Chapter I: Preface

“An editor, or a translator, collects the merits
of different writers, and, forming all into a wreath,
bestows it on his author’s tomb.”—SHENSTONE.

The world is indebted to the late Professor Karl Friedrich Neumann, for having rendered the perusal of Johann Schiltberger’s travels generally accessible. Until his edition of the Heidelberg MS. appeared, in 1859, there had been no publication of the interesting work, in its integrity, since the year 1700, the supposed date of an edition, _sine anno, sine loco_; so that, as a fact, the work had become scarce, and could be consulted in a few libraries only, or in private collections of rare books. In 1813, and again in 1814, was published Abraham Jacob Penzel’s edition of what was known as the Nuremberg MS.; but its sole merit consisted in the insertion of Proper and Geographical names in their original orthography, the work being otherwise vitiated by its modern and paraphrased style, and by the introduction of passages, of which Schiltberger never could have been the author.

Scheiger[1] condemns this book as being written in a very extraordinary and uncommonly empty style, in which the narrative of the honest old Bavarian drags itself along very uncouthly. Tobler[2] stigmatises it as being an unhappy translation into modern German, with no Introduction; and Neumann,[3] a still severer critic, says:—“This edition, in its modern garb, does honour to nobody. The additions to the original text are absurd, and testify to the editor’s ignorance of Schiltberger’s character, and of the times in which he lived. Take, for instance, the following sentence, with which Penzel concludes the author’s address to the reader:—‘Just as the doctor smears with honey the glass of physic prepared for a sick child, so have I also, as an agreeable pastime, introduced here and there some wonderful stories which, I flatter myself, will prove agreeable and instructive reading.’” Neumann might have added, that Penzel was not even the originator of the idea conveyed in this passage, evidently borrowed from Tasso!

“Sai, che là corre il mondo, ove più versi
Di sue dolcezze il lusinghier Parnaso,
E che ’l vero condito in molli versi
I più schivi allettando ha persuaso.
Così all’ egro fanciul porgiamo aspersi
Di soave licor gli orli del vaso:
Succhi amari ingannato intanto ei beve,
E dall’ inganno suo vita riceve.”

_La Gerusalemme Liberata_, Can. I, iii.

In 1823 these travels were again published, in 8vo., at Munich; but this is a copy of which it would seem that very little is known.

Judging by the numerous editions of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, each issue being an almost exact transcript of the copy that preceded it, Schiltberger must have been a popular author during that period. One long blank occurs from 1557 to 1606, after which the book of travels was not again reprinted until 1700.

The version now offered is a literal translation of Neumann’s edition in mittelhoch Deutsch, an exact transcript of the Heidelberg MS., with the exception of a few errors that have been rectified, and slight alterations in the headings of some chapters. Neumann believes his book to be the first printed edition that faithfully represents what Schiltberger wrote, the wording in all previous editions having been changed to suit the language of the times. He has added an Introduction and Notes by himself, and Notes by Fallmerayer and Hammer-Purgstall; such of those Notes as are referred to in the new Notes at the end of this volume, appear in their proper places at foot in the text, each bearing the initial of the writer.

Koehler[4] finds fault very unsparingly with Neumann, whom he reproaches with neglect in not correcting and elucidating the wording of the text. Tobler, on the contrary, considers Neumann’s work more acceptable than Penzel’s unfortunate translation into modern German, because there is an Introduction, and the Oriental names employed by the author are explained.

The travels of Johann Schiltberger had never been translated into any tongue until Professor Bruun’s edition, in Russian, appeared at Odessa in 1866; although a somewhat free interpretation of the original, it has been of no small assistance to me where passages in the old German seemed obscure, as also in the identification of names. I am under a deep sense of gratitude to that learned gentleman, for having enriched my translation with a large number of most valuable and interesting Notes. They were supplied to me in French, and to ensure their faithful reproduction, my MS. in the first instance, and the proofs afterwards, were sent to Odessa, for the Professor’s corrections or alterations, and approval.

