Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/216

184 rashly despised the wholesome precepts of the Church, is not worthy to experience her bounty, with ease. But if, having observed the solemnities, some impediment be afterwards discovered to exist secretly, of which he might probably, be ignorant, he may then obtain a dispensation more easily and gratuitously. As regards marriages to be contracted, either no dispensation at all shall be granted, or but seldom, and then for a cause, and gratuitously. A dispensation shall never be granted in the second degree, except between great princes, and for a public cause.

CHAPTER VI.

How Ravishers are to be punished.

The holy synod ordains, that no marriage can subsist between the ravisher and her who is ravished, so long as she shall remain in the power of the ravisher. But if she that has been ravished, being separated from her ravisher, and being in a safe and free place, shall consent to have him for her husband, the ravisher may have her for his wife; nevertheless, the abducer himself and all who afforded him advice, aid, and countenance, shall be by the very act excommunicated, and for ever infamous, and incapable of all dignities; and if they be clerks, they shall forfeit their rank. The ravisher shall furthermore be bound, whether he marry or do not marry the woman ravished, to settle on her a suitable dowry at the discretion of the judge.

CHAPTER VII.

Vagrants are to be manned with caution.

There are many persons who are vagrants, and have no settled homes; and, being of a dissolute disposition, they, after deserting their first wife, marry another, and very often several in different places, during her lifetime. The holy synod, being desirous to meet this disorder, gives this fatherly admonition to all whom it concerns, not easily to admit this class of vagrant persons to marriage; and it also exhorts the civil magistrates to punish them severely. But it commands parish priests that they do not be present at the marriages of such persons, unless they have first made