Question — Decretum of Gratian
Question II
GRATIAN. Betrothals cannot be contracted before the age of seven. For they are contracted by consent alone, which cannot intervene unless what is transacted between them is understood by each party. Therefore, betrothals are proved unable to be contracted between children whose weakness of age does not admit consent. Pope Nicholas attests this same thing, saying:
GRATIANUS. Sponsalia ante septennium contrahi non possunt. Solo enim consensu contrahuntur, qui interuenire non potest, nisi ab alterutra parte id intelligatur, quod inter eos agitur. Probantur ergo sponsalia non posse contrahi inter pueros, quorum etatis infirmitas consensum non admittit. Testatur hoc idem Nykolaus Papa dicens:
Friedberg, col. 1099/1100
SOLE CHAPTER. Before the time for consenting, marriage cannot be contracted.
Where there is not the consent of both, there is no marriage. Therefore, those who give girls to boys in their cradles, and conversely, accomplish nothing unless each of the children consents after reaching the time of discretion, even if the father and mother did this and willed it.
C. UN. Ante tempus consentiendi coniugium contrahi non potest.
Ubi non est consensus utriusque, non est coniugium. Ergo qui pueris dant puellas in cunabulis, et e conuerso, nichil faciunt, nisi uterque puerorum post, quam uenerit ad tempus discretionis, consentiat, etiamsi pater et mater hoc fecerint et uoluerint.
Friedberg, col. 1099/1100