A Relation of the Grand Seigniors Seraglio, 



the fofamdashartd of a common Executioner. But, on the other fide, if thefe Baffas 

 know not how to take th.ir meafures rightly, they lofe their heads upon the leaft mifc 

 carriage, the Grand Seignor feizing to himfelf all their Eftates at their death, and ta- 

 king their Children into the Seraglio. Nay, thefe laft are fo far from fucceeding their 

 Fathers, either as to wealth or imployments, even though it were the Son of a Grand 

 Vizir, of of a Siller of the Emperouf himfelf, that thehighefl advancement they are ad- 

 mitted to, is to 1)C made Captains of Gallies i the policy of the Turfy hot permitting, 

 that in any one Houfe there thould be a transference of power from Father to Son, that 

 fo they may be prevented from taking any occafions to difturb the State., It may be 

 (ben by this account of them, that the fortune of the Baffa's, which, for a time, feems 

 fo fplendid, is but a tottering fortune, upon which, neither the Son, nor the Father 

 himfelf, what repute fce'tifar he may be in, can make any Cure relyance. 



The Bajfa's, who have the denomination of Vizirs, carry three Banners or Stand- obfenations 

 ards, at the top of which there is a Horfe-tayl faften'd, put into what colour they pleafe *!?*» the standi 

 themfelves, green only excepted, though they are permitted^ttgwinf the Staff, to which ar ^ s ' 

 the Standard is faften'd, with that colour. The Originif^ fcrflPfcuitom was thus, ac- 

 cording to the Story which the Turfy relate of it. Having one day given Battel to the 

 Chriftians, their Standard was taken in the heat of the Engagement, and the General of 

 the Turfy, perceiving that the lofs of the Standard ^as a difcoiiragement to the Souldi- 

 ers, who were beginning to take their flight, he witftteGymitar oat off a Horfe's tay^ 

 and faften'd it to the top of a half-Pike, and advane'd it on high, crying out, Here is 

 tin Grand Standard, let him rvbo loves me follow me. Immediately the Turfy re-afTum'd 

 courage, and, having rally'd, renew'd the Charge, and gain'd the Victory. The 

 Officers , who are about the Perfons of the BaJJas, have alfQ their Standards, but they 

 are not allow'd to add thereto one of thole tayls i and it is to be obferv'd, that the Bap- 

 Jo's, who are not Vizirs, can carry but two of them ; as the Beys, who are inferiour 

 ro the Baffas, and Governours of lclTcr Provinces, carry but one of them. When the 

 Grand Seignor goes into the Country, there are feven Standards carry'd, in regard that, 

 according to the lurfy. the World is divided into feven parts, or feven Climats, where- 

 of the Grand Seignor is Mailer, if taken according to its breadth, and 'tis for that rea- 

 fon, that, in their language, they give him the title of Matter of all Kings. This is 

 grounded upon what Mahomet faid. That he, who, after his death, mould be Maltef of 

 thofe Territories, where his Sepulchre were found, mould affume the title of Mailer or 

 chief of al! the Kings upon Earth. They add, that there are but three Empires, which 

 are, thole of Conjhntbwple, Babylon and Trebizond f : And 'tis for that reafori, that the 

 Grand Seignor wears three plumes of black Heron-tops, in hisTurbant. Take notice 

 by the way, that they are only the Herons of Candia which have their tops perfectly 

 black, the Herons of all other Countries having them, either white, or of a mixt co- 

 lour. And becaulc there mull be a coniiderable quantity of than to makeup a plume, 

 it muft accordingly be of a very great value, which poiVibly has occaGon'd its being out 

 of ufe in Europe : For as to all the Princes of A fa, they have lull a great eftcem for the 

 Heron-tops s but they muft not have the leaft defedr, and if the points of them be ever 

 fo little broken, there is no account made of them, as being things of very little value. 

 By thofe thiee Heron-tops upon the Grand Seignor's Turbant, it is known that the 

 Grand Vizir is in the Army •, inafmuch as at that time, he wears but two of them, and 

 die thing is worthy our obfervation. When the Anny is to march, the Grand Seignor 

 gives order for the drawing up of thofe Troops, which are atConjiantbwpIe, and the 

 parts adjacent, and having the Grand Vizir ne.ir him, he prefents him to them for their 

 General. The Souldiets, at that time, fay not a word, nor do they make the ordina- 

 ry falute, till after the Grand Seignor hascaus'd one plume of the Heron-tops to be ta- 

 ken out of his Turbant, and to be put upon that of the Grand Vizir ; and upon that 

 Ceremony, the whole Army falutes him. and acknowledge him for their General, and 

 from that very time are to receive their Pay from him. 



Having ipoken of the Bajja's in genera}, it is rcquifite I thould give fome Idea of 

 thofe, who are advane'd to the principal Charges of the Empire ; and I (hall bring into 

 that lift, the Grand Vizir, accompany'd by fix others, who have the quality of Vizhrs y 

 the Caimacan > the Bajfa of the Sea-, and the Aga of the Janizaries H after whom I mall 



( B ) come 



