Chap, I. Grand Seignors Se r ag l i o 



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CHAP, h 

 Of the extent 3 arid external parts of the Seraglio, 



The Principal Heads. 



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

 mon to all the Royal Houfes, as well in Turkey as 

 Perfia. The admirable Situation of the Grand Se- 

 raglio at Conftantinople. Its extent, figure, and 

 externals. The Artillery not fyp in good order y 

 and the Gunners not well sfyll d. A delightful 

 flace of it felf ; but rejlraint maizes it otherwife. 



» 



TH E Grand Seignor's Seraglio, whereof I undertake to give a Defcription, The origine of 

 is the Palace, where the Ottoman Princes ordinarily keep their Court. All th ' wordSeTi " 

 the Royal Houfes, as well in îurtyy, as Perfia, have the fame Name, al^the^Royal 8 

 which derives its Origine from the word Serrai, which fignifies a great Houfes in Tur- 

 NobleHoufe, in the Perfian Language. The Grand Seignor has many key and Perfia. 

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

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

 according to the conjuncture of his Affairs. 



. But to confine our felves to Conftantinople, we find there three Seraglio's, which have 

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

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

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

 goes thither but very feldom, and that when he is out of humour, to pafs away fome 

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

 done there on Horfe-back, which was built by Ibrahim BaJJ'a, Son-in-law, and Favou- 

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

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

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

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

 that there needs not any thing elfe to be added thereto, to diftihguifh rit from the 

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

 not any thing extraordinary to be obferv'd, but fhall 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, ^ admirable 

 where the ancient Byzantium was built, upon the Bojpborns of Horace, and the joyning fixation of the 

 together of the Mgean Sea and the Euxine, which contribute fo much to the beauty Seraglio ofQQts 

 and wealth of Conftantinople. This great City, let the Wind fit where it will, does fanrinople. 

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

 glio, advancing it felf into the Channel, which makes a communication between them 3 

 receives the firft Advantages that may be derived thence* 



(D) That- 



