<0
t{f[i 11
m -
?i«j
MlV
4|t5
rfttj.,
ffiji
'^n
ftd,
iffrfi
hoi
ii^ter,
ni^ti
km-tltiter in-
r for
M>
minus
Orin
ration
:ity.“
uttlsti'
iit * 1
[(if
C 2 3 S )
After the Refloration, a Difpenfation palled theSignet of the Order, dated the icth of January , izCar. II. (the Great Seal being under the Hand of theGraver but not finifh’d) He was neceffitated to makeufe of his Supreme Authority for holding a Chapter the14th of January following, in regard the Knights-Com-panions then in being were not as yet provided of newRobes.
Presuming then, that a full Number of Knights,(in Obedience to their Summons) are attending theirSovereign habited in their Mantles and Garters, andentred into the Chapter-Houfe at Windjor , or otherPlace appointed for this Aflembly, the Sovereign havingtaken his Seat at the upper End of the Table, and givenleave to the Knights-Companions to fit, the Occafionof their being call’d together is firfl declar’d either bythe Sovereign himfelf, or the Chancellor of the Orderby his Command.
The next thing in Courfe, is to exhibit to the Sove-reign Information of all the vacant Stalls 5 and if theSovereign chance to be in Foreign Parts, an Informationoughttobe tranfmitted to him by his Dep uty or Lieu-tenant; but if in England, and prefent in the Chapter,then to be prefented him by the Chancellor, or in hisAbfence by the Regiller, or other Officer of the Order,
After this they fingly debate how the Place of thedefunft Knight Hiall be fupply’d,and fometimes (wheretwo or more Stalls are found void) whether they Ihallbe all fill'd up at that time, or if not, how many KnightsIhall be elefted pro hac vice.
But when the Scrutiny is intended to be taken in theChoir of St. George’s Chapel at Windfor , thefe or the likeparticulars (referring to Election) are commonly con-fider’d ofon the Feaft-Day in the Chapter held imme-diately before Vefpers, wherein it is mail ufually order’d,That the Scrutiny Ihall be taken in the Chapel that fol-lowing Afternoon. And fo it was decreed on St. George’sAnno 5. Edit-. VI. viz. That the EleBions oj Knightsfiould he takyn that Even-fong in the Chapel.
. ^J HIS being effedled, the Chancellor begins to col-e d the Knights-Companions Votes, and this is fre-quently term’d the taking the Scrutiny: For the ampler
View