12 A Relation of the Grand Seignors Seraglio. 



them always banifh'd, in thelfland cf RWe;, while the other governs. But if, after 

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

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

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

 orders him to reign in his turn, for fome 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 received. 



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

 Dignities of an d the others relating to the taw, which I (hall do in few words. Only let it be 

 th h flY^° P" dy here obferv'd in the general, That, according to the peffwafion of thzTurks, the Civil 

 Laws are part of their 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 Confcience, as out of the fear of chaftifement -, and in that 

 they do not much recede from our Chrifiian Maximes. The Mouftis and the Cadis 

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

 we lliould reduce our Divines and our Civil Lawyers into the fame Clafs, and in civil 

 and criminal Caufes the Moufti is often confulted. 



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

 to be the Interpreter of the Alchoran. 1 fpeak of the grand Moufti o£ Conftantinoplejwho 

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

 Turkey, over whom he has no more juriiHi&ion, than he has over the Imans,ox Priefts > 

 every one of them lubmittirig themielves only to the Magiftrate, and there being no 

 Ecclefiaftical Superiority amongft them. That hinders not but that the Grand Moufti 

 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 greateft importance - , he always follows 

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

 • to receive him. 



The Cadilefquers follow the Moufti-, and are Judges-Advocates of the Militia, thé 

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

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

 the Cadilefquer of Romania*, and the Cadilefquer of Natolia, who are in higheft efteem 

 next to the Moufti, 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- 

 millions from the Cadilefquers, 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 foon 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- 

 ftoms of the Countrey. They have alio under them the Naips, who adminifter Jurtice 

 in the Villages, and that is done with much expedition, without the help of Pro&ors, 

 or Advocates. 



The Imans, or Emaums, are the Priefts of the Turks, and as 'twere the Parlons of 

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

 appointed. 



The Hogias are the Dodtors of the Law,and as it were the Regents, and Inftm&ors 

 of Youth. 



The Sbeife are to diem, inftead of Preachers , and they make publick Exhor- 

 tations. 



i 