I have to express my thanks to Aly Bey Riza, Cadri Bey, and Rassek Bey of Alexandria, for their kind aid in simplifying the Turkish and Arabic sentences that occur in various chapters; to Mr. Mnatzakan Hakhoumoff, of Shousha, for making clear to me the several phrases in Armenian; and to Dr. Niccolo Quartano de Calogheras, of Corfu, for his explanation of customs and rites as they are now observed in the Greek Church. I am also desirous of acknowledging the courtesy of those gentlemen who have been good enough to reply to my enquiries, for information that would assist me in compiling a Bibliography of existing editions of Schiltberger’s travels; and it gives me much pleasure to name the Rev. Leo Alishan, Venice; Dr. K. A. Barack, Strasburg; the Rev. A. Baumgarten, at the Kremsmünster near Wels; Mr. A. Bytschkoff, St. Petersburg; Mr. E. Förstemann, Dresden; Mr. A. Gutenæker, Munich; M. Edouard Hesse, Paris; Professor Heyd, Stuttgard; Dr. M. Isler, Hamburg; Mr. J. Kraenzler, Augsburg; Professor Lepsius, Berlin; Dr. J. E. A. Martin, Jena; Dr. Noack, Giessen; Dr. Joh. Priem, Nuremberg; Dr. E. Ritter von Birk, Vienna; Dr. G. T. Thomas, Munich; and Professor Karl Zangemeister, Heidelberg; also the Principal Librarian of the public library at Frankfort, and of the Bibliotheca Medicea-Laurentiana at Florence. I have likewise to express my obligations to Colonel Yule, for some useful and timely hints, so readily given.

Many of the Proper and Geographical names that occur in the Notes, and they are very numerous, are spelled as they ordinarily appear in English works, the orthography of the rest being in accordance with their pronunciation by a Persian and an Armenian gentleman, who did me the favour to settle my doubts. It being impossible to produce certain sounds with vowels that are so variously pronounced in the English language, I have had recourse to giving a phonetic value to various letters, in some instances accentuating the word for the sake of stress, with the acute or grave accent as in the Greek. The apostrophe ’ denotes an independent but rather soft breathing of a letter.

_a_, as in hart.
_e_, as in met.
_g_, usually hard.
_o_, as in ozone.
_ou_, as in routine.
_u_, as in sum.
_y_, like _e_ in English, and sometimes _y_.
_tch_, like _ch_ in church.

LONDON,
_July_ 18_th_, 1879.

[1] _Taschenbuch für die vaterländische Geschichte.
Herausgegeben durch die Freyherren von Hormayr und von
Mednyansky._ Wien, 1827, p. 161.

[2] _Bibliographia Geographica Palæstinæ_, etc. Leipzig,
1867.

[3] In the Introduction to his edition of Schiltberger’s
Travels, 1859.

[4] _Germania_, etc., _herausgegeben von F. Pfeifer_,
viii. Wien, 1862, p. 371–380.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

MANUSCRIPTS.

1. A MS. of Schiltberger’s travels, undoubtedly of the fifteenth century, preserved in the University Library at Heidelberg and known as the Heidelberg MS., consists of ninety-six carefully and neatly written sheets of paper, in good style, and evidently the work of a professional scribe. It is about eight inches long by six inches broad, bound in leather, with bronze corner plates and clasps, and bears on the upper board a portrait in gold of the Elector, with the initials O. H.—P. C., Otto Heinrich—Palatinus Comes, and the date 1558. Another date, 1443, probably the year in which the MS. was written, appears inside the binding, which is beautifully ornamented with illustrations from the Old and New Testaments. This volume was included in the Palatine Library that was carried off by Tilly in 1621, and presented by Maximilian, duke of Bavaria, to Gregory XV. as a trophy of the Catholic cause. After the general peace of 1815, Pius VII. restored the collection to Heidelberg, at the instance of the King of Prussia.

2. The ducal library at Donaueschingen possesses a MS. on paper, of the fifteenth century, consisting of 134 leaves in sheepskin boards, with brass corner plates and clasps. The work is contemporary with the Heidelberg MS., or at all events not of a later period.

_First page._—ICh Johanns schiltperger zoch vsz von
miner haymat mit namen vs der Statt Múnchen gelegen
in Bayern in der czit als kúnig Sygmund zu vngern in
die haydenschafft zoch Das was als man zalt von Crists
gebúrt drwczehenhundert vnd in dem vier vnd núnczigisten
Järe mit ainem hern genant lienhart Richartinger vnd
kam vs der haydenschafft wider zu land Als man zalt von
Cristi gepúrt vierczehenhundert vnd in dem Súben vnd
zwainczigosten Jär, etc.

