At the expiration of three months, our author and his comrades were sent to Kilia at the estuary of the Danube. Hence Johann Schiltberger easily found his way to his native country, where he arrived some time in the year 1427, offering thanks to Almighty God for his escape “from the Infidel people and their wicked religion”, and for having preserved him from “the risk of perdition of body and soul”.
[1]I regret that two applications to the library at Wels for the fullest particulars with reference to this marginal note, have been unsuccessful.
[2]For notices on the Schiltberger family, see Monumenta Boica, iii, 170; vi, 532, 538; vii, 137; viii, 150, 504; ix, 93, 577; and many other records in this collection. Also Hund’s Bayrischen Stammbuche, i, 332, ii, 108, 478; Meichelbeck’s Historia Fris., ii, 43, etc.
[3]Neuwe Chronica Türckischer nation von Türcken selbs beschreiben etc., Franckfurt am Mayn, 1590, iii, 207.
[4]Berichtigung der orientalischen Namen Schiltberger’s, in Denkschriften der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München, für Jahre 1823 und 1824. Band ix.
[5]“Joannes Schildtperger tum puer, Monachi oppido Bojariæ ortus, captus, ob elegantiam formæ a filio Basaitis servatus, in aula Turcarum educatus et victo Basaite a Tamerlano rege Persarum, arma victoris secutus est, et tandem mortuo Tamerlane in patriam postliminio reversus a Cubiculo Alberto avo Principum nostrorum fuit. etc.”—Annalib. p. m., 805.
[6]Gouria, according to Professor Bruun.
[7]Batoum, according to Professor Bruun.