Biography of Margaret Graham 3rd Countess Menteith 1334-1380

Vetera Monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum DLXXIX. Clement, etc. To our venerable brother, [John] Bishop of Moray, greeting, etc. A petition on behalf of our beloved son a noble young man, [her future husband] John of Moray, and our beloved daughter in Christ, a noble woman, Margaret of Graham (age 14), a damsel, daughter of our beloved son, a noble man, [her father] John of Graham, Earl of Menteith, who belong to your diocese and the diocese of Dunblane, has lately been laid before us, representing that the said John of Moray and Margaret desire to be united together in matrimony; but because through descent from the same family they happen to be related within the fourth degree of consanguinity, they cannot contract this marriage without obtaining our apostolic dispensation in the matter; wherefore, on their behalf, humble supplication has been made to us that we would vouchsafe to provide for them by the ready benefit of a dispensation: We, therefore, yielding to the supplications of our very dear daughter in Christ, [Joanna,] illustrious queen of Scotland (age 27), humbly entreating us concerning this matter, and to those of John of Moray and Margaret foresaid, and for certain causes explained to us, do, by apostolic letters, command you, brother, that if it is so, you may, by our authority, grant a dispensation, so that notwithstanding the impediment which has arisen out of this consanguinity, the said John of Moray and Margaret may be free to contract marriage, and after it shall have been contracted, lawfully to abide therein; declaring that the offspring to he conceived of the said marriage shall be legitimate. Given at Avignon, the 21st November, in the seventh year of our pontificate (1348).

Epitropo Moravientl, ut cum Joanne de Moraria et Margareta de GrameOr»m« nuper matrimonio dispenset. Reg. An. VII. lib. V. par. 2. fol. 78.

Clemens episcopus etc. Venerabili fratri... Episcopo Moraviensi, salutem etc. Petitio pro parte dilecti filii nobilis viri Iohannis de Moravia domicelli, ot dilecte in Christo filie nobilis mulieris Margarete de Grame, nate dilecti filii nobilis viri Iohannis de Grame Comitis de Meneteth, domicelle tue et Dumblanensis diocesum nobis nuper exhibita continebat, quod ipsi Iohannes de Moravia et Margareta desiderant invicem matrimonialiter copulari: sed quia quarto consanguinitatis gradu descendentes ab eodem stipite se continguut, matrimonium huiusmodi contrahere nequeunt dispensatione super hoc apostolica non obtenta: quare pro parte ipsorum fuit nobis humiliter supplicatum, ut providere ipsis super hoc de oportuno dispensationis beneficio dignaremur. Nos igitur Carissime in Christo filie nostro... Regine Scocie Illustris nobis Buper hoc humiliter supplicantis, et Iohannis de Moravia et Margarete prodictorum supplicationibus inclinati, ot cx certis causis nobis expositis fraternitati tue per apostolica scripta mandamus, quatenus, si est ita, cum eisdem Iohanne de Moravia et Margareta, ut impedimento, quod ex huiusmodi consanguinitate provenit, nequaquam obstante, matrimonium invicem contrahere libere, et postquam contractum fuerit, in eo remanere licite valeant, auctoritate nostra dispensos, prolem suscipiendam ex eodem matrimonio legitimam nunciando. Datum Avinione xi. Kal. Decembris, Pontificatus nostri anno septimo.

Vetera Monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum DCI. Clement, etc. Unto a beloved son, a noble man, [her future husband] Thomas Earl of Mar (age 22), and a beloved daughter in Christ, Margaret (age 18), widow of the late [her former husband] 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.

Vetera Monumenta Hibernorum et Scotorum DCXL. Innocent, etc. To our venerable brother, [Walter] Bishop of Dunblane, greeting, etc. The order of the petition presented to us on behalf of a noble young man, [her husband] John of Drummond (age 42), and a noble woman, Margaret, Countess of Menteith (age 26), belonging to your diocese, narrated that they, being for n long time past desirous of allaying and setting at rest the grievous contentions and emmities which for some time have existed between the said John and the kinsmen and friends of the said Margaret at the instigation of the enemy of the human race, from which burnings, homicides, and many other evils have ensued, desiring also to obviate more grievous dangers and ills which they feared were likely to arise therefrom, and to procure a bond of peace between them, the Lord granting it, and knowing that they were related in the fourth degree of consanguinity, they have in face of the Church contracted marriage together of which they have begotten offspring. But seeing, as the said petition related, that if a divorce were to take place between them, great scandals, dissensions, wars, enmities, murders, and other possible evils might very probably threaten them and their kinsmen and friends, and be very damaging as it were to the whole kingdom of Scotland, we have on their behalf been humbly besougit that we would of our apostolic benignity vouchsafe to absolve them from the sentence of excommunication imposed by the canon [law] which they have incurred by this procedure, and to provide to them the benefit of a ready dispensation thereanent. We, therefore, who cheerfully procure for the faithful of Christ the benefits of salvation and peace, striving as much as we may in the Lord to prevent such scandals, dissensions, wars, enmities, murders and other evils, and to consult the welfare of their souls, yielding to the petitions of the said Juhn and Margaret, do, by apostolic letters, command and commit to you, brother, in whom we repose special confidence, that if it is so, you may absolve the foresaid Jchm and Margaret from the sentence »f excommunication according to the forms of the Church, and they, having been separated for such time as shall seem good to you in your discretion, shall be enjoined upon oath not to commit the like again, nor to afford counsel, aid, or favour to any doing the like; and that if by virtue of these presents you happen to dispense with these things, they, within the space of two years, shall cause to be constructed, or choose from among those already constructed, in your clurch of Dunblane, one altar, and of their own goods endow the same to the value of ten marks of silver of annual and perpetual rent, and with books, furnishings, a house axd other things necessary to the service of the said altar; and this notwithstanding, let them, within the above-mentioned term, give in marriage two poor maidens, and dover each of them with the value of ive marks of silver; and if it seem expedient to you that such a dispensation be granted in other things which shall of right have been enjoined, as to which we burden your conscience, you may, by apostolic authority, grant dispensation, that, notwithstanding the impediment which arose from the said consasguinity, they may be free to contract marriage, and after it shall have been contracted, to abide lawfully therein decerning the offspring conceived and to be conceived of the said marriage to be legitimate. But we will that the foresuid altar and benefice may be conferred only on a priest vho ought to be present in the said church during divine service and in canonical hours, and celebrate divine service on the said altar, of which altar or benefice the right of patronage ought to belong in perpetuity to the said noble persons and their heirs, but the visitation [thereof] to you and your successors, who shall be for the time Bishops of Dunblane. Given at Avignon, the 29th of April, in the eighth year of our pontificate, 1360.

