Fryer, John: A new account of East-India and Persia: in 8 letters being 9 years travels, begun 1672 and finished 1681 (London, 1698)

35«
TbePresent State os P E Rl S I A.

Letter V. tial grounds this new Order enjoys not only the Name of Sussees,
■*>^&~** but the Emperor himself wilt be their Captain, and sussers none else
to head them, and thence takes on him the specious Name and Title
of Grand Sussee; and to perpetuate their Memory, has given it in-
delibly to Spabaun, for this reason joined with the former, to be cal-
led Sussaham.
Their Habit, To distinguish these from the others, who cloathe themselvcs in
and the Per}- Green Attire, and forbid it to any else, they wear an high Red Vcl-
Kesand"* vet Cap, plaited at top like a Cap of Maintenance ; whence on a
White. Wooden Crest they fix a little Brass Ball, tied oh with three wreathen
Chains, which they bring down strait to the forepart of the Bonner,
whose lower Brim is bound about with a White Sash, and some-
times a Plume of one Feather is set up with the Crest, much after the
same Faihion the Noble Senators wear in the King's Presence: Besides
which they have a Surcoat of Scarlet Cloth, as it were in defiance
to the Grass-green of the Siads ; so much monopolized by them,
that in Turky> is any other wear it, he pays dearly for his Folly :
The Grand Senior's Standard is also of that Colour, being called
Mahomet's Banner: In opposmonto whom, the GrandSttssee ereclsa
double-pointed Bloody Sword in a White Field, and brings it out in
honour of Mortis ASy.
_, . .. To his adopted Kindred ( now Regulars under him, their Chief)
kges! nV1" are many Privileges granted, and by them to beheld inviolable.
They are allowed a peculiar Missat or Service, in a Chappel apart
in the Alacoppe, or place where the Grand Council sit, where they
attend the King, or one in his stead, every Friday Night, at the Sa-
crament of Holwayt ( or Wafer made up in Sweetmeats,) in Imita-
tion of the Shew-bread.
When any one has run into Debt, or committed any Capital Crime,
as Murther, Adultery, Theft, or the like j if the one to defraud
his Creditor, and the other to avoid the hands of Justice, make their
Escape to the Alacoppe, the first Gate of the Palace-Royal; or to the
King's Stables, and implore their Protection, and they engage for
their Resuge, it is a Piacular Ossence to force them thence; nor will
they resign them to the Emperor, though he command them to be
taken from their Sanctuary.
Nor are they so wholly devoted to companionate others Asflicti-
ons, as to defend their own Rights; for whosoever's Face the Em-
peror commands them to cover, they are dead in Law 5 nor will
they scruple being Executioners, no more than the Roman Lienors,
who bore the Rods and Axes; the latter of which are their proper
Weapons of War, as well as a fit Badge of their Osfice.
Their prescribed Number cannot enlarge its self to all of their
Sect; wherefore they are interspersed among the common People,
some following Trades and Husbandry, and others other Employ-
ments; retaining always their Habit, which none of the Vulgar
dare affront or strike, however provoked ; bur taking off" their Suf-
sean Cap first, and killing it, laying it down reverently, they will not
then be afraid to cusf" them, or drub them to purpose ; being careful
in the mean while to osser no Indignity to the Order, while they
revenge themselves on the Persons.
Besides