Book 1: Capitolos de Cortes and seven other works. Book 2: 11 works.

The reigns of King Manuel I (1495-1521) and of his son Joao III (1521-1557) mark the era of the greatest power and wealth in Portugal, following the great discoveries of Vasco da Gama, Cabral and Magellan. “Lisbon very soon displaced Venice as the entrepot for Asiatic goods, and became a center of wealth and luxury.” The “Cortes” were rarely consulted, but Manuel and his son were much concerned with the reform and improvement of the legislation and certain social conditions. Of this tendency this collection gives varied and interesting examples .

BOOK 1 – Capitolos de Cortes and seven other works.

The collection, bound in one folio volume, contains eight treatises and decrees. All the eight works are printed in a heavy Gothic type, and bound in one volume in a brown calf binding, richly tooled, which is an exact replica of an old Portuguese binding. Front and back cover have heavy metal bosses which show the royal arms of Portugal in the center and armillary spheres in the four corners. With metal clasps.

1. Capítolos de cortes./E leys que fe fobre al-/guũs delles fezeram. Lisboa, German Galharde, 3 March 1539 Folio. [4], lxxiiij ff Ornamental woodcut title page, with the royal arms: a griffin standing on a shield. Another woodcut, at the end of the index, a woodcut of an astronomical instrument, underneath the legend: “Spera in Deo, et fac Bonitatem”. Capítolos de cortes combines the royal decrees of the years 1525, 1535 and 1538, and it covers not only procedures of civil and criminal law, it also deals with the appointment of officers and civil servants, with coinage and financial affairs in general, with gypsies, and many other subjects. Last page with autograph signature by Ioham Paaez, Lord Chancellor. Extremely rare. Reference: Anselmo 617; BN 636; no copy in the library of King Manuel.

2. Ordenaçam da defesa dos veludos e sedas./Dom Ioam per graça de deos Rey de Por/tugal e dos Algarues n.p. (German Galharde), n.d. (after 3 June 1535) Folio. [4] ff An edict regulating the import of velvet and silk. In last page: “ Dada em a cidade devora aos tres dias de Junho Pero/fernandes a fez anno do nacimento de nosso senhor Jesus em mil/e quinhentos e trinta e cinco annos” Variant not registered in Anselmo and BN. No copy in the library of King Manuel. Very rare

3. Ordenaçam da ordem/do juizo. Lisboa, German Galharde, 27 July 1526 Folio. [10] ff Above de title is the Royal coat of arms with a griffin crest, and the title-page is bordered by woodcuts. On verso of title the portrait woodcut of the king D. Manuel II, seated on the throne, holding the scepter and the armillary Sphere. In last page autograph signature by Aluarez, Lord Chancellor. This third piece is of extreme importance and very rare; it has been described in great detail in the Catalogue of Early Portuguese Books in the Library of King Manuel (I, no. 23, pp 416-425). “The Law on the manner of giving Judgment is a very rare work of which Anselmo and Proenca trace only the copy in the National Library at Lisbon. This statute forms part of the laws of Portugal which were subjected to such sweeping reform by King Manuel”. The purpose of the law is to simplify litigation and to reduce the high expenses for lawsuits. Reference: Anselmo 575; BN 728; King Manuel describes two different issues in his catalogue – KM 23 (our issue is the version A)

4. Dom Joam per graça/de deos rey de Portugal... Lisboa, German Galharde, 18 January 1539 Folio. [2] ff Law on the amount of study necessary for scholars before they may enter the King’s service as judges, advocates or attorneys. This copy is according the variant described in King Manuel catalogue, nr. 352 and Anselmo 616A. Only 3 copies in BN are reported in Anselmo. However, we didn´t find any copy in BN catalogue. This copy has in the last page the autograph signature by Aluarez, Lord Chancellor. We didn´t find any reference to an autograph signature in this variant, both in Anselmo and King Manuel.

5. Ordenaçam pera os estudãtes/da uniuersidade de Coymbra/sobre os criados. Bestas. E tra./jos. E outras cousas Lisboa, n.p., 31 January 1539 Folio. [2] ff This edict advises the students of the University of Coimbra about treatment of servants, about the ways to dress, and other rules for a dignified and respectable behaviour Reference: Anselmo 1090; King Manuel’s Library 353; BN 734

6. Ley sobre o pam que se vẽ/de fiado. E sobre o que/se empresta a pagar/em pam. Lisboa, Germao Galharde, 12 March 1539 Folio. [2] ff This law regulates the trade of bread, and the ways of making payments by trading with bread. This copy has in the last page the autograph signature by Aluarez, Lord Chancellor. We didn´t find reference to an autograph signature in King Manuel’s copy. Anselmo refers an autograph signature but by Joaham Paaez, as well as the National Library of Lisbon, with no 715. Reference: Anselmo 619; BN 715; King Manuel 355

7. Ley que declara o comprimen-/to que ham de ter as espa-/das. E a pena que auerã/as pessoas q doutra/maneyra as trou/uverem. Lisboa, Germao