Urbanus episcopus servus servorum (lei venerabili fratri (Willelmo) Episcopo Sodorensi salutem et apostolicain benedic-tionem. Oblat-,e nobis nuper pro garte nobilis viri Lacolanni Johannis dicti Maeguilleon domicelli et nobilis mulieris Mariæ de Insulis natæ dilecti filii nobilis viri Johannis domini Insularum tuæ dicecesis petitionis series continebat, quod olim idem Laco-lannus non ignorans se et dictam Mariam quarto consanguinitatis gradu fore conjunctos et præfata Maria hujusmodi consanguinitatis gradum penitus ignorans, cupientes diuturnis guerris et scandalis quæ inter utriusque parentes ipsorum et amicos vigebant, quarum occasione nonnulla homicidia incendia spolia et rapinæ in locis sacris et non sacris fuerant multipliciter subsecuta, obviare, paren-tum et majoris partis amicorum suorum ad id interveniente tractatu pariter et assensu, matrimonium per verba legitima de præsenti, nullis tamen bannis edictis timore quorundam æmulorum suorum guerram hujusmodi magis quam pacem desiderantium, clandestine invicem contraxerunt, propter quod Lacolannus a Canone tam ipse quam et Maria prædicta per provinciales sen synodales constitutiones promulgatas excommnnicationis sententias incurrisse noscuntur, iidemque Lacolannus et Maria matrimonium hujusmodi postmodum carnaai copula consumarunt et prolem exinde proerearunt, quodque ex eorum separatione, si fieret, scandala pejora prioribus possent verisimiliter exoriri. Ruare pro parte Lacolanni et Mariæ prædictorum nobis extitit humiliter supplicatum, ut providere eis de absolutionis beneficio ab hujusmodi excommunicationis sententiis, quas propter prærr~issa incurrerunt, ut præfertur, et dispensationis gratia de benignitate apostolica dignaremur. Nos igitur, qui salutem quærimus singulorum, et libenter Christi fidelibus quietis et pacis commoda procuramus, volentes Lacolanni et Mariæ prædictorum super præmissis ani-marum providere saluti, ac cupientes hujusmodi scandalis quautum cum deo possumus salubriter obviare, fraternitati tuæ, de qua in its et aliis specialem in domino fiduciam obtinemus, per apostolica ' scripta committimus et mandamus, quatenus, si est ita et tibi expediens videatur quod dicta dispensatio concedatur, super quo tuam conscientiam oneramus, Lacolannum et Mariam præfatos ab hujusmodi excommunicationis sententiis, quas ut præfertur ineurrerunt, auctoritate nostra juxta formam ecclesiæ absolvas, injunctis eis inter alia sub virtute juramenti præstandi quod de cetero talia non committant nec facientibus præbeant auxilium consilium vel favorem, et etiam penitentia salutari ac aliis quæ de jure fuerint injungenda, et demum cum iisdem Lacolanno et Maria ut, impedimento quod ex consanguinitate hujusmodi provenit non obstante, dummodo dicta Maria propter hoc rapta non fuerit, et ad id parentum prædictorum et majoris partis consanguinco-rum Lacolanni et Mariæ prædictorum titra tertium gradum ac-cedat assensus, in sic contracto matrimonio licite remanere valeant auctoritate prædicta dispenses, prolem susceptam hujusmodi et exditto xnatrimonio suscipiendam legitimam decernendo. Volum us autem quod idem Lacolannus, si eidem Mariæ supervixerit, perpetuo remaneat innuptus. Datum Massiliæ iii. Idus Maii pontificatus nostri anno quinto.

Urban Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to our venerable brother (William) Bishop of Sodor, health and apostolica) benediction.

The petition lately presented to us on the part of the noble-man Lacolan surnamed the Master of Maeguilleon, and the noble lady Mary of the Isles the daughter of our beloved son the nobleman John Lord of the Isles, in your diocese, stated that sometime since the said Lacolan, with the knowledge that he and the said Mary were connected in the fourth degree of consanguinity, and the said Mary who was entirely ignorant of this degree of relationship, desiring to put a stop to constant wars and scandals which were ever rife between the parents and friends of each, and on occasion of which murders and deeds of arson plunder and rapine had oftentimes occurred, in places both sacred and not sacred, through the intervention and with the assent of their parents and the majority of their friends clandestinely contracted marriage, using words legitimately expressing present consent, without however having any banns published, for fear of some of their rivals who preferred this state of strife to peace ; that on this account both Lacolan and the said Mary are known to have incurred ipso facto the sentences of excommunication promulgated by Synodal or Provincial constitutions; that the said Lacolan and Mary afterwards consummated by carnal union, this marriage, and begat children ; and that from their separation, if it should take place, scandals greater than the former ones would probably arise

Wherefore, upon the part of the aforesaid Lacolan and Mary, We have been humbly petitioned to deign in our Apostolical benignity to confer upon them the benefit of absolution from these sentences of excommunication which they have incurred as above mentioned on account of the aforesaid cause, and the favour of a dispensation.

We therefore, who seek for the salvation of all, and willingly procure for the faithful of Christ the benefits of peace and quiet, wishing to provide for the salvation of the souls of Lacolan and Mary aforesaid in this affair, and desiring to obviate such like scandals as much as with God's help We are able, by these Apostolical Letters commit and entrust to you, Brother, in whom We have both in this and other affairs a special confidence in the Lord, to absolve by Our authority, in accordance with the forms of the Church (if the case be as stated and it appear to you expedient that such a dispensation be granted, in regard to which matter We charge your conscience), the above mentioned Lacolan and Mary from the sentences of excommunication, which as aforesaid they have incurred ; to enjoin them, amongst other things, under oath not to commit such acts in future, nor to give assistance counsel or favour to those who so do ; to impose also a salutary penance, and the other things which in accordance with law have to be enjoined; and finally, by the aforesaid authority to dispense with the said Lacolan and Mary, so that they may lawfully continue in the marriage thus contracted, notwithstanding the impediment which arises from such consanguinity, provided that the said Mary was not violently carried off for this purpose, and that the assent be given of the aforesaid parents and of the majority of the aforesaid relations of Lacolan and Mary within the third degree; and to declare legitimate the offspring both present and future of this marriage. We will, moreover, that the said Lacolan, if he survive the said Mary, remain perpetually unmarried.

Given at Marseilles, the 13th May, in the fifth year of Our Pontificate

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor
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