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Habit was fent. As upon the Elections of Edward, Kingof Portugal, at the Feaft of St. George, 1 3 Hen. VI. theDuke of Vrbin, 14 Edco. IV. and feveral others.

The right of bearing thefe Letters fignifying Eledbion,’and returning the Strangers Anfwer, belongs to Garter,by the Conftitutions of his Qffice. And though Certi-ficate of Election was to be made within four Monthsfrom the time of Eledlion, yet King Henry VIII. addedthis neceflary Claufe : T bat when the Sovereign had anygreat or high Impediment, he might defer certifying theEledion till a more convenient Time. As may be feen inthe cafe of Frederic ^ III. Emperor of Germany, in thetime of Henry VI. who having been elected 35 of thatKing, had not Letters fent him to fignify it till the nextYear. It likewife appears, that Letters to the fame Effectwere then likewife difpatched to the King of Anagon,the Duke of Brunfwicl {, and King of Poland, who hadbeen elected eight Years before.

And yet we find it recorded, that the Habit and En-figtis of the Order were fent by fpecial Ambafladors to allthree, 34 Hen. VI. two Years before : But perhaps thisought to be underftood of their being but then defign’d,and ordered to be fent, and on fecond Thoughts might beflopped, or if fent, by fome accident might have mifear-ried ; otherwife it leems needlefs to have fent other Let-ters to give notice of their Eledlion two Years after: Butto clear this matter, we after find a fecond mention oflending the Habit and Enfigns to the King of Poland,

11 Hen. VI. by which it is demonftrable, that the firltEmbafly took no EffedL

It does not appear that King Hen. VIII. or any of hisSacceffors, ever made ufe of that Liberty granted by theaforefaid Article of his Statutes, for deferring the fignifi-catory Letters of Eledlion beyond the time appointed bythe Statutes of Inftitution, as we find by the many In-ftances of that kind. Francis the firft King of France wasde&ed Oftnber 21. 19 Hen. VIII. and was inftalled the 25"darmary following ; fo that 'tis plain, the Letters of No-tice muft needs have been difpatched within the limitedTime. James V. of Scotland, who was eledfed 20 Jan.16 Hen. VIII. had notice of Eledlion immediately fent“im 5 and Hen. II. of France, having been eledied 24!, ’ 1 '■* • April,

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