C 270 )

why the Scrutiny is not inferted in the Reg!fry, An. , , yj

Elif gives this Account: That upon affernbling ti ie f/JQiights-Comp/tnions, it feemed good to the Sovereign, f (trfeveral urgent Reafons, beft known to her felf, to eivp. -Kl

~ o- 7 -- --

Commandment, That for that time, they

■would wholly

_ .... , , "vi*!.** wvuiiy

forbear all Sxrutiny of Votes, and Nominations of Perfin J;except which, there was nothing wanting to heighten the jiSolemnity of that Alfcmbiy : But this in the Annals is faid w!to be prater morem, contrary to the ufual Cuttom. ; j lfl / ri

$ 16. Anno 27 of £//’. there is a remarkable Occur- ^°|. (rence, not to be palfed over ; for the Earls of Rutland and j,

Derby , the morrow after St. George’s Day, were defitous ■

to have feen the Scrutiny, which was committed into theCuftody of the Dean of Wind [or, to be regiftred, in pur. ' ,,

fuance of the before-mentioned Decree, Anno 5 E!i%, but qYhe returned a model!; denial, and faid, It ought not tube • jpfeen before it was regifterd. The Earls, not Satisfied with 1

this Anfwer, requdted the Opinions of the Kyiights-Zm- W £

panions, prefent at the Feaft, on this Affair; who, uponmature Deliberation, adjudged the Point againftthem; fr® 15and fince it has been a Handing Rule, that no Knight-Companion ought to fee whom the other hath named.

$0M

§ 17. It hath chanced, that tho’ the Nominations for Ele-Bion have been received, prefented and perufed, yet theSovereign hath thought expedient to defer it, upon feve-ral Confederations, and principally where an intent was tokeep an open Stall; but we muft underftand this of fuch stheijScrutinies as are taken of Courfe, at the Vefpers on the 'i®, tFeaft-day. wifi

Apd the mod memorable Example of this Kind, is that ;k ,of the Emperor Sigifmond, who expired in the 16th Year Atmof K. Henry VI. whofe Stall was referved Twenty OneYears, and then determined, that Prince Edward, the So' jj;t)vereign’s only Son, fhotild fill it up, being at that time f.ycf ilabout Six Years of Age. This is the firft Emperor, whofe £Eletffion we find regifter’d in the Annals, being about the7th of May, in the 4th Year of Henry V. ftyled Sigifmitn-dus Imperator Aimamcus. jy 4

And keeping a vacant Stall was fometimes given as aReafon by the Sovereign for his deferring an Election, asis plain from An. 13. Car. I. when the Scrutiny taken sj.r

the