or Capi-Agaffi, a Turkish officer who is governor of the gates of the seraglio, or grand master of the seraglio.

The capi-aga is the first dignity among the white eunuchs: eunuchs: he is always near the person of the grand signior: he introduces ambassadors to their audience: nobody enters or goes out of the grand signior's apartment but by his means. His office gives him the privilege of wearing the turban in the feraglio, and of going everywhere on horseback. He accompanies the grand signior to the apartment of the sultan, but stops at the door without entering. His appointment is very moderate; the grand signior bears the expense of his table, and allows him at the rate of about sixty French livres per day; but his office brings him in abundance of presents; no affair of consequence coming to the emperor's knowledge without passing through his hand. The capi-aga cannot be baffled when he quits his post.

CAPITAS, in law, a writ of two sorts; one before judgment in an action, and the other after. That before judgment is called capitae ad responsum, where an original is issued out, to take the defendant, and make him answer the plaintiff. That after judgment is of divers kinds; as,

Capitae ad Satisfaciendum, a writ of execution that issues on a judgment obtained, and lies where any person recovers in a personal action, as for debt, damages, &c., in which cases this writ issues to the sheriff, commanding him to take the body of him against whom the debt is recovered, who is to be kept in prison till he make satisfaction.

Capitae pro Fine is a writ lying where a person is fined to the king, for some offence committed against a statute, and he does not discharge the fine according to the judgment; therefore his body shall be taken by this writ, and committed to gaol till the fine is paid.

Capitae Utelegatum, a writ which lies against any one outlawed, upon any action personal or criminal, by which the sheriff is ordered to apprehend the party outlawed, for not appearing on the exigent, and keep him in safe custody till the day of return, when he is ordered to present him to the court, to be there farther ordered for his contempt.

Capitae in Withernam, a writ that lies for cattle in withernam: that is, where a distress taken is driven out of the county, so that the sheriff cannot make deliverance upon a replevin; then this writ issues, commanding the sheriff to take as many beasts of the distrainer, &c.