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Upon the ftrength and Security of thi* ancient Pri-vilege, to avoid the prolongation of a Law-Suit,Dr. Chrijlopher Wren Regifter, Petitioned the Sovereignin Chapter, held at Whitehall, the 19th of Afril, 13Car. I. againft one Thornhill, who under Pretence ofDigging for Salt-Peter, had fo Undermined his Pigeon-houfe, Built on the Rectory of Knoil Magna in Wiltjh.that it fell down ; and upon reading of the Petition, itwas refolved by the Sovereign, ana Knights-Compani-ons, “ That they would confider the Grant in the Con-“ ftitutions, and, until it was farther declared, the Chan-“ cellor of the Order fhould have Power upon Infor-“ mation of any rigour upon Controverfe begun in“ any other Court, to write Letters under the Signet“ of the Order, that all vexation againft them fhould“ befuperfeded until Information of the caufe were gi-“ ven to and determination in the Caufe refumed by the“ Sovereign, or leave of him obtained to Proceed.” Af-ter this it is fet down, that Thornhill was Summonedbefore the Lords Commiffioners of the Navy, and his ne-gative Anfwer given in, and reprefented to the Sovereignin another Chapter, conven’d the 4th of OBober enfu-ing 5 whereupon it was ordered, “ That the Chancellor“ fhould write to the fame Lords Commiffioners, and“ another to the Earls of Pembroke, Arundel and Derfet,“ three of the Knights-Companions, to Empower“ them, that they or any three of them, fhould caufe“ the faid Thornhill to be brought before them, andlike-“ wife write to any of the Inhabitants of Knoil, to view“ and teftifie the Truth, to hear any further proof on“ the behalf of either Party, and to give Sentence ac-“ cording to Juftice, that fo a tedious Suit of Law might“ be prevented, and the Dignity of this moft noble Or-“ der protected.” Thefe Commands of the Chancellorbeing Executed, and Certificates returned from theCountry, the Knights Companions, in a Chapter heldthe 2,3th of May, l^Car.L were moved to perufe them 5but before they could meet, Thornhill fled, and the Pro-secution of this bufinefs ceafed. Upon the fame foot-ing was it, that the faid Dr. Wren obtained from KingCha. I. His Gracious Prote£lion for himfelf, Servants,and Eftate, literally exprefled in the late War, as theP a Vialaters