08 A Relation of the Chip. VL 



afmall fpout of Water, which falls into a Barm. This Hall is open of all fides, and 

 at the lower end, oppoiite to the Gate, they place the Grand Seignor's Throne. 



tie Grand This Throne, which is rich enough, is in the manner of an Altar, and it is brought 



Stigner's j ntQ fa t jj a jj on iy U po n thofe days, whereon the Grand Seignor is willing to give Au- 



Throm dience to AmbaiTadors, and when the new Cham of the feller Tartar whom he has 



chofen to govern there, comes to receive the Invclutiue of his Kingdom, and to take 

 the accuftomed Oath. . The back-iide of the Throne, is let again! i a partition erected 

 for that purpofe, which is not above hal#a foot higher than it, and 'tis that keeps in 

 the cufliions which are behind the Grand Seiguor. 



There are in the Treafury-Chamber eight fcveral very luroptuous Coverings pur- 

 pofely made to cover the aforefaid Throne : and they are fo large, that they reach 

 idoVvn to the ground on three fides of it, that is to fay, before, on the right hand, and 

 on the left : for as to the back-part, it is, as 1 told you, fatten <j to the partition. The 

 moft Magnificent of all thofe Coverings is of a black Velvet, with an . Embroydcry of 

 .great Pearls, whereof fome are long, and others round, and in tlie form or* Buttons. 

 There is another of white Velvet, fee out with an Embroydery of Rubies and Eme- 

 ralds, molt whereof are fct in Beazils, or Collets, the better to keep them in. There 

 is a third, of a Violet-colour'd Velvet, embroydcr'd with Turqueies and Pearls. The 

 three others, which are next in elteem to thefc, are alio of Velvets of different Co- 

 lours, with a rich Embroydery of Gold. And the two lall are of a GoJd-Bro- 

 kado,which have alio their particular Beauty and fumptuoulhefs.The Throne isadoru'd 

 with one of thefe coverings, according to the Grand Seignor's refpect to the Sove- 

 reign, whole EmhalTy he receives i and he levels his own Magnificence to that of the 

 Prince whom he would honour* 



lit manm of And this is the manner, how AmbaiTadors are received into that Hall. For, as to 

 rtaivtngtbt fa Order, and Ceremonies of their march from the Hotel, or great Houfe of Pera, to 

 Ambajjadors. fa p oxt £ Conjrantinople, and from 1 the Port/ to me Seraglio, noqueftion but there 

 have been Relations enough made already. After the Ambaflador hasjdin'd in the 

 ^ Hall of the Divan, with the Grand Vizir, whojtf^e ejqpefted him, while his Retinue 

 are en tertain'd under the Gallery, upon fome old Carpets of Leather, which they 

 fpread upon tlic ground, and upon which tfcefdart a few Dirtier of Meat fcr, he re- 

 ceives the Vefts or Garments', which the Grand Seignor lends him, as well for his 

 ownPerfon, as for thofe who accompany him, and they put them on immediately, 

 overall the Cloaths they have about them, as they would do a Morning-Gown. 



In this Equipage the AmbalTador is codHu&cd to the Hali of Audience, by the C.a- 

 pi-Aga, the Grand Mafter of the Ceremonies, who is aififted by feveral Eunuchs : 

 and when he is at the Door, two Vizirs ftarid ready to receive him, and they go on 

 each fide of hftrt, till he comes to the place, where lie is to bowe , and to kifs the 

 Grand Seignor's Garment. From the very Gate of the Court, kept by the Eunuchs, 

 quite to that of the Hall, they walk all along upon Carpets of Silk ■■> and the Floor of 

 the Hall, though all pav'd with Marble, is alfo cover'd with another Carpet of Gold, 

 the Workmanftrip whereof fomewhat refembles that of our ordinary Straw-Mats, and 

 mUch about the fame thicknefs. 



The Grand Seignor demeans himfelf with a great deal of gravity, while he is in his 

 Throne i and behind the little Wall or Partition,againft which it is fet,you fee,(tanding 

 in order,the Kifler-Agafijvho is a Ncgro-Eunuch,and chief Over feer of the Appartment 

 of the Women', die Seligdar-Agajwho carries the Grand Seignor's Sword ', die Cboly- 

 dar-AgayWho carries the RoyaLRobe,an Officer whom in Frame jfoef call Porte-Mmtcjui 

 the Riquabdar, who holds the Stirnap, when the Prince gets on Horfe-back ■■> and the 

 Hazodabacbi, chief of the Chamber, which 'Office would be equivalent in 'France, to 

 that of Grand Mafter of the Wardrobe. 



All thefe fore-mentioned Officers do all deport themfelves with a great appearance 

 ofmodeity, having their Arms crofs their -Breads : And as to the Cafi-Aga, the In- 

 troduce* to the AmbaiTadors, and Grand Mafter of the SeragHo, lie ftands in the 

 rmdftof the Hall, and in the lame pedture of "humility. On the left Tide of the 



Throne, 



