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CUtion of a Contempt, was againft the Earl of Arundel,14 Edw. IV. who for being abfent two Years together,was Muldt forty Marks ; and continuing his Contemptthe next Year, was fined the Sum of eighty Marks.
Touching the Neceflity, and Power, of the Sovereign’sconftituting a Deputy; it was provided for at the Infti-tution of the Order ; the Sovereign being then engaged inthe Wars of France, thought it reafonable that ProvifionIhould be made by the Statutes, for to depute forne Per-lon in his (lead.
When therefore fuch Occafion happened, a Commifiionwas made out to one of the Kjiights-Ccmpanions, fomereafonable time before the approach of the Feaft ; fo thatrone of the ancient Ceremonies might be omitted, or anyImpediment happen through his abfence ; and fuch De-puty hath ufualiy been one of the chief of the Order, inAuthority, Eminence, or Birth. The firft fo made was,John Duke of Bedford, 7 Hen. V. and the reafon there-of given, in the Regiftrum Chartaceum, is, becaufe theSovereign was then employed in the Wars in Normandy,
And though the Title given by the Statutes to thisOfficer, be not particularly mentioned in the Blue-Boowhere it fpeaks of the faid Duke’s holding the Feaft ofSt. George that Year, but rather implied in the WordsRegia Stiblimatis locum impievit ; yet in the RegijlrumChartaceum it is exprefly fet down, and the faid Dukethere ftyled, Depute de I'Ordre de Jaritiere. Sometimeshe has been ftyled, Deputatis Ordinis, £? prafes clarijfima.Ordinis, 8cc,
About the beginning of the Reign of King Henry VIII.the Title of Locum Tenons, or Lieutenant, began to betaken up, and has, for the moft part, continued in all fuc-ceeding Times ; and the other Titles of Deputy, Preli-dent, and Vicegerent, laid afide. As to the Bufinefs ofthis Officer, fufficient has been faid already. As an Ef-fential Honour to his Place, he has from ancient Timehad fome of the Knights-Ccmpanisns afligned for his Af-fiftants ; the firft menrion of which is in the RegiflrumChartaceum, 8 Hen. VIII. The Number of thele Afli-ftants were in thofe times uncertain j at the time aforefaidthey were 4. 21 Htn. VIII. 3. and 32 Hen. VIII. we findbut two ; which Number has been a conftant Rule everfince, except once, vi\. the laft of Hen. VIII. They werealways appointed in Chapter, and have Letters of notice