A Relation of the Grand Seignofs Seraglio, 



ccmc down to the Beglierbeys, and to the Sangiacbeys, and to the Bofiangi-Bacbi, who 

 has one of the moft eminent Charges of the Port. 



ftiHononrs and The Vizir- Azcm, or Grand Vizir, is the Lieutenant-General of the Empire, and of 

 vifidvuitagis t h e Armies, the principal Perfon of the Council, and he who, under the Grand Seignor's 



ntttnAinP the *-\ l l.^*.l, oUfr\1mv» AiCni^Ct] refill AfTiive f*»l*f-ii-\r» ti\ thn Qnrp nr tvi flip IVn- I,., 



properly 

 Councilors of State, but yet fuch as have not any deliberative voice, and come not into 

 the Divan, but only to be confulted upon fome point of Law, wherein they are well 

 skill'd, without intermedling with the Government of the State i or concerning them- 

 felves in any Affair, unlefs their advice be requir'd. There are alio rive Begferbeys, on 

 whom the Grand Seignor beftows the qualification of Vizirs, and arc poflfcfs'd of the 

 greateft and wealthieft Governments of the Empire, to wit, the Bajfas of Babylon, 

 Cairo > Buda, Natolia and Romania. The three former, who are the three principal, 

 had heretofore the priviledge ( exclufively to all the other Bajjas ) of having carried 

 before them ( in the fame manner as the Grand Vizir had ) the three Horfc-tayls, of 

 which I have related the Story. But at the prefent, that priviledge extends to the two 

 other Bajfas of 'Natolia and Romania, and they are all rive equal, as to that point. 



I am now to return to the Grand Vizir, who has a magnificent Court, anfwerable to 

 fhegreatnefsofthe Maftcr, whom he ferves, ' and there are in his houfe above two 

 thoufand Domefticks. Though he lyes expos'd, as well as the other Baffa^s, to the in- 

 dignation of the Prince, and fore'd to fend him his Head, when he requires if, yet 

 does the Grand Seignor, in the Affairs of greateft importance, and fuch as concern the 

 State, comply much with the Sentiments of his Grand Vizir, and his Proportions in 

 Council are as fo many definitive Sentences. 'Tis that which renders his Power fo abfo- 

 lute, that in all the Empires and Kingdoms of the World, there is not any chief Mini- 

 fter of State, whofe Authority can be parallel'd to that ct" the Grand Vizir. Whoever 

 comes to make him a Vifit, he rifesnot out of his Chair, either to give him a recepti- 

 on, or to conduct him out again, unlefs it be the Mufti, who is the principal Perfon 

 relating to the Law ( of Mahomet ) upon whofe acceCs, the Grand Seignor himfelf ri- 

 fes from his Throne. But this is particularly worth our obfervation, That as it belongs 

 only to the Grand Vizir, to propofe all Affairs of importance, Co does it concern him 

 to be very careful, not to advance any thing that may be difpleaiingto the Grand Seig- 

 nor i for if it (hould to happen, he gives immediate Order for the itrangling of him, 

 without making him any anfwer at all, upon this Maxime of the Ottoman Court, that 

 there muft not be any thing propos'd to the Prince, which may give him any caufe of 

 diffatisfacTrion. 



A Trhiltdgt The Caimacan is the Captain, and Govemcur of the City of Confiantinople, Lieute- 

 particular to nant to the Grand Vizir, yet fo as not to have any Authority, but only in his ^abfence. 

 the Caimacan. And then he performs all the functions of that important Charge •<, he has the abfolute 

 Command, and gives Audience to Ambaffadors. He is not fubject, as the other Buf- 

 fas are, to that rigorous neceflfity of refigning his Head => upon this account, that if he 

 does any thing, which may be difpleafing to the Grand Seignor, he lays the blame 

 thereof upon the Grand Vizir, from whom he receives his Orders. 



The Bajfa of the Sea is the Admiral, and Captain-General of the Naval Forces. The 

 Bey/, Governours of the Maritime Provinces, and fuch as are oblig'd to maintain the 

 Grand Seignor's Galleys in good order, are to obey the Commands they receive from 

 him, and to go to Sea upon the firft advertifement they receive to that purpofe. 



The number e>f The Janizary- Aga, whom the 'Turks call Tengeri-Agap, is the Colonel-General of 



the real Jani- the Janizaries. This Charge is very confiderable, inafmuch as the Tierkifo Infantry, at 



ziries. ^ jj^ does for the moft part pafs under the name of Janizaries, though fuch as are 



really Janizaries, who derive their Inftitution from Ottoman the Firft, and their great 



Privdedges from Amurath the Third, do not at >this day amount to a Body of above 



rive and twenty thoufand Men. They have excellent Regulations ampngft themfelves, 



and 



