20 
Part I. 
come to Corjfiantimple ehhtï by the White Sea, or the Black, On the other 
The feven Angle, which is upon the Chanel of the White Sea, are the feven Towers co- 
Towers, vered with Lead j they were built by the Chriftians, and ferved a long time 
for keeping the Grand Seignior's Treafure ; at prefent they are made 2 Prifoti 
for Perfons of Qjiality. At the third Angle, which is at the bottom of the 
Port, on the Land fide, are the Ruines of Confiamim's Palace. This Towtf 
The Walls of is encompalTed with good Walls, which to the Land fide are double ; in feme 
conflantinople. places built of Free-ftone, and in others of rough Stones and Brick. Each 
of thefe Walls has a broad flat-bottom'd Ditch, wharfed and faced on both 
fides. The firft Out--wall is but a Falfebray., about ten foot high, with many 
little Battlements and Cafements in its Parapet ; and Gun-holes below, afwei 
in the Courtine as in the Towers, which are but at a little diftance from one 
another, and about two hundred and fifty in number. The fécond Wall is of the 
fame falhion, but higher, for it is at leaft three fathom from the ground up to 
the Cordon, or edging ; it has the fame number of Towers as the former, but 
higher ; fo that one Tower commands the other, which is as a Cavalier to it : 
In Ihort, this might be made a very ftrong Town ; but as yet the Turks have 
had no need of it, for they have not been purfued fo far. The Walls on the 
Sea-fide are not lb high, but they are ftill good, and fortified but with the 
Ments and Turrets j they run along the fides of the water upon the Streight 
of the Prepontis, unlefs it be at the Creeks and Stairs, which are little Harbours 
where Boats put a (hore ; for there they turn inwards, about fifty paces, to 
make place for them, according to the turnings of the ftiore. 
The bignefs Many have imagined that Conft antinomie was bigger than either Caire or 
OÎ confii^nmo- Paris, but they are mifl:aken ; for certainly it is lefsthan either of thofe two 
Cities. Some allow it thirteen miles in circuit, others fixteen, and others 
again eighteen ; but I went round it once with another Frenchm.zn j we ha<J 
each of us a Watch, and having taken 2i Caique or Eo2Lt at Tophr^.o^ we wenç 
over to Cofjfiantinople, and landed as near as we durfl: to the Kionsk of thç 
Seraglio, which is upon the Port ; having then fent the Boat to flay for us at 
the feven Towers, we fet our Watches to Seven of the clock, and walked 
a-foot along the Port, without the Walls ; and alfo along the Land-fide, till 
we came to the feven Towers ; where looking on our Watches, we found 
them both at three quarers after Eight -, fo that we fpent an hour and three 
quarters in performing that Journey ; and it requires no more than an hour 
to come by Water from the feven Towers to the Seraglio in a Boat with three 
Oars j for that Way cannot be gone on foot, becaufe the Water waftif^s the 
Walls ; but if there were a foot- Way, I make no doubt but one may walk it 
in an hour or little more, and in an hour and a quarter at moil, with eafej 
and indeed, that quarter is to be allowed, becaufe in the beginning we left 
behind us a little of the fide that is on the Port, feeing no body dares to walk 
there. Thus I found, that in the fpace of three hours, at moft, one might 
make the circuit of Conftantimple on foot, walking a pace, as we did. It may 
The circuit be faid, that without the Walls it is twelve miles in compafs. This Town hath 
of the Walls, two and twenty Gates, fix towards the Land, eleven along the Port, and five 
on the Streight of the Propomis^ having all their landing Places and Stairs. 
CHAP. XVI. 
0/Santa Sophia, Solymania, the Nerp Mofque 
and others. 
WHen C<9«/?4»?/«fi the Emperour removed the Seat of his Empire, from 
Rome to Conftantimple, he refolved to render that City ,which he called 
New-Rome, fo illuftrious,that it fhould at leaft be equal to old Rome, and for that 
end he chofe feven little Hills, on the top and fides whereof, in imitation of the 
firft, 
