Having thus far made a description of the Seraglio itself, and the buildings which are therein; with some particulars belonging unto it, according to that which I have both seen, and heard from others which are daily conversant there: it followeth that I now speak somewhat touching those which dwell in it, and of their several qualities and employments.
First then I say, that all they which are in the Seraglio, both men and women, are the Grand Seignor’s slaves (for so they stile themselves;) and so are all they which are subject to this empire. For besides that he is their sovereign, they do all acknowledge that whatsoever they do possess or enjoy, proceedeth meerly from his good will and favour: and not only their estates, but their lives also are at his dispose, not having respect either to the cause, or manner. [So that in my opinion, the attributes they give unto him, are indifferently proper, and fitly suiting with the condition of such a Prince. For he is stiled sometimes Pawdishawh, and sometimes Hoonkeawr. In regard of sovereignty and justice, they may truly call him Pawdishawh; but in regard of his tyranny, Hoonkeawr; both which words they use in the same sense as we do the word King.]
This Seraglio may rightly be termed the seminary or nursery of the best subjects. For in it, all they have their education, which afterwards become the principal officers, and subordinate rulers of the state, and affairs of the whole empire; [as hereafter I shall shew at large].
They which are within the third gate, called the King’s gate, are about two thousand persons, men and women, whereof the women (old and young one with another; what with the King’s concubines, old women, and women servants) may be about eleven or twelve hundred. Now, those which are kept up for their beauties, are all young virgins taken and stolen from foreign nations; who after they have been instructed in good behaviour, and can play upon instruments, sing, dance, and sew curiously; they are given to the Grand Seignor, as presents of great value: and the number of these increaseth daily, as they are sent and presented by the Tartars, by the Bashaws, and other great men, to the King and Queen. [They do likewise sometimes decrease, according as the Grand Seignor shall think fit. For upon diverse occasions and accidents, he causeth many of them to be turned out of this Seraglio, and to be sent into the old Seraglio; which is also a very goodly and spacious place, of which hereafter I shall take occasion to make mention.] These virgins, immediately after their coming into the Seraglio, are made Turks; which is done by using this ceremony only; to hold up their forefinger, and say these words; law illawheh illaw Allawh, Muhammed resoul Allawh. That is, there is no God but God alone, and Mahomet is the messenger of God. And according as they are in age and disposition (being proved and examined by an old women called Kahiyah Cadun, that is, as we say, the mother of the maids) so they are placed in a room with the others of the same age, spirit, and inclination, to dwell and live together.
Now in the womens lodgings, they live just as nuns do in great nunneries. For these virgins have very large rooms to live in; and their bed-chambers will hold almost a hundred of them a-piece. They sleep upon Sofaes, which are built longways on both sides of the room, and a large space left in the midst to go to and from about their business.
Their beds are very coarse and hard (for the Turks neither use feather-beds nor corded bed-steads) made of flocks of wool; and by every ten virgins there lies an old woman; and all the night long there are many lamps burning, so that one may see plainly throughout the whole room, which doth both keep the young wenches from wantonness, and serve upon any occasion which may happen in the night. Near unto the said bed-chambers they have their Bagnios, for their use at all times, with many fountains, out of which they are served with water; and, above their chambers, there are divers rooms, where they sit and sew, and there they keep their boxes and chests in which they lay up their apparel.
They feed by whole Camaradaes, and are served and waited upon by other women: nor do they want any thing whatsoever, that is necessary for them.
There are other places likewise for them, where they go to school, to learn to speak and read, if they will, the Turkish tongue, to sew also, and to play on divers instruments: and so they spend the day with their mistresses, who are all ancient women; some hours, notwithstanding, being allowed them for their recreation, to walk in their gardens, and use such sports as they familiarly exercise themselves withal.
