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1640 Englands Complaint sig. F2, At such times (which altogether containe almost halfe of the yeare) without the Bishops Speciall Licence, no Man or Woman may Marry.

1670 T. Blount Νομο-λεξικον: Law-dict. Advent,..This is also one of the times, from the beginning whereof..the solemnizing of marriage is forbidden, without special Licence.

1712 Bp. St. Asaph's Charge to Clergy 25 None should be clandestinely married, without Banns being first publish'd, or without Special Licence obtain'd.

1790 F. Burney Diary Jan. (1842) V. 85 Mr Fairly's marriage..was by special licence, and at the house of Sir R— F—.

1825 H. Wilson Mem. iii. 168 Lord Frederic Beauclerc..declares himself willing to..marry us, privately, by special licence, provided you agree to grant him les droits du seigneur. Worcester enquired what that meant. Simply, les droits du mari, for the first night.

1908 H. Cecil Let. 20 Aug. in R. S. Churchill Winston S. Churchill (1969) II. Compan. ii. 808 A special licence costs a lot of money..so you had better go for an ordinary one or for banns.

1973 Scotsman 7 Aug. 6/2 The ‘wedding’ in the registrar's office at Dumfries took place after the couple were granted a special licence in the courthouse only 50 yards away.

2010 Sun (Nexis) 14 July 19 Clergy will no longer have to apply for a special licence if a couple from one church want to marry in another.