It consists of the King as Grand Master, the Princes and Princesses of the royal house as Knights of the Grand Cross, twelve Honorary Grand Cross Knights, forty Commanders, one hundred Knights, and sixty Servant-Brothers, besides the Dean of the Royal Chapel at Villa Vicosa, (who ranks among the Commanders), and the Canons, Priors, and Prebendaries of that Church who belong to the class of Knights.
Only noblemen of high title are admitted to the Order. Its principal seats are the Chapel of the Madonna of Conception, at Villa Viçosa in Alemejo, and the Chapel of the royal residence, where festivals are celebrated every year in honour of the Patroness of the Order; in the first, on Conception day; and in the other, on the succeeding day. The badge (Tab. IV. No. 15) consists of a nine-pointed white enamelled star surrounded by golden rays, upon which are placed nine little stars of white enamel. Above the star is a gold crown, while the middle contains, on a dull ground of gold, the letters in monogram 'M. A.' of polished gold, surrounded by a bright blue enamelled ring, with the legend: ' Padroeira do Reino,' (Patroness of the realm),
This star is worn in different sizes by the various classes, suspended by a bright blue ribbon with two white stripes; by the Knights of the Grand Cross, across the right shoulder towards the left hip; by the Commanders round the neck, and by the Knights and Servant-Brothers at the button-hole. The first two classes wear, besides, the star (No. 14) embroidered on the left side of the coat.
THE ORDER OF ST, ISABELLA.
This Order, designed for ladies only, was founded on the 4th November, 1801, by the Prince Regent, who authorized, on
