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prefence is implyed,for it is faid,that the FourOfficers fthe Order did attend both Feafts, whereof, (the Chancellor being wanting) the Prelate muft needs be one

Now all thefe Paffages feem to relate to the Rightof the Chancellors rather than the Prelates by this Re-mark, That every of the Scrutinies were taken in theAbfenceofthe Chancellor, which looks fomethinga cautionary Remark that denoted the Right of Execu-ing this Office to the Chancellor, rather than thePrelate.

When a Deputy-Chancellor hath been admitted toOfficiate in the Chancellor’s abfence, he, and not thePrelate, hath taken the Scrutiny, (tho’ prefent) as atthe Election of Charles Prince of Wales , the aoth ofMay, 14 Car. I. and at another taken the 22d of Miyfollowing, and the fame when the Suffrages were col-lected for the EleCtion of the Duke of Yorl [ and PrinceRupert at Yorl^, Anno 1 7 Car. I.

Bur there is one Paffage more (upon takingaScru-tiny Anno zz fac. 1 .) which feems Advantageous to theChancellor in this Point, where itisfaid, That when thKnight s-Companions had given their Votes ( as fay the An-rials ') THE CHANCELLOR WHO, ACCORDING TO HIS0 FFICE, ivas to receive them, prefented them to the Sovereign,Howbeit, in truth there is no fufficient Foundation forthe Regilter to infert this as 4 done by the Chancellor, byVirtue of his Office, orany one ACt or Chapter that hathfufpended or made void, the Right of the Prelate,which is referved by him, even by the Patent, for erect-ing the Office of Chancellor $ efpecially in thofe Af-fairs, which, refpeding the Order, ought by the Statuteof the Inftitution to appertain to him. But fince theftated Time of performing this Ceremony in the Cha-pel, the Prelate (if prefent ) is prefumed to be Officiat-ing at the Altar, in difeharge of another part of hisDuty, upon this confideration hath the Service beenthen impoled upon the Chancellor, and others.

Lafily, We find the Scrutiny to be once taken byGarter, Ann. 16. Car. I. at the EtcClion of Thomas Earlof Strafford. But this was at a Time, when not onlythe Prelate, but all the other Officers of the Order, ex-cepting Sir John Burrough, Garter, wereabfent, and con-

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