Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/462

Rh worn across the left shoulder towards the right hip, by a broad ribbon of orange colour, accompanied by an embroidered silver star, fastened at the left side of the breast. The centre of the star represents a black flying eagle, holding in one claw a laurel wreath, and in the other, a thunderbolt, with the legend: 'Suum Cuique' (To every one his due).

Every new member has to pay a nomination fee, fifty ducats, for the support of the Orphan Asylum at Konigsberg, while he receives, gratis, the costume and insignia of the Order. The costume consists of an undergarment of blue velvet, and over it a velvet mantle of flesh colour, lined with sky-blue watered silk; the mantle has a train, long in that of the Crown Prince, but short in that of the other Knights, and is fastened in the front by long cords with tassels at the ends. Above is fastened round the shoulders a large chain or collar, which is composed alternately of the initials of the founder, and the Eagle with the thunderbolt in his claws, while to the front link of the same, is appended the real blue cross of the Order. On the left side of the mantle is fastened the silver embroidered star, and the whole costume is completed by a black velvet hat with a white plume.

No member, with the exception of foreign princes, and the Knights of St. John, is allowed to wear any other Order at the side of the Black Eagle; nor is he allowed to travel from home a distance of more than twenty German miles (about one hundred English), without due notice to the King.

The seal of the Order bears on the obverse, the royal arms, surrounded by the chain of the Order, and on the reverse, the motto: 'Suum Cuique,' and the legend: 'Magnum Sigillum Nobillissimi Ordinis Aquillæ Borussicæ.'

Time and circumstances have wrought various alterations in the statutes. The number of the members is no longer limited, nor is the costume any more in use, except at a funeral