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f° that they be in a capacity, or may conveniently repairthither. r

Therefore the next thing ufually entred upon in theChapter, is the Sovereign's and Kjiights-Companions ta.king notice, whether any of the Fellowship make defaultof coming at the Hour affign’d ; and if fo, they areconfidered under one of thefe Heads. Firft, StrangerPrinces ; Secondly, Late Commilftoners who are arrived,or every Minute expected ; and Thirdly, Such as havegiven notice that they cannot be prelent, during the con-tinuation of the Feaft : Of thefe Excufes of courle, ver-bal Apologies, or Letters of Excufe, are, or may be, of-fered ; and in cafe they are approved or admitted, thenthe Penance, which by the Statutes ought otherwife tobe inflidted, is admitted ; all which ought to be recor-ded.

- Stranger Princes are excufed in courfe, on Account oftheir neceffary Relidence in their own Territories ; andof their Excufes and accuftcm’d Difpenfations, are diversInftances in the Regifters of the Order.

As to Knights-Companions, who are tardy in their Jour-ney, or being come to the Cattle, fall fhort of the Hour,or of attending the Sovereign to the Chapter-Houfe, ei-ther through negligence, or want of timely notice, or otheraccident; the Statutes enjoin for Penance, that they benot permitted for that time to enter into the Chapter, buttarry without the Door, and not have Voice in any thingthat fhall happen to be done there, unlefs they can alledgea juft Excufe, or render fuch a lufficient caufe as the So-vereign , or his Deputy, (hail approve of ; but few defaul-ters have been noted of this kind.

The third fort of Delinquents, are thofe KjiightsJCm-panions abfent, not only at the Hour of Tierce, but arelikely to be fo during the whole Feaft; the Proceedingsrelating to them, are either upon what is offered in Excufeof their abfence, or determined cn their negledb of makingApology for it.

Excules for abfence, are either by Letters or Word ofMouth ; if by Letters, they arc directed co the Chancel-lor of the Order ; or elfe the Sovereign fends to his Lieu-tenant on their behalf, and both are produc’d by the Chan-cellor : But if Excufes be made by Word of Mouth, thenare they delivered by the Sovereign Lmielf; or on me*

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