The Council of Orders.

This was erected in the year 1489. The Duke de Sessa of the House de Cordonne is Page  185 now rhe President of it, he has two Coun∣sellors of the Order of St. Jago, twoof Ca∣latrava, two of Alcantara, a Fiscal and a Se∣cretary, who are all Knights.

The King is Grand Master of these three Orders, and is called the Perpetual Admini∣strator of it.

This Council takes Cognizance of the Tem∣poral and Spiritual Government and of the Civil and Criminal Justice of these Or∣ders.

There are also Religious Men and Religi∣ous Women of it, who bring their proofs and carry the mark of the Order. 'Tis in concert with this Council that the King ex∣amines those of his Subjects, who are capa∣ble of filling the places and vacant govern∣ments that depend upon the Order.