At the last page is the Pater Noster in the Armenian and Tatar tongues.[1]

3. Another MS. of Schiltberger’s travels, of the end of the fifteenth or of the early part of the sixteenth century, in the public library at Nuremberg, is entitled:[2]

Hanns Schiltperger von München ist auszgezogen da man
zalt 1394—wiedergekommen 1427.

_First page._—Ich Hanns Schiltperger pin von meine
Heymatt auszgezogen von der statt genandt Munchen die da
leyt zu päyren da man zalt von cristgepüret MCCCLXXXXIIII
und das ist gescheen da konig Sigmundt zu ungern in
die Haydenschafft zoch[2] und da zoch ich auss der
obgenannten stat gerennes weyss mit und bin wider zu land
chomen da ma zalt von crist gepurt M.CCCC.XXVII auss der
Haydenschafft und das ich In der zeitt erfaren han In der
Haydenschafft dat stet hernach geschreibenn Ich mag es
aber nicht alles vorschreyben das ich erfaren han Wann
ich es alles nicht Indechtig bin u. s. w.[3]

Concluding paragraph at the end.

Gott dem sey gedanckt das mir der macht und Krafft
gegeben hat und mich behüett vnd beschirmet hatt zwai
vnd dreyssig Jare die ich Hansz Schiltperger jnn der
Haidenschafft gewesen pin vnd alles das vorgeschreiben
stet erfaren vnd gesehen han.[4]

This MS. was formerly the property of Adamnanus Rudolph Solger, protestant pastor of the church of St. Laurence in Nuremberg, whose library was sold in 1766, for the sum of 15,000 florins, to the municipality of the free town of Nuremberg, and now forms part of the public library in that city. The MS. is bound in the same volume with others, and is thus described in Solger’s Catalogue.[5]

66. Ein starker Foliant von unterschiedlichen
Reissbeschreibungen: 1) Marcho Polo von Venedig ein Edler
Wandrer und Ritter ist ausgezogen A. 1230.[6] 2) Der
Heil. Vatter und Abt S. Brandon und mit seinen Brüdern
und mehr fahrt. 3) Der Edle Ritter und allervornehmste
Landfahrer Johannis de Monttafilla ist von Engelland
ausgezogen 1322, und wiederkommen 1330. 4) Der Heil.
Bruder Ulrich Friaul der minder Brüder Baarfüsser Orden
ein Mönch, ist ausgezogen und wiederkommen 1330. 5) Hanss
Schildberger ein wahrhaftig frommer Edelmann der ein
Diener ist gewesen des Durchlauchtigen Fürsten Albrecht
Pfalzgraf bey Rhein, ist von München ausgezogen 1394.

4. In 1488, a MS. of Schiltberger’s travels was in the possession of a Receiver of Revenue, named Matthias Bratzl, who caused it to be bound in one volume, with MSS. of Marco Polo, St. Brandon, Sir John Mandevile, and Ulrich of Frioul, and then wrote on the fly-leaf a note to the following effect:—“Having acquired the herein-named books, I have had them bound together, and have added a valuable and accurate map. Should the reader of these writings not know where the countries are, whose customs and habits are described, they are to look into the map. The map will also serve to complete what may be wanting in the books, and indicate the roads by which the travellers went. The map and the books quite agree. Whoever inherits this volume after my death, is to leave the different books together, and the map with them.” When Gottlieb von Murr, the distinguished bibliographer and antiquary (1733-1811), saw the volume, the map was missing.

This MS. was originally at Munich, but being sent to Nuremberg for the purpose of being published, was there kept in the city library. Schlichtegroll, the biographer, sanctioned the loan of it to Penzel, who turned its contents into modern German, producing the editions of 1813 and 1814. Penzel died at Jena in 1819, leaving his body to the anatomical theatre, his books to the public library, and all his debts to the grand-duke of Weimar. He had not returned the MS., and it was never afterwards recovered. Neumann thinks that it may have been in the author’s own handwriting.

[1] _Die Handschriften der Fürstlich-Fürstenbergischen
Hofbibliothek zu Donaueschingen. Geordnet and beschreiben
von_ Dr. K. A. Barack, Vorstand der Hofbibliothek.
Tübingen, 1865, p. 326.

