Letter 7040: Eternal is the benefit granted with the favor of posterity, and nothing is more fitting for a king than to serve...

40. FORMULA FOR CONFIRMING A MARRIAGE AND FOR MAKING CHILDREN LEGITIMATE. [1] Eternal is the benefit that has been conferred by favor upon posterity, nor is anything more fitting for a king than if he should grant it to the very origin of humankind. For one who is about to come into the light does not deserve to take up adverse misfortunes, lest he incur the burden of legal restriction before he finds the joys of the light above. [2] And so, in the petition presented, you declare that the woman whom a pleasing embrace has bound to you ought, by our benefit, to be joined to you in the honorableness of wedlock, so that the children born from her may obtain the name of heirs. For since a spontaneous union joins together all living creatures, and to each one that which has pleased him seems worthy, it is hard that liberty should not be held free in that very matter from which free children [liberi, a play on liber, 'free,' and liberi, 'children'] are procreated. [3] And therefore that woman, who, as the law prescribes, is proved not to have been equal in honorable standing, we decree shall become your lawful wife, and the sons from this same spouse, whether those who have already been received or those who are yet to be received, we will to obtain the rights of heirs, so that under no doubt you may cherish those whom you know shall absolutely be your future successors. For nature has bestowed sons upon you, but we make them most dear to you by such security.

XL. FORMULA DE MATRIMONIO CONFIRMANDO ET LIBERIS LEGITIMIS FACIENDIS. [1] Aeternum est beneficium quod posteritatis fuerit favore collatum nec plus est conveniens regi quam si humanae praestet origini. in lucem quippe venturus casus suscipere non meretur adversos, ne ante gravamen districtionis incurrat quam gaudia supernae lucis inveniat. [2] Oblata itaque supplicatione depromis mulierem quam tibi placitus illigavit amplexus, beneficio nostro iugali honestate debere sociari, ut ex ea liberi nati nomen nanciscantur heredum. nam cum spontanea copula animantia cuncta consociet dignumque unicuique videatur esse quod placuit, durum est ibi libertatem liberam non haberi, unde liberi procreantur. [3] Et ideo illam quae, sicut iure praecipitur, honestate non fuisse probatur aequalis, legitimam tibi fieri censemus uxorem et filios ex eadem coniuge, sive qui suscepti sunt sive qui sunt suscipiendi, heredum volumus iura sortiri, ut sub nulla dubietate diligas quos tibi absolute successores futuros esse cognoscas. natura enim tibi praestitit filios, sed nos tali securitate facimus esse carissimos.