12 



A Relation of the Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 



them always baniih'd, in thelfland of Rhodes, while the other governs. But if, after 

 fifteen or twenty years, there mould be any fufpition of this latter Family's having a 

 deiign, to render it felf abfolute, he fends for the Cham and his Children, when lie 

 has any, and fending them to Rhodes, brings thence him who was there in exile,, and 

 orders him to reign in his turn, for fume years. The form of his Oath you will find 

 in the lixth Chapter of my Relation, where I fpeak of the Hall of Audience, and the 

 manner, in which that Prince* is there receiv'd. 



the principal I have only now fomewhat to fay of the Moufti, the Cadilefquer, and the Cadis 



Dignities of and the others relating to the Law, which I (hall do in few words. Only let it hz 



thofe who fludjr j iere obferv'd in the general, That, according to the perfwaiion of the Turks, the Civil 



the Law. Laws are parto f t h e } r Religion and that, having been given them by their Prophet, 



they are deriv'd from God, and require an implicite obedience. Tis by this courfe, 



that they are kept within their duty, and that they obey the Laws, as much out of a 



principle of Religion and Conference, as out of the fear of chaitifement •, and in that 



they do not much recede from our Cbrijlian Maximcs. The Mouftis and the Cadis 



pafs therefore indifferently under the Name of Pcrfons well skill'd in the Law, as if 



we thould reduce our Divines and our Civil Lawyers into the fame Oafs, and in civil 



and criminal Caufes the Moufti is often confulted. 



Th« Moufti is the honourary Chief of the Law all over the Empire, and accounted 

 to be the Interpreter of the Alchoran. I fpeak of the grand Moufti of Conjhntinoplejvho 

 is the moft elleem'd, and the principal of all. For there are feveral others of them in 

 Turkey, over whom he has no more jurifdidf ion, than he has over the Imans,ox Pricfts •> 

 every one of them fubmitting themfelves only to the Magiftrate, and there being no 

 Ecclefiafticai Superiority amonglt them. That hinders not but that the Grand Mmfti 

 is honour'd by all the reft, and in great veneration among the Turks. The Grand 

 Seignor never beftows that Dignity, but upon a Perfon of great abilities, and great in- 

 tegrity -, he often confults him in the Affairs of greateit importance \ he always follows 

 his Directions, and he is the only Perfon in the \Vorld, at whofe approach he rifes up 

 to receive him. 



The Cadilefquers follow the Moufti, and are Judges-Ad vecates of the Militia, the 

 Souldiers having this Priviledge, That they are judg'd only by them ; whence they al- 

 io call them, Judges of the Amies. There are but two of them all over the Empire, 

 the Cadilefquer of Romania, and the Cadilefquer of Natalia, who are in higheft eitcem 

 next to the Mdufti, and have their Seats in the Divan ; immediately next to the 

 Grand Vizir. 



The Mollah, or Moula-Cadis, are the Judges of great Cities, who receive their Com- 

 miffions from the Cadilefquer s, to whom there may be an Appeal made from their Sen- 

 tence, in civil Concerns only •> for as to the criminal part, the Caufe is fuon decided, 

 and the leaft Judge condemns to death without any Appeal. 



The Cadis are under the Mollah, and ought to be well vers'd in the Laws and Cu- 

 (loms of the Countrey. They have alfo under them the NaiVs, who adminifter Jufticc 

 in the Villages, and that is done with much expedition, without the help of Prodrors, 

 or Advocates. 



The Imans, or Emawns, are the Priefts of the Turks, and as 'twere the Parfons of 

 their Mofqueys^ where they take care that all things be done in order, and at the times 

 appointed. 



The Hogias are the Do&ors of the Law,and as it were the Regents, and Inftru&ors 

 of Youth. 



The Sbttks are to them, inftead of Preachers , and they make publick Exhor- 

 tations* 



The 