Episcopo Dunblanensi, ut cum Joanna de Drumomlo et Margarita comitissa de Meneteht super matrimonio dispensare possit. Reg. An. VIII. Tom. XXiV. cod. chart, fol. 508,

Innocentius episcopus etc. Venerabili fratri ... Episcopo Dumblanensi, salutem etc. Exhibite nobis pro parte nobilis viri Iohannis de Drumondo domicelli, et nobilis mulieris Margarete Comitisse de Meneteht tue diocesis petitionis series continebat, quod olim ipsi graves guerras et inimicitias, que inter ipsum lohannem et ipsius Margarete consanguineos et amicos aliquamdiu vigerunt, instigante humani generis inimico, ex quibus incendia, homicidia et alia multa mala secuta fuerant, sedare et sopire, ac I gravioribus periculis et malis, quo exinde verisimiliter evenire timebantur, obviare, et pacis inter ipsos vinculum procurare, dante domino, cupientes, ac scientes se esse quarto consanguinitatis gradu con; iunctos, matrimonium in facie ecclesie insimul contraxerunt et prolem exindo procrearunt. Cum autem, sicut eadem petitio subiungebat, ex divortio, si fieret inter eos, magna scandala, dissensiones, gueiro, inimicitie, homicidia et alia mala quam plurima ipsis et eorum consanguineis et amicis, et quasi toti regno Scocie valde dampnosa verisimiliter imminere possent, pro parte ipsorum nobis extitit humiliter supplicatum, ut eos ab excomunicationis sententia lata a canone, quam occasione huiusmodi incurrerant, absolvere, eisque super biis de oportune dispensationis hencficio providere de benignitate apostolica dignaremur. Nos igitur, qui libenter Christi fidelibus salutis et pacis commoda procuramus, huiusmodi scandalis, dissensionibus, guerris, inimicitiis, homicidiis et malis aliis obviaro, et ipsorum animarum saluti consulere, quantum cum deo possumus, intendentes, dictorum Iohannis et Margarete supplicationibus inclinati, fraternitati tue, de qua specialem in domino fiduciam gerimus, per apostolica scripta committimus et mandamus, quatenus, si est ita, lohannem et Margaretam predictos ab eadem excommunicationis sententia iuxta formam ecclesie absolvas, eisque iuxta tue discretionis arbitrium ad tempus, de quo tibi videbitur, separatis, ac iniunctia eis sub virtute iuramenti prostandi per eos, quod similia dc cetero non committant, nec ea committentibus prebeant consilium, auxilium vel favorem, et quod infra biennium, si per te cum eis super hiis vigore presentium dispensari contigerit, construi faciant, vel do constructis in tua ecclesia Dumblanensi eligant unum altare, et ipsum de bonis propriis dotent de valore decem marcharum argenti annui et perpetui redditus, ac libris, paramentis, domo et aliis necessariis ad obsequia altaris predicti, ct nicliilominus duas pauperes muliereB puellas maritent, et earum cuilibet donent pro doto valorcm quinque marcharum argenti infra terminum supradicturo, et aliis, que de iure fuerint iniungenda, si tibi videatur expediens, quod buiusmodi dispensatio concedatur, super quo tuam conscientiam oneramus, eum Iohanne et Margareta prodictis, ut impedimento, quod ex dicta consanguinitate provenit, non obstante, matrimonium invicem libero contrahere, et in eo, postquam contractum fuerit, licite remanere valeant, apostolica auctoritato dispenses, prolem susceptam ct suscipiendam ex huiusmodi matrimonio legitimam decernendo. Volumus autem, quod prefatum altare sive beneficium conferri non possit nisi sacerdoti, qui debeat interesse in dicta ecclesia divinis officiis et lioris canonicis, et in dictg altari divinum officium celebrare: cuius quidem altaris sive beneficii ius patronatus ad ipsos nobiles et eorum heredes, visitatio vero ad te et successores tuos episcopos Dumblancnses, qui erunt pro tempore, perpetuo debeant pertinere. Datum Avinione ixxt. Kal. Maii, Pontificatus nostri anno octavo.

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, [her future husband] Robert (age 21), son of a beloved son, a noble nan, [her future father-in-law] 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 [her former husband] John of Moray in the first degree, and to the late [her former husband] 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.