Empire the Seventh, by Michael Paleologus anno 1294. by Isaac Angelus anno 1295. and lastly, by Ferdinand the Second, Emperor of Germany, at Ratisbone, anno 1630. who recommended to his Catholique Majesty, the restauration of this Order, because those who had been Great Masters thereof, were allied to him, and of the Family of Angelus Flavius Comnenus; which recommendation was sent to that King, by the then Great Master Don Iohn Andrea Angelo Flavio Comneno.
The Great Masters of this Order, have their chief Seat and Convent now at Bri∣anno, a Town nigh to Venice, the Dignity yet continuing in the Line of Angelo Flavio Comneno; howbeit among the Priviledges granted by the Emperor Isaac Angelus, one is, That if the Family of Angelus Flavius Comnenus should be extinguished, the Collared Knights may elect from among themselves a Great Master.
Among the many Prerogatives granted to this Order, by the Imperial Privi∣ledges and Papal Bulls, we shall mention a few, by which may be understood, something of the grandeur thereof; to wit, that the Great Masters are Commensa∣les Pontificum, and have the priviledge of sitting at the Table with the Pope, by whom they are defended and supported, as Benefactors to the Church, and Foun∣ders of the Lateran Cathedral in Rome. They are persons of great note and au∣thority, in that they are subject to no Prince, and therefore have the power of coining Money. They give titles of Counts, Princes, and such others, and of Reverend to their own Fraternity. They have also the faculty of restoring to Honors, of legitimating Bastards, of giving Degrees with the Title of Doctors, creating Poet Laureats, and making publick Notaries.
This Order is under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, and patronage of St. George, the titulary Saint and Guardian of military men in general, and of these Knights in particular, who profess obedience, and conjugal Chastity.
The Formulary prescribed for entrance into the Order, the manner of receiving the Habit, taking the Oath, the benediction of the Mantle, Cross, and Sword, the admittance of the Knights, Priests, and Novices, are at large laid down by this Author.
The Habit of this Angelick Order is White, on the left side whereof is sewed a Red or Crimson Velvet Cross Flory, in the middle is the Labarum imbroider∣ed after the form of the Letter X, with the Letters A upon the one arm of the Cross, and Ω on the other: the sides are wrought with Gold and Silk, but the Labarum all with Gold.
Amongst these Knights there are three Degrees, the first are called Collared, or Grand Crosses; these wear a Collar, formed of Labarums, whereat depends the Figure of the Cross, and St. George: The second are the Knights, and these wear the Cross as is above described: The third are Servants, and they bear the Cross, only wanting the upper arm of it, and the Labarum.
The Priests wear the like Cross with the Knights.
The Grand Priorates and Promotions, or Commanderies, belonging to this Or∣der, shew how great it hath been, and how far its jurisdiction extended; since to them were joined very great Revenues and Rents which the Knights of this Or∣der held, and they were these (saith mine Author) though I suppose divers of them are miswritten. The grand Priorates of Mistra, and of Bosnia, of Cappado∣cia, Calcide, Napoles, Antiochia, Constantinople, Ierusalem, Natolia, Iulia Caesaria, and the Priories of Barlada, Scione, Anfiboli, Damascus, Mileto, Pergamo, Sinope, Ephesus, Argo, Odeseo, Egena, Nicepoli, Corinthus, Nicomedia, Apollonia, Erapoli, Engada, together with several Baliato's or Baliwicks.
The Bulls and Priviledges are to be seen in the Constitutions of the Order, published by the eloquent and learned Knight Majolini Bisachioni, grand Prior of Bosnia, Earl of Galicia, great Chancellor and Administrator of the Order; as also in Malvezzi, and other Authors, Knights of this Order.
To conclude, this Author gives a Catalogue of the Names of 34 Great Masters (whom he affirms were all true descendants of the Family of Angelus Flavius Com∣nenus) beginning with Constantine the Great, but between him and Alexius Ange∣lus Flavius (whom he reckons to be the third Great Master, and who was he that drew all the Knights into a Fraternity) is doubtless a very great Chasme: As to