% A Relation of the Grand Seignor s Seraglio. 



come down to the Beglierbeys, and to the Sangiacbeys, and to the Boftangi-Bacbi, who 

 has one of the moft' eminent Charges of the Port. 



ThiHonoms and The Vizir- Azcm, or G rand Vizir, is the Lieutenant-General of the Empire, and of 

 Difidvuntûges the Armies, the principal Perfon of the Council, and he who, under the Grand Seignor's 

 a -u™ dl "{QïMd Orders, has the abfolute difpofal of all Affairs, relating to the State, or to the War, ha- 

 Vrzir ving in his cuftody the Imperial Seal. He is attended by, and has affiliant to him, in 



the Divan, fix other Vizirs-, whom they call Vizirs of the Bench and who are 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 

 skili'd, without interrnedling with the Government of the State -, or concerning them- 

 felves in any Affair, unlefs their advice be requir'd. There are alfo five Beglerbeys, on 

 whom the Grand Seignor beftows the qualification of Vizirs, and are poffefs'd of the 

 greaiell and wealthieli 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 ( e'xcluhVely to all the other Baffas ) of having carried 

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

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

 other Baffas of Natolia and Romania, and they are all live equal, as to that point. 



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

 f he great nefs of" the Mafter, whom he ferves, and there are in his houfe above two 

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

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

 does the Grapd Seignor, in the Affairs of greateff importance, and fuch as concern the 

 \. State, comply much with the Sentiments of his Grand Vizir, and his Propolitions in 



, :J Council are .-as To 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, r who fe Authority can be paralleled to that of the Grand Vizir. Whoever 

 comes to make him a Vifit, he rifes not 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 Perfbn 

 relating to the Law ( of Mahomet ) upon whofê accefs, the Grand Seignor himfelf ri- 

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

 only to the Grand Vizir, to propofè all Affairs of importance, fo does it concern him 

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

 nor ■■> for if it fhfculd fo happen, he gives immediate Order for the ftrangling 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 anycaufe of 

 diflatisfacTion. 



A Vrivileigt The Caimacan is the Captain, and Covernour of the City of Constantinople, Lieute- 

 p articular to nant to theGrand Vizir, yet foas not to have any Authority, but only in his^abfence. 

 the Caimacan. ^nd t |-, en ^ e performs all the functions of that important Charge •> he has the abfolute 

 Command, and gives Audience to AmbafTadors. He is not fubject, as the other Baj- 

 fa's are, to that rigorous neceffity 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 Baffa of the Sea is the Admiral, and Captain-General of the Naval Forces. The 

 Beys, 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 hrft adverfifement they receive to that purpofe. 



the number of The Janizary- A 'ga, whom the Turks call Tengcri-Jgaji, is the Colonel-General of 

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

 zanes. tjjjs time, does for the moft part pais under the name of Janizaries, though fuch as are 

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

 Priviledges from Amuratb the Third, do not at -this day amount to a Body of above 

 five and twenty thoufand Men. They have excellent Regulations amongft themfelves, 



and 



