Chap,I. Grand Seignors Seraglio. io 



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C H A P. L 



Of the extent 3 and external parts of the Seraglio, 



The Principal Heads. 



The Origine of the word SerraiJ, or Seraglio, com- 

 mon to all the Royal HouJes as well in Turkey as 

 Perfia. The admirable Situation of the Grand Se- 

 raglio at Conftantinople. Its extent 3 figure, and 

 externals. The Artillery not fyept in good order, 

 and the Gunners not well sfylld. A delightful 

 place of it felf; but refiraint mafys it otberwifc* 



Ttt E Grand Seignor's Seraglio, whereof I undertake to give a Defcription, lb* «"#« 4 

 is the Palace, where the Ottoman Princes ordinarily keep their Court. All th J "ammnu 

 the Royal Houfes, as well in Turkgy, as Perfia, have the fame Namc,*]} ^/^^ 

 which derives its Origine from the word Serrai, which figniries a great Houfes in Tur~ 

 Noble Houfc, in the Perfian Language. The Grand Seignorhas many key andFcrfa* 

 Seraglio's, in the Provinces of bis Empire, and the principal of them are thofe of Bur- 

 fa, and Adrianople, two Lv cfidences which that Monarch does ordinarily make ufe ofj 

 according to the con jun&ure of his Affairs. 



But to confine our (elves to Confi ant inople, we find there three Seraglio's, which have 

 all their different Beauties. The old Seraglio is the Palace, appointed for the retire- 

 ment of thofe Women, who have ferv'd the PredecefTors of the Prince Regent, and 

 whence they never get out, unlefs it be in order to Marriage. The Grand Seignor 

 goes thither but very fcldom, and that when he is out of humour, to pais away (ome 

 days there in folitude. The Seraglio of the Hippodrome, fo call'd from the Exercifes 

 done there on Horfc-back, which was built by Ibrahim Baffa, Son-in-law, and Favou- 

 rite to the Emperour Solyman the Second, fcrves now for an Amphitheatre for publick 

 Feftivals, Exercifcs, Combats, Caroufels, and particularly for the Circumcilion of the 

 Ottoman Princes, which is their greateit Solemnity. The third is the Grand Seraglio, 

 whereof I make the Relation, and *> which that Name is principally attributed, fo as 

 that there needs not any thing elfe to be added thereto, to diftinguiih fit from the 

 others. I (hall have but little to fay concerning the Structures of it, wherein there is 

 not any tiling extraordinary to be obferv'd, but (hall rather infift upon what is private- 

 ly done, in each Appartment of that great Palace. 



The Grand Seraglio is a vaft place inclos'd, which reaches to that point of Land* 3^ admirabU 

 where the ancient Byzantium was built, upon the Bofpbow of 1 brace, and the pyning filiation of the 

 together of the JEgean Sea and the Euxine, which contribute fo much to the beauty Seraglio ofCw- 

 and wealth of Confront inople. This great City, let the Wind lit where it will, does "anunoplc 

 every hour receive fome refrelhments or other, from one of thofe Seas > and the Sera- 

 glio, advancing it felt" into the Channel, which makes a communication between them, 

 receives the firff Advantages that may be derived thence. 



(D> That 