[2] Communicated by Dr. Joh. Priem of Nuremberg.

[3] Completed from Panzer, _Annalen der älteren deutschen
Litteratur_ etc., 1788–1805, i, 41.

[4] Communicated by Dr. Joh. Priem of Nuremberg.

[5] _Bibliotheca sive supellex Librorum impressorum in
omni genere scientiarum maximam partem rarissimorum et
Codicum Manuscriptorum_ etc. Nuremberg.

[6] Printed by Anton Sorg, Augsburg, 1481.

PRINTED BOOKS.

(1.) _s.a._ _s.l._ fol. with woodcuts; 37 lines (?) in each page.

Printed, probably, by Günther Zainer, Ulm. 1473?

_Title._—Hie vahet an d Schildberger der vil wunders
erfaren hatt in der heydenschafft und in d türckey.

A copy of this edition is in the public library at Augsburg; another is at Munich, but in a very defective state.

This edition, believed to be the earliest, is mentioned by Panzer, Ebert, Kobolt, Brunet, Hain, Ternaux-Compans, and Grässe.

(2.) _s.a. s.l._ fol. with 15 woodcuts.

Forty-six leaves without pagination, register or catch-words; 33, 34, 35, or 36 lines in each page.

Printed, probably, by A. Sorg, Augsburg. 1475?

Ich Schildtberger zoche auss von meiner heimet mit Namen
auss der stat münchen gelegen in bayern in der zeyt als
künig Sigmund zu vngern in die heydenschafft zoch das was
als man zalt von christi geburt dreizechenhundert und an
dem vier und neüntzigesten Jar etc.

A copy at the British Museum is bound in one volume with duke Ernest of Bavaria; S. Brandon, abbot; and Ludolphus de Suchem. Another copy is in the public library, Munich.

(3.) _s.a. s.l._ Fifty-seven leaves.

Hyē vahet an der Schildtberger der vil wunders erfaren
hat in der heydenschafft vnd in d Türckey.

A copy at the public library, Munich, is bound in one volume with duke Ernest, and S. Brandon. A duplicate is defective. The imperial and royal library at Vienna also possesses a copy.

(4.) 1494. Frankfort. 4^o.

Mentioned by Tobler who quotes Grässe.

(5.) 1513.

Tobler mentions an edition of this date, being a reprint of Zainer’s edition, 1473?

(6.) _s.a._ J. v. Berg and U. Newber, Nuremberg. 4^o. with woodcuts. No pagination, but with catch-words.

_Title._—Ein wunderbarliche vnnd kürtzweylige Histori
wie Schildtberger einer auss der Stat München in Bayern
von den Türcken gefangen in die Heydenschafft gefüret
vnnd wider heymkommen Item was sich für krieg vnnd
wunderbarlicher thaten diervyl er inn der Heydenschafft
gewesen zugetragen gantz kürtzweylig zu lesen Nürmberg
durch Johann vom Berg Vnd Ulrich Newber.

Copies of this edition are in the royal library, Dresden, and the public library, Munich.

Mentioned by Ebert and Tobler.

(7.) 1549. Herman Gülfferich, Frankfort. 4^o. with 37 woodcuts. Seventy leaves; 32 lines in each page. No pagination, but with catch-words. Has a preface.

_Title._—Ein wunderbarliche vnd kurtzweilige History wie
Schildtberger einer auss der Stad München inn Beyern von
den Türcken gefangen inn die Heydenschafft gefüret vnnd
widder heimkommen ist sehr lüstig zu lesen. M.D.XLIX.

_Colophon._—Gedruckt zu Franckfurdt am Mayn durch Herman
Gülfferichen inn der Schnurgassen zu dem Krug.

Copies of this edition are in the British Museum, in the public library, Munich, and imperial public library, St. Petersburg.

Mentioned by Panzer, Ebert, Kobolt, Ternaux-Compans, Grasse, and Tobler.

(8.) 1549? Nuremberg. 4^o.

_Title._—Similar to that printed at Frankfort in 1549.

Mentioned by Panzer who quotes Meusel.

(9.) _s.a. s.l._ small 4^o.

