A Relation of thé Grand Seignor's Seraglio. 3 



the infamous hand of a common Exccutionèr. But, on the other fide, if thefe Baffas 

 know not how to take their meafurcs rightly, they lofe their heads upon the lead: mis- 

 carriage, the Grand Seignor fcizing to himfclf all their Etiates at their death, and ta- 

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

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

 Vizh\ or of a Sifter of the Emperour himfelf, that thehigheft advancement they are ad- 

 mitted to, is to be made Captains of Gallies i the policy of the Turks not permitting, 

 that in any one Hou'fe there fhould be a transference of power from Father to Son, that 

 fo they may be prevented from taking any occasions to difturb the State. « It may be 

 Icen by this account of them, that the fortune of the Baffas, which, for a time, fèems 

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

 himfelf, what repute foever he may be in, can make any fure relyance. 



The B.rjfjs, who have the denomination of Vizirs-, carry three Banners or Stand- Observations 

 ards, at the top of which there is a Horfe-tayl faften'd, put into what colour they pleafe the stand- 

 themfelves, green only excepted, though they are permitted to paint the Staff, to which arAs ' 

 thf: Standard is faften'd, with that colour. The Origine of this Cultom was thus, ac- 

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

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

 the fierkg, perceiving that the lofs of the Standard was a discouragement to the Souldi- 

 ers, who were beginning to take their flight, he with a Cymitar cut off a Horfe's tayk, 

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

 tfie Grand Standard, let him who loves me follow me. Immediately the lurks re-affum'd 

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

 Officers, who are about the Perfons of the Baffas, have alfo their Standards, but they 

 are not allow'd to add thereto one of thofe tayls > and it is to be obferv'd, that the Baf- 

 fas, who are not Vizirs, can carry but two of them => as the Beys, who are inferiour 

 to the Baffas, and Governours of leffer 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 Tiurkj, the World is divided into feven parts, or feven Climats, where- 

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

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

 grounded upon what Mahomet faid, That he, who, after his death, fhould be Mafter of 

 thofe Territories, where his Sepulchre were found, fhould affume the title of Mafter or 

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

 are, thofé of Conftqntinaple, Babylon and Trebizond : 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 becaufe there mull be a confiderable quantity of them to make up a plume, 

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

 of ufè in Europe : For as to all the Princes of Afia, they have ftill a great cfteem for the 

 Heron-tops s but they muft not have the leaft defect, 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 three 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 

 the thing is worthy our observation. When the Army is to march, the Grand Seignor 

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

 parts adjacent, and having the Grand Vizir near him, he prevents him to them for their 

 General. The Souldiers, 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 h 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 fpoken of the Baffas in general, it is requifite I fhould give fome Idea of 

 thofe, who are advane'd to the principal Charges of the Empire \ and Ï fhall bring into 

 that Lift, the Grand Vizir, accompany'd by fix others, who have the quality of Vizir s > 

 the Caimacan, the Bajfa of the Sea, and the Aga of the Janizaries ■> after whom I (hall 



( B ) come 



