Vetera Monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum DCI

Clement, etc. Unto a beloved son, a noble man, Thomas Earl of Mar (age 22), and a beloved daughter in Christ, Margaret (age 18), widow of the late John of Moray, of the diocese of Aberdeen, greeting. The watchful providence of the apostolic see, tempering at times the rigour of justice with kindness, with gracious benignity permits what the institutes of the sacred canons forbid, regard being had to the quality of the persons and the times, as may appear usefully expedient in the Lord. Forasmuch as your petition laid before us showed that you, son Earl, cannot readily find in all the kingdom of Scotland, whence you are sprung, any woman but thee, daughter Margaret, with whom you may marry as becomes your rank, and that you accordingly desire to be united in marriage, but because you are related in the third and fourth degrees of affinity, you cannot conveniently nor lawfully fulfil this your desire without obtaining the apostolic dispensation thereupon; wherefore you have humbly besought us that we would graciously vouchsafe to provide thercanent by a suitable dispensation: We, therefore, for these and certain other causes explained to us, yielding to these supplications, do, by apostolic authority, and by a special gift of gracz, by the tenor of these presents, dispense, that ye may, notwithstanding the impediment arising from this consanguinity, be free to contract marriage, and after it shall have been contracted, to abide lawfully therein, declaring that the offspring to be conceived of this marriage shall be legitimate. Therefore let no man whatever break this page of our dispensation, or oppose it by rash daring, but if any one presume to attempt this let him know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Avignon, 15th August, in the eleventh year of our pontificate (1352).

Cum Thoma comite de Marre et Margareta de Moravia dispensatur super matrimonio. Rng. An. XI. Com. Iib. I. fol, 311.

Clemens episcopus etc. Dilecto filio nobili viro Tbome Comiti de Marre, et dilecte in Christo filie Margarete, relicte quondam Iobaunis de Moravia vidue, Aberdonensis diocesis, salutem etc. Sedis apostolico providentia circumspecta nonnunquam rigorem iustitie mansuetudine temperans, quod sacrorum canonum prohibent instituta, de gratia benignitatis indulget, prout personarum ct temporum qualitate pensata, id in deo (utiliter viderit expedire. Exposita siquidem nobis vestra petitio continebat), quod tu, fili ComeB, in toto regno Scotie, unde oriundus existis, aliquam mulierem, nisi te, filia Margerita, cum qua secundum tui status decentiam matrimonialiter copulari valeas, comode invenire non potes, et quod vos perinde matrimonialiter coniungi invicem affectatis: sed quia tertio et quarto affinitatis gradu vobis mutuo attinetis, huiusmodi vestrum desiderium adimplere comode (licite, dispensatione super boc apostolica non obtenta,) non potestis: quare nobis humiliter supplicastis, ut providere vobis super hoc de oportune dispensationis gratia dignaremur. Nos igitur ox hiis et aliis certis causis nobis expositis huiusmodi supplicationibus inclinati, vobiscum, ut impedimento, quod cx huiusmodi affinitate provenit, non obstante, matrimonium invicem contrahere libere et in eo, postquam contractum fuerint, remanere licite valeatis, auctoritate apostolica de speciali dono gratie tenore presentium dispensamus, prolem suscipiendam ex huiusmodi matrimonio legitimam nunciantes. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre dispensationis infringere etc. Si quis autem etc. Datum Avinione xvm. Kal. Septembris Pontificatus nostri anno undecimo.