The King doth not at all frequent, or see, these virgins, unless it be at that instant when they are first presented unto him; or else in case that he desire one of them for his bed-fellow, or to make him some pastime with musick, and other sports. Wherefore when he is prepared for a fresh mate, he gives notice to the said Kahiya Cadun of his purpose; who immediately bestirs herself like a crafty bawd, and chooseth out such as she judgeth to be the most amiable, and fairest of all; and having placed them in good order in a room, in two ranks, like so many pictures, half on the one side, and half on the other, she forthwith brings in the King, who walking four or five times in the midst of them, and having view of them well, taketh good notice within himself of her that he best liketh, but says nothing; only as he goeth out again, he throweth a handkerchief into that virgin’s hand, by which token she knoweth that she is to lie with him that night. So she being, questionless, exceeding joyful to become the object of so great a fortune, in being chosen out from among so many to enjoy the society of an Emperor, hath all the art, that possible may be, shown upon her by the Cadun, in attiring, painting, and perfuming her; and at night she is brought to sleep with the Grand Seignor in the womens lodgings, where they are chambers set apart for that business only. And, being in bed together, they have two great wax lights burning by them all night; one at the bed’s feet, and the other by the door: besides there are appointed, by the Cadun, divers old Blackmoor women, to watch by turns that night in the chamber, by two at a time; one of them sits by the light at the bed’s feet, and the other by the door; and when they will, they change, and other two supply their rooms, without making the least noise imaginable, so that the King is not any whit disturbed. Now in the morning when his Highness riseth (for he riseth first) he changeth all his apparel from top to toe, leaving those which he wore to her that he lay withal, and all the money that was in his pockets, were it never so much; and so departeth to his own lodgings; from whence also he sendeth her immediately a present of jewels, money, and vests of great value, agreeable to the satisfaction and content which he received from her that night. In the same manner he deals with all such as he maketh use of in that kind; but with some he continueth longer than with other some, and enlargeth his bounty far more towards some than others, according as his humour and affection to them increaseth, by their fulfilling his lustful desires.
And if it so fall out, that any one of them doth conceive by him, and bring forth his first begotten child; then she is called by the name of Sultana Queen: and if it be a song, she is confirmed and established by great feasts and solemnities; and forthwith hath a dwelling assigned unto her a-part, of many stately rooms well furnished; and many servants to attend upon her.
The King likewise alloweth her a large revenue, that she may give away, and spend at her pleasure, in whatsoever she may have occasion; and all they of the Seraglio must, and do acknowledge her for Queen, shewing all the duty and respect that may be, both to herself, and to them that belong unto her.
The other women (howsoever they bring forth issue) are not called Queens; yet they are called Sultanas, because they have had carnal commerce with the King; and she only is called Queen, which is the mother of the first begotten son, heir to the Empire; the which Sultanas, being frequented by the King at his pleasure, have also this prerogative; to be immediately removed from the common sort, and to live in rooms a-part, exceeding well served and attended, and have no want either of money, or apparel, in conformity to their degree.
All these Sultanas do resort together very familiarly, when they please; but not without great dissimulation, and inward malice; fearful lest the one should be better beloved of the Grand Seigno
r than the other; yet notwithstanding this their jealousy, they, in outward shew, use all kinds of courtesy one towards another.
Now if it happens that the first begotten son of the Queen, heir to the Empire, should die, and another of the Sultanas should have a second son; then, her son being to succeed the deceased heir, she is immediately made Queen: and the former shall remain a Sultana only, and be deprived of the aforesaid revenue and royalty. Thus the title of Queen runneth from one Sultana to another, by virtue of the son’s succession.
In times past the Queen was wont to be wedded to the King, but now she passeth without the Kebin, that is, without an assignment of any jointure, or celebrating the nuptial rites; which is nothing else, but in the presence of the Muftee to give each of them their assent to matrimony, of which there is Hoget made (that is, an authentical writing or testification) not only of the consent of the two parties to be contracted, but also of the jointure which the King is to make over unto her.
