DESCRIPTION OF A VOYAGE

to

CONSTANTINOPLE

and

EGYPT,

by

NICOLAUS SCHMIDT.

1605.

An ornate woodcut initial 'I' decorated with leaves and vines within a square border.
In the year 1605, when that heavy war was being waged between the Roman and Turkish Emperors in Hungary, and men were being recruited in all the cities of Germany, I, residing in Dessau, also enlisted for the sake of the Fatherland which stood in great danger, under the Regiment of the Honorable Count of Mansfeld. Not long thereafter, we were transported by water down the Danube to Vienna.

The renowned whirlpool in the Danube.

On this journey, we encountered little except the renowned and very dangerous Strudel whirlpool; being a horrific vortex in which many ships perish. Six miles above this whirlpool is a monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas, who is the Patron Saint of this whirlpool, and to whom all passing ships give an alms in order to have a fortunate journey.

We went ashore at Vienna, and were taken first to Pressburg, and subsequently to Raab, where the Imperial Army was stationed, after we had been mustered some days later. In this place, we remained still for two months, but had to depart from there again and hold a garrison at Komárom.

Description of Komárom.

This strong city of Komárom is situated between two large rivers, the Danube and the Váh, and