Vetera Monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum DCXLV

Innocent, etc. To our venerable brother, [Walter?] Bishop of Dunblane, greeting, etc. A petition presented to us on behalf of a beloved son, a noble man, Robert (age 21), son of a beloved son, a noble nan, Robert, Earl of Strathern (age 45), and a beloved daughter in Christ, a noble woman, Margaret, Countess of Menteith (age 27), of the diocese of Dunblane, narrated that a treaty was lately made between their parents for securing the common weal and safety of the whole realm of Scotland, in which the city and diocese of Dunblane are situated, by contracting marriage between the son Robert and the Countess foresaid, but because the son Robert and the Countess foresaid are related in the fourth degree of consanguinity, and moreover, because the said son Robert is related to the late John of Moray in the first degree, and to the late Thomas, Earl of Mar (age 31), husbands of the said Countess, in the fourth degree, that is to say, to John on both sides, and Thomas, Earl foresaid, only on one side, he cannot implement such treaty without obtaining an apostolic dispensation thereanent. But seeing that, as the said petition subjoins, unless the treaty be carried out, it might be truly feared that all manner of dangers would threaten the earldoms of Strathern and Menteith of your said diocese, as well the clergy as the people, we have been humbly besought, on behalf of the said Robert the son and the Countess, that we would mercifully vouchsafe to provide the suitable favour of a dispensation for this. We, therefore, who fervently seek the peace and quiet of the faithful in all places, and provide against both evils and dangers as much ag we are able in the Lord, yielding to these supplications, commit to, and by these apostolic writs command you, brother, that if it is so, you may by our authority grant a dispensation to the said Robert the son and the Countess who may, notwithstanding the impediment arising from the foresaid affinity and consanguinity, contract marriage together, and, after it shall have been contracted, abide lawfully therein, declaring the offspring to be conceived of such marriage legitimate: Provided that Robert the son and the Countess foresaid, within one year, to be reckoned from the date of granting the dispensation, shall found and cause to be constructed in the city or diocese of Dunblane one chapel to the honour of God, and decently endow the same with an annual rent of twelve marks of silver for one perpetual chaplain to serve the Lord there. Given at Avignon, the 9th September, in the ninth year of our pontificate (1361).

Episcopo Dumblanensi, ut cum Roberto de Stratherne et Margarita comitissa de Menthelt super matrimonio dispenset. Reg. Tom. XXVI. par. 2. cod. chart. fol, 575.

Innocentius episcopus etc. Venerabili fratri ... Episcopo Dumblanonsi, salutem etc. Exhibita nobis pro parte dilecti filii nobilis viri Roberti, nati dilecti filii nobilis viri Roberti Comitis de Stratheme, et dilecto in Christo filio nobilis mulieris Margarito Comitisse de Menthelt tue Dumblanensis diocesis petitio continebat, quod nuper inter parentes eorum pro communi utilitate et tuitione totius Regni Scocie, in qno Civitas et diocesis Dumblanensis consistunt, de matrimonio contrahendo inter Robertum natum et Comitissara prodictos habitus est tractatus: sed quia Robertus natus et Comitissa predicta quarto consanguinitatis gradu invicem se contingunt, ct insuper quia idem Robertus natus quondam Iobanni de Moravia primo, et quondam Thome Comiti do Marre dicte Comitisse viris quarto consanguinitatis gradu, Iohanni videlicet ex utroque, et Thome Comiti predictis ex uno dumtaxat lateribus attinebat, tractatus huiusmodi adimpleri non potest, dispensatione super hoc apostolica non obtenta. Cum autem, sicut eadem petitio subiungebat, nisi tractatus huiusmodi compleatur, de Comitatuum de Stratheme et Memmithet dicte tuo diocesis tam in clero, quam in populo omnimoda pericliatione verisimiliter dubitaretur: fuit nobis pro papte ipsorum Robcrti nati et Comitisse humiliter supplicatum, ut providoro ipsis super hoc de oportune dispensationis gratia misericorditer dignaremur. Nos itaque, qui in cunctis fidelium locis quietem et pacem ferventer appetimus, ac malis et periculis, quantum cum deo possumus, precavemus, huiusmodi supplicationibus inclinati, fraternitati tue per apostolica scripta committimus et mandamus, quatenus, si est ita, cum eisdem Roborto nato et Comitissa, ut impedimento, quod ex predictis consanguinitate et affinitate provenit, non obstante, matrimonium insimul contrahero, et in eo, postquam contractum fuerit, remanere licite valeant, auctoritate nostra dispensos, prolem suscipiendam ox huiusmodi matrimonio legitimam nunciando: proviso, quod Robertus natus et Comitissa predicti infra unum annum a tempore, quo cum eis dispensaveris, computandum, ad honorem dei de bonis suis fundent et construi faciant in civitate seu diocesi Dumbl&nensi unam Capellam, eamque decenter dotent de annuo redditu duodecim marcharum argenti pro uno perpetuo Capellano ibidem domino servituro. Datum Avinione v. Idus Septembris, Pontificatus nostri anno nono.