The Naming of America. 213 



•will be seen in the sequel. I see not why any one can right- 

 fully forbid it to be called Amerige, or America as if the land 

 of Americus after Americus, its discoverer, a man of sagacious 

 mind, since both Europe and Asia have derived their names 

 from women." So long ago were men fearful that women 

 were getting more than their rights ! In the margin of this 

 note he printed the word America. 



The exact words of the St. Die cosmographer are as follows : 

 "Nunc vero et hte partes sunt latius lustratie, et alia quarta 

 pars per Americum Vesputium (ut in sequentibus audietur) 

 inventa est, quani non video cur quis jure vetet ab Americo 

 inventore, sagacis ingenii viro, Amerigen, quasi Araerici ter- 

 ram, sive Americam dicendam : cum et Europa et Asia a 

 mulieribus sua sortitas sint nomina. Ejus situm et gentium 

 mores et binis Americi navigationibus qua? sequuntur liquide 

 intelligi dant." 



This suggestion, according to our best knowledge, was the 

 first ever made for giving honor to Americus and a collective 

 name to his findings. It was published in 1507, on the 25th 

 of April, which is accordingly the birth-day of the American 

 name. But it never has been pretended that Americus knew 

 Hylacomylus or could by possibility have incited him to bring 

 forward his name. 



It is not to be forgotten that the name America was thus 

 proposed in 1507. This date refutes and renders ridiculous 

 the pretense that Americus first foisted the name into maps 

 when he was head of the Spanish cartological bureau, for he 

 was not appointed to that position till a year afterward. Could 

 lie be guilty of a sin that was committed before he was born? 

 No more than he could be guilty of Adam's sin. No more 

 than a preacher can be called to account for his hearers' naps 

 if they begin before he stands up for sermonizing. 



Besides, as already stated, the earliest map on which the 

 word America is inscribed, was made eight years after the 

 death of Americus, and that name was introduced on Spanish 

 maps later than any where else. 