The reason why the Queens are not now, nor have been of late years, espoused, is, not to dismember the King’s patrimony of five hundred thousand chicquins a year. For Sultan Selim having allowed so much to the Empress his wife (to the end she might spend freely, and build churches and hospitals, so that by all means she might be honoured and esteemed) made a decree, that all his successors should do the like, if so be they purposed to be married to their Queens. But now, the said revenue being otherwise employed, the Bashaws do endeavour, as much as in them lies, to keep the Grand Seignor from marrying, and so much the rather, because they would have none to rule but the King alone. Howsoever, married nor not married, the mother of the heir is by every one called and acknowledged for Queen, and presented with many rich presents from all great personages; and hath continually, at her gate, a guard of thirty or forty black eunuchs, together with the Kuzlar Agha their master, whom she commandeth, and employeth in all her occasions; and so do all the other Sultanas, which never stir out of the Seraglio, but in company of the King himself, who oftentimes carrieth either all, or most of them abroad by water, to his other Seraglios of pleasure: and in those ways through which they pass, to go to and fro from their Kaiks, there is canvas pitched up on both sides: and none may come near them but black Eunuchs, till they be settled, and covered close in the room at the stern of the Kaik; and then go in the bargemen; so that, in fine, they are never seen by any men, but by the Grand Seignor only, and the eunuchs.
The King’s daughters, sisters, and aunts, have their lodgings also in the same Seraglio, being royally served, and very sumptuously appareled, and live together by themselves, in continual pleasures; until such time as, at their request, the King shall be pleased to give them in marriage; and then they come forth of that Seraglio, and carry, each of them, along with them a chest which the Grand Seignor gives them, full of rich apparel, jewels, and money, to the value of, at the least, thirty thousand pounds Sterling a chest; and that is, as we call it, their portion. They carry likewise along with them all that which they have hid from time to time, unknown to any but to themselves, amounting sometimes to a great matter, and stands them in good stead all their whole life-time. And if so be that they be in the Grand Seignor’s favour, and that he be disposed to deal royally with them, then they are suffered to carry with them, out of the Seraglio, such women slaves as they please (provided they do not exceed the number of twenty a piece) and such eunuchs as they like best, for their service.
These also, being called Sultanas, reserve still, as long as they live, their allowance of money which they had whilst they lived in the King’s Seraglio, some a thousand, and some a thousand five hundred aspars a day; the slaves also, and the eunuchs, do likewise enjoy their former pensions.
Their houses are furnished both with household stuff, and other necessary provision, from the King’s Hazineh [treasury] and Begleek [store], that they may live alla grande like Sultanas; so that indeed they live far better, in every respect, without the Seraglio, than they did within it.
And if so be that a Bashaw, having married one of them, be not provided of a house fit for her, then the King giveth her one of his (for he hath many which fall to him by the death of great persons) that her house may be suitable with her greatness and quality.
Now, for the husband’s part, he is, on the contrary, to make her a bill of dowry, ordinarily of at least a hundred thousand chicquins in money, besides vests, jewels, brooches, and other ornaments, amounting to a great sum: for although the fashion of the Sultanas habit be common, and nothing different from that of the other women, yet the substance is far more rich and costly; the which redounds to the great charge and loss of their husbands.
They, being thus married, do not at all converse with men, more than they did when they lived in the King’s Seraglio (except with their own husbands) but with women only; and that is commonly when they go upon visits to see their old acquaintance in the Seraglio. But because they themselves came forth from thence, as I said before, they may not at their pleasure come in again, without leave from the Grand Seignor.
These Sultanas, the Bashaws wives, are, for the most part, their husbands masters, insulting over them, and commanding them as they please. They always wear at their girdle a Hanjar [dagger], set with rich stones, in token of privilege and domination, and esteem of their husbands, as of slaves, doing good or evil for them, as they receive content and satisfaction from them, or as they find them to be in favour and powerful with the King. And sometimes they put their husbands away, and take others, but not without the Grand Seignor’s leave; which divorce proves commonly to be the death and ruin of the poor rejected husbands, [the King being apt to give way to the will and persuasion of the Sultanas: so it behoves them, in any case, to be very obsequious to their wives.]
