • Petrus Martyr de Anghieria, Opera: Legatio Babylonica, De Orbe novo decades octo, Opus Epistolarum, Graz: Akademische Druck- U. Verlagsanstalt, 1966 ISBN 3-201-00250-X

Table

Select editions of Decades of the New World.[4][n 3]
Title Contents Collaborator Colophon Date Language OCLC Note
Libretto de tutta la nauigatione de Re de Spagna, de le Isole et terreni nouamente trouati partial 1st dec. Angelo Trevisan, Albertino Vercellese Venesia: Albertino da Lisona vercellese 10 Apr. 1504 Italian Plagiarized in 1501 from incomplete Latin draft copy.[n 4]
Paesi nouamente retrouati et Nouo Mondo da Alberico Vesputio Florentino intitulato partial 1st dec. Francanzano da Montalboddo Vicentia: impensa de Mgro Henrico Vicentino 3 Nov. 1507 Italian 29137136 First reprint of plagiarized 1504 edition.[n 5]
Itinerariu[m] Portugalle[n]siu[m] e Lusitania in India[m] [et] inde in occidentem [et] demum ad aquilonem partial 1st dec. Archangelo Madrignani [Mediolani: Giovanni Angelo Scinzenzeler] 1 Jun. 1508 Latin 9088072846 First Latin translation of 1507 edition.
Neuwe umbekanthe landte und ein new weldte in kurtz verganger zeythe erfunden partial 1st dec. Jobst Ruchamer Nüreinbergk: mich Georgen Stüchssen 20 Sep. 1508 German First German translation of 1507 edition.[n 6]
Paesi nouamente ritrouati & Nouo Mo[n]do da Alberico Vesputio Florentino intitulato partial 1st dec. Milano: Jo. Jacobo et fratelli da Lignano 17 Nov. 1508 Italian First reprint of 1507 edition.[n 7]
Nye vnbekande Lande Unde eine nye Werldt in korter vorgangener Tyd gefunden partial 1st dec. Henning Ghetelen, Jobst Ruchamer Nüreinberch: my Jürgen Stüchssen 18 Nov. 1508 German 9811828300 Second German translation of 1507 edition.[n 8]
S’ensuyt le Nouveau monde et navigations faictes par Émeric de Vespuci, Florentin, des pays et isles nouvellement trouvez, auparavant à nous incongneuz, tant en l’Éthiope que Arrabie, Calichut et aultres plusier régions estranges partial 1st dec. Mathurin du Redouer Paris: de P. Le Noir 1510 French 1100239410 First French translation of 1507 edition.
P[etrus] Martyris angli mediolanensis opera Legatio babylonica Oceani decas Poemata Epigrammata 1st dec. Hispali: Jacobu[m] Corumberger alemanu[m] Apr. 1511 Latin 744565159 First edition to contain the complete first decade.
Paesi nouame[n]te ritrouati [et] Nouo Mondo da Alberico Vesputio Florentino intitulato partial 1st dec. Milano: Io. Iacobo & Fratelli da Lignano 1512 Italian Second reprint of 1507 edition.[n 9]
S’ensuyt le Nouveau Monde & navigations: faictes par Emeric de Vespuce, Florentin, des pays & isles nouvellement trouvez, auparavant a nous incongneuz tant en lethiope que Arrabie, Calichut et aultres plusier régions estranges partial 1st dec. Paris: veuve de Jean I Trepperel et Jean Jehannot 1515 French 1254656851 Second French translation of 1507 edition.
Anglerius Petrus Martyr De Orbe Novo Decades 1st–3rd dec. Alcala: contubernio Arnaldi Guillelmi 9 Nov. 1516 Latin 1046912819 First edition to contain second and third decades.
De nvper svb D. Carolo repertis insulis, simulq[ue] incolarum moribus, r. Petri Martyris Enchiridion, dominae Margaritae, divi Max. caes. filiae dicatum 4th dec. Basileae: [Adam Petri] 1521 Latin 824268303 First edition to contain fourth decade.
De orbe nouo Petri Martyris ab Angleria Mediolanensis Protonotarij Cesaris senatoris decades all dec. Compluti: Michaele[m] d[e] Eguia Dec. 1530 Latin 1334839188 First edition to contain all eight decades.
The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India 1st–3rd dec. Richard Eden Londini: Guilhelmi Powell 1555 English 671311867 First English edition to contain first three decades.
De nouo orbe, or the historie of the west Indies all dec. Michael Lok, Richard Eden London: [by Thomas Dawson] for Thomas Adams 1612 English 367981073 First complete English edition.
Fuentes históricas sobre Colón y América all dec. Joaquín Torres Asensio Madrid: San Francisco de Sales 1892 Spanish 697768851 First complete Spanish edition.
Décadas del nuevo mundo all dec. Agustín Millares Carlo, Edmundo O'Gorman, Joseph H. Sinclair México: José Porrúa e Hijos 1964–1965 Spanish 79175629 First complete Mexican edition.

