It hath sometimes happened, that some of the Officers of this Order have been Sworn at other Times, as at Chapters next ensuing their Nomination and Choice, wherein the Administration of the Oath is one of the first things done.
Touching the second particular debated in Chapter, viz. the dispensing with, or punishing absent Knights; it is to be considered, that the Statutes of the Order enjoin all the Knights-Companions to be present at the Celebration of the Grand Feast: that is, those that are within the Kingdom, or elsewhere; although the Service of St. George, according to the Rites of the Church, be not celebrated, as on the Service of the Day whereon that of St. George has fallen, viz. Good-Friday: But with this Limitation, so that they be in a capacity, or may conveniently repair thither.
Therefore the next thing usually entred upon in the Chapter, is the Sovereign’s and Knights-Companions taking notice, whether any of the Fellowship make default of coming at the Hour assign’d; and if so, they are considered under one of these Heads. First, Stranger Princes; Secondly, Late Commissioners who are arrived, or every Minute expected; and Thirdly, Such as have given notice that they cannot be present, during the continuation of the Feast: Of these Excuses of course, verbal Apologies, or Letters of Excuse, are, or may be, offered; and in case they are approved or admitted, then the Penance, which by the Statutes ought otherwise to be inflicted, is admitted; all which ought to be recorded.
Stranger Princes are excused in course, on Account of their necessary Residence in their own Territories; and of their Excuses and accustom’d Dispensations, are divers Instances in the Registers of the Order.
As to Knights-Companions, who are tardy in their Journey, or being come to the Castle, fall short of the Hour, or of attending the Sovereign to the Chapter-House, either through negligence, or want of timely notice, or other accident; the Statutes enjoin for Penance, that they be not permitted for that time to enter into the Chapter, but tarry without the Door, and not have Voice in any thing that shall happen to be done there, unless they can alledge a just Excuse, or render such a sufficient cause as the Sovereign, or his Deputy, shall approve of; but few defaulters have been noted of this kind.
The third sort of Delinquents, are those Knights-Companions absent, not only at the Hour of Tierce, but are likely to be so during the whole Feast; the Proceedings relating to them, are either upon what is offered in Excuse of their absence, or determined on their neglect of making Apology for it.
Excuses for absence, are either by Letters or Word of Mouth; if by Letters, they are directed to the Chancellor of the Order; or else the Sovereign sends to his Lieutenant on their behalf, and both are produc’d by the Chancellor: But if Excuse be made by Word of Mouth, then are they delivered by the Sovereign himself; or on motion made by some of the Knights-Companions present in Chapter.
The Custom of sending Letters has been very ancient: The Lord Powis’s Letter, under his Hand and Seal, (certifying his Indisposition of Body,) was produc’d in Chapter, Anno 8 Hen. V. And the following Year the Dukes of York, Norfolk, and Buckingham, with the Earls of Salisbury, Shrewsbury, and Pembrook, Viscount Bourchier, the Lord Rivers, and Sir John Falstaff; being all absent from St. George’s Feast, they declared the reason of their absence by their Messengers. There are many Precedents of this kind, and of Letters sent from the Sovereign, directed to his Lieutenant, to accept of Knights-Companions Excuses, whose absence he had beforehand dispenc’d with; we observe those Dispensations excus’d not the sending their own particular Excuses; for it is evident they were also expected, and that such allowance of absence was not Absolute, the Clause running thus: That you [the Sovereign’s Deputy] allow these Excuses so far as are consonant to reason. And in all other Letters of the same nature, a Clause to this Effect hath been inferred: That as the Sovereign thought good to advertise his Deputy, that for certain Causes he had dispenc’d with their Attendance for that time; so he will’d him to accept their reasonable Excuses in that behalf accordingly.
Secondly, The absent Knights-Companions have had their Excuses frequently made by Word of Mouth, either of the Sovereign, or some other of the Knights-Companions, present in the Chapter. This Favour is done either by the Sovereign himself, if present; or by his Order to the Lieutenant, in his absence.
There have been many Examples of what hath been done in this Case, and also when the Sovereign hath not been present in Chapter, but hath beforehand verbally given his Deputy or Lieutenant direction to excuse the absence of several Knights-Companions.