Chap.XVIL Grand Seignors Seraglio. 87 



effect, That he wondred the Page, who fhould have deriv'd new ftrength and courage, 

 from the Grand Seignor's prefence, found it fo difficult to get the better of the Mufco- 

 w'?e, whom he had fo eafily Worlled the day before. 



The language of the Mutes, by flgns, is as intelligible in the Seraglio, as if they had 

 the liberty of (peaking, and the Grand Seignor, who understands it as well as any of 

 them, as having been accuftom'd thereto from his Infancy, and commonly difcourling 

 with them, was ihangely furpriz'd, to understand that the Mujhvite had been, the day 

 before, in the lame place. His indignation immediately flufh'd into his face -, he com- 

 manded the WrelUers to give over their Exercife, and, calling the Page to him, he 

 ask'd -him, How he had contriv'd that man's entrance into the Seraglio. The unfor- 

 tunate Tocateli, who could not deny a thing, which fo many others were ready to 

 teftifie, acquainted his Highnefs with what had pafs'd i whereupon, the Sultan, in- 

 cens'd at the greatnefs of his confidence, prevented his making an end of the Story, 

 by commanding the Bojiangi-baihi to be prefently fent for, whom he order'd to feize 

 on the Mufcovian WretUer, and fee him receive Five hundred blowes on the foles of 

 the Feet, with a Wand or Cudgel -, which no doubt was enough to make him un- 

 capable of exercifing himfelf, for a good while after. The Overfeer had Orders, to 

 fee the fame punifhment inflicted upon the Page Tocateli y which was immediately 

 put in execution : the Grand Seignor having, in the mean time, retired into the Ap- 

 partment of the Women. 



It was the Opinion of moft about the Seraglio, that thofe two unfortunate wretches 

 would have efcap'd, with the punifhment of Five hundred blowes, each of them, upon 

 the foles of their feet. But the Grand Seignor, who was refolv'd to have their lives, 

 and had retir'd, purpofely, into the Lodgings of the Women, to prevent all mediation 

 for their pardon, fent away prefently a fécond Order, to the Bojiangi-Bacbi, whereby 

 he was commanded to fee the Page hang'd up, in the Evening, on a Tree, which is at 

 the Corner of the place, where they had Wreftled, and the Mufcovite on another Tree, 

 which is without the Gate of the Seraglio. 



Some would be apt to think, that thefè two Executions were enough to appeafé the Amurath's 

 Prince's indignation: But it prov'd otherwife. The next morning, the Sultan-^wzK- smt Sevent p 

 rath fent for the Capi-Aga, the chiefeft amongft the Eunuchs, and the Grand Mafter 

 and Comptroller, of the Seraglio, and commanded, That the Gellad, who is the com- 

 mon Executioner, fhould alfo give his attendance. Upon the palling of thefè Orders, 

 all thofe, that were frrefent, call themfelves at his Highneffe's feet, befeeching him to 

 confider, That the Capi-Aga was innocent, that he had not the leaft notice of the con- 

 fidence of the Page, and that, if it had come to his knowledge, he would have feverely 

 punifh'd it. The Grand Seignor continuing ftill extreamly incens'd, could not be 

 appeas'd by all the intreaties and fubmilïîons they made to him, and would have the 

 Capi-Aga, as Grand Mafter of the Seraglio, to be^infwcrable for all thofe that come 

 into it •, when, for the good fortune of that principal Officer of the Sultan's Palace, 

 there came in the Moufti, and the Seligdar, or Chief of the Pages of the Chamber ,who 

 with much ado made a fhift to beg his pardon. Yet was not that granted but in part 

 for all they could obtain, extended only to the faving of his life y and fo the Grand 

 Seignor order d him to be immediately thruft out of the Seraglio, with a charge never 

 to enter again into it, while he liv'd \ and inftead of the Dignity of Ba$r s whereto he 

 (hould have been advane'd, to be redue'd to a fmall Penfion of Three hundred AJpers 

 a day. 



I thought it pertinent to my defign, to bring in this Story of the Two Wreftlers, in 

 order to the greater confirmation of what I have affirm'd at the beginning of this 

 Chapter, concerning the impoifibility there is, for any perfon whatfoever, Man, or 

 Woman, to get into the Appartment of the SultancJJ'es, when they punifh, with fo 

 much feverity, a Stranger, who, without exprefs order, prefumes but to fet his foot 

 within any Court of the Seraglio. 



Take 



