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ledlion, becatife the Number of Knight s-Comp anions t j icriajjembled was left than the Statutes requir’d. And Ann. ijHen. V. no Election was Solemniz’d, tho’ one Stall wasvoid by the Death of the Lord Clifford, and probablyfor that reafon 5 for the Earl of Bedford, then the Sove-reign’s Deputy, had but three Knights prefent with him.Ann. 22., or rather 23. Humphry Duke of Bueps beingdeputed to celebrate the Feaft of St. George at Windfir,altho’ there was at that Time four Stalls vacant, y e |did no Nomination pafs j one reafon, hecaufe there «not prefent a fufficient Number to compleat the EleUion. S 0when the fame King celebrated the Grand Feaft per.fonally at Windfor, Anno 31. E egn't fui, having but threeKnights attending him thereat, the Election was Pro-rogu’d for the very fame Reafon j inlike manner 32, 33and 34 Hen. VI. the Elections were retarded, for at thefirft of them there were prefent but two Knights-Com-panions, betides the Sovereign’s Deputy; and at theTwo laft -but four, betides the Sovereign, tho’ the Re-gifirum Cartaceum, Ann. 33. names five by adding theDuke o fSomerfet. At the Feaft of St. Gco,ge celebratedat Windfor, A. D. 1471. Temp. Edw. IV. the Sovereignfully refolving to Conftitute an Election, and havingbut five Knights-Companions prefent, Calys, Purfuivantat Arms, was difpatch’d to London for Sir John Afiley torepair thither and compleat the Chapter, rather thanviolate the Laws of the Order. January the 31ft. atCar. II. being defign’d for the Election of Chrijlopher Dukeof Albemarle , and there being Conven’d but five Knightsat the Chapter, the Election was put off’till the Thirdof February following, at which Time a proportionableNumber of Knights being prefent, his Election receiv’dtheir Approbation.

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5. +. Yet in cafes of Neceffity only, and to illuftratethe Power and Prerogative of the Sovereigns, wherethe Exigency requires it, tho’ not to be made ufe ofwhere there is a poffibility to perform the Rules andInjunctions of the Statutes, the Sovereigns for diversReafons, have been induced to difpence with thisBranch of the Statute for want of a plenary Number tocompleat a Chapter. And the firft Liberty obfervdr 1 herein

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