Now, the other women, which are not so fortunate as to be beloved of the King, must still live together, and diet with the rest of the young virgins, wasting their youthful days amongst themselves, in evil thoughts; for they are too strictly look’d unto, to offend in act: and when they are grown old, they serve for mistresses and overseers of the young ones, which are daily brought into the Seraglio; but hold it their best fortune (their former hopes of being bed-fellows to an Emperor being now wholly frustrated) through some accident to be sent forth from thence into the old Seraglio; for from the old Seraglio they may be married, if the mistress of that place give her consent thereto, and may take with them such money as they, through their frugality, have saved and spared of their former allowance in the King’s Seraglio, and such things as have been given them from time to time, which may amount to a reasonable value. For, whilst they are in the Seraglio, they get many things from the Seraglio, who, having formerly been companions with them, cannot but in some measure let them be partakers of their good fortune; besides their current pay out of the King’s Hazineh of fifteen or twenty aspars per diem, for the middle sort, and four or five per diem for the baser sort; the which is paid at every three months end, without any deferring or contradiction. In that manner also are the Sultanas paid, viz. quarterly, having for their shares from a thousand to a thousand five hundred aspars. a piece per diem, besides as much clothing as they will, and jewels in great abundance, given to them with the King’s own hands.
[The soldiers likewise, and all such, of what quality soever they be, as are to receive pay from the Grand Seignor, are paid quarterly; and they call the first quarter’s pay Masar, the second Rejedg, the third Reshen, and the fourth and last Lezez.]
The women servants have, besides their pay, two gowns of cloth a piece yearly, and a piece of fine linen for smocks, of twenty Pikes [Pike = three-quarters of a yard] long, and a piece more fine for handkerchiefs, of ten Pikes; and at the Byram one silk gown a piece, and somewhat else, according to the liberality of the Grand Seignor, who, at that time above the rest, hath commonly a bountiful hand towards the women; giving to the Sultanas gowns with very rich furs, ear-rings, brooches, bodkins, bracelets for their arms and legs, and such like, set with stones o
f great worth, of all which the King hath continually great store, by reason of the unspeakable number of presents which are given unto him.
The Sultanas are likewise presented at such times by the Bashaws, and by the Bashaws wives (that by their means they may continue in grace and favour with the Grand Seignor) with most stately and rich gifts; and with money also, which indeed is more acceptable to them, than any other kind of present whatsoever. For they, being very covetous, do hoard up, and spread but sparingly, abandoning all manner of prodigality (in what may concern their own private purses) but warily and wittily provide against disasterous times, which may come upon them unawares; and especially against the King’s death; for then (excepting the Sultana Queen, who remaineth still in the Seraglio, as being mother to the succeeding King) all the other poor desolate ladies lose the title of Sultana, and are immediately sent to the old Seraglio, leaving behind them their sons and daughters, if they have any living, in the King’s Seraglio, there to be kept, and brought up under the government and care of other women, appointed for that service. And in this case, finding themselves to be wealthy, they may marry with men of reasonable good quality, according to the measure of their portion or estate, which they possess; and the good-will, and good report of the mistress of the old Seraglio on their behalf, is none of the least furtherances and helps in that business. But the Grand Seignor’s consent must be had thereto, notwithstanding; who will, for the most part, not only be made fully acquainted with the condition of their husbands, but also will know what jointure they will be content to make them, if in case they should put them away without their own consents, or otherwise leave them widows. Thus, by reason of their being turned out of the King’s Seraglio, it is often seen, that though the daughter of the King be married to a Bashaw; yet the mother of that daughter, after the King’s decease, must be content with a second husband of small account, far unequal, and much inferior, both in title, wealth, and reputation, to her son in law.
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