Scheiger saw at Wels, in Austria, a copy which was supposed to be of the year 1551, and published at Munich. It was stated in a MS. marginal note, that Schiltberger was born at mid-day, on the 8th day of May.

(10.) _s.a._ Weygandt Han, Frankfort. 4^o. with 37 woodcuts, similar to those in the edition of 1549. Seventy leaves; 32 lines in each page. No pagination, but with catch-words. Has a preface.

_Title._—Ein wunderbarliche unnd kurtzweilige History Wie
Schildtberger einer auss der Stadt München in Beyern von
den Türcken gefangen in die Heydenschafft gefüret vnd
wider heimkommen ist sehr lüstig zu lesen.

_Colophon._—Gedruckt zu Franckfurdt am Mayn durch
Weygandt Han in der Schnurgassen zum Krug.

Copies of this edition are in the British Museum, where it is catalogued, 1554? In the royal library, Dresden; public library, Frankfort; public library, Hamburg; imperial public library, St. Petersburg.

Mentioned by Panzer, Ebert, and Tobler who says that the above Title, and the Title of the edition printed at Nuremberg by J. v. Berg and U. Newber (see 6), are identical!

(11.) 1557. Frankfort. 4^o.

_Title._—Gefangenschaft in der Türckey. (According to
Ternaux-Compans.)

(12.) 1606. J. Francke, Magdeburg. 4^o., with woodcuts.

_Title._—Eine wunderbarliche vnd kurtzweilige History,
Wie Schildtberger, einer aus der Stadt München in Bayern,
von den Türcken gefangen, in die Heydenschafft geführet,
vnd wider heymkommen ist, sehr lustig zu lesen.

A copy of this edition is in the library of the imperial university, Strasburg.

Mentioned by Freytag, Ebert, Kobolt, Tobler who quotes Grässe, and Ternaux-Compans from whom we learn of another edition—

(13.) 1606. Frankfort. 8vo.

_Title._—Reise in die Heydenschaft.

(14.) _s.a. s.l._

Supposed by Tobler to be of the year 1700.

(15.) 1813. Edited by A. J. Penzel. Munich, small 8vo.

_Title._—Schiltberger’s aus München von den Türken in der
Schlacht von Nicopolis 1395 gefangen, in das Heidenthum
geführt, und 1427 wieder heimgekommen. Reise in den
Orient und wunderbare Begebenheiten von ihm selbst
geschrieben. Aus einer alten Handschrift übersetzt und
herausgegeben von A. J. Penzel.

(16.) 1814. Edited by A. J. Penzel. Munich, small 8vo.

A copy of the last edition, with similar title-page.

(17.) 1823. Munich. 8vo.

_Title._—Sch. a. München v. d. Türken in d. Schlacht v.
Nicopolis 1395 in d. Heidenthum geführet u. 1417 (sic)
wieder heimgekommen, Reise in den Orient u. wunderb. Beg.
v. ihm. s. geschr.

Thus quoted by Grässe.

(18.) 1859. Edited by Prof. K. F. Neumann. Munich, small 8vo.

With Introduction and Notes by the editor, and Notes by Fallmerayer and Hammer-Purgstall.

_Title._—Reisen des Johannes Schiltberger aus München, in
Europa, Asia, und Afrika, von 1394 bis 1427. Zum ersten
Mal nach der gleichzeitigen Heidelberger Handschrift
herausgegeben und erläutert von Karl Friedrich Neumann.

In the copy of this edition at the Institut, Paris, are several loose sheets containing a resumé of the Travels, in MS., by D’Avezac.

(19.) 1866. Edited by Professor Philip Bruun. Odessa. 8vo.

_Title._—Pouteshestvy’ye Ivana Schiltbergera pa Yevrope,
Asii y Afrike, s. 1394 po 1427 god.

Published in the Records of the Imperial University of New Russia, vol. i.

This attempt at a Bibliography of the Travels of Johann Schiltberger is no doubt far from being complete; but I believe it to be the first of its sort. The details given by Bibliographers are not, in many cases, very explicit, and no little difficulty has been experienced in collecting desirable information, replies to enquiries not being always readily obtained.

According to Tobler, for instance, the university at Berlin possesses copies of six different editions; but my requests for particulars have not been successful—and so in other quarters.

Feci quod potui, faciant meliora potentes.