See also

Notes

  1. Page count as per 1907 French edition OL 18050571W.
  2. First seven liberi plagiarised in Albertino Vercellese, Libretto de tutta la navigazione de Re de Spagna, de le Isole et terreni novamente trovati, Venezia per Albertino da Lisona vercellese, 10 April 1504 (1st ed.). First reprinted in Francenzo da Montalboddo, Paesi Nouamente retrouati et Nouo Mondo da Alberico Vesputio Florentino intitulato, Vicentia cu[n] la impensa de Mgro Henrico Vicentino, 3 November 1507. Thereafter widely translated and reprinted, including translations from the plagiarized Venetian language into Latin. Cro 2003, pp. 48-52, argues this 1511 edition was not unauthorised.
  3. Including plagiarized editions.
  4. Copy in John Carter Brown Library, call no. R H490.P853q. First facsimile of this copy published 1929, Lawrence C. Wroth editor, OCLC 3877063. Trevisan's manuscript translations, made in 1501, rediscovered in 1892 (in library of Sneyd of Newcastle, son of Rev. Walter Sneyd of London) and published by Guglielmo Berchet in the 1892 Raccolta di documenti e studi pubblicati dalla R. Commissione colombiana, pt. 3, vol. 1, pp. 46–82, OCLC 1086578217.
  5. Copy in John Carter Brown Library, call no. H507.P126n.
  6. Digitized copy in John Carter Brown Library, call no. 1-SIZE H508.P126n3.
  7. Copy in John Carter Brown Library, call no. H508.P126n2.
  8. Copy in John Carter Brown Library, call no. 1-SIZE H508.P126n1.
  9. Copy in John Carter Brown Library, call no. H512.P126n.
  1. Parks 1928, pp. 21, 23.
  2. Gerbi & Moyle 2010, p. 53, n. 10.
  3. León Cázares 2012 pp. 182–195; Cro 2003 pp. 15–16, 22, 37, 45-46, 50-58, 62.
  4. León Cázares 2012 pp. 182–195; Cro 2008 paras. 1, 3, incl. para. 3 link; Reed 1965 sec. 6 entitled "Petro Martire d'Anghiera."

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hartrig, Otto (1910). "Peter Martyr d'Anghiera". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

  • Cro, Stelio. "La Princeps y la cuestión del plagio del De Orbe Novo." In Cuadernos para investigación de la literatura hispánica (Journal), vol. 28, pp. 15-240. Madrid: Fundación Universitaria Española, 2003.
  • Cro, Stelio. "Joan Apple and the Naming of America." In I found it at the JCB (Blog). Providence: John Carter Brown Library, 2008.
  • Gerbi, Antonello, and Jeremy Moyle. Nature in the New World: From Christopher Columbus to Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2010.
  • León Cázares, María del Carmen. "Pedro Mártir de Anglería." In Rosa Camelo and Patricia Escandón, eds. Historiografía mexicana: la creación de una imagen propria: la tradición española: historiografía civil, vol. 2, pt. 1, pp. 164-196. Mexico City: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2012.
  • Parks, George Bruner. Richard Hakluyt and the English Voyages. New York: American Geographical Society, 1928.
  • Reed, Richard B. "Discovery: An Exhibition of Boks Relating to the Age of Geographical Dixcovery and Exploration Prepared for the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Society for the History of Discoveries." In Lilly Library Publications Online (Blog). Bloomington: Lilly Library, Indiana University, 1965.
  • Wagner, Henry. "Peter Martyr and His Works." In Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society (Journal), vol. 56, iss. 2, pp. 239-288. Worcester: American Antiquarian Society, 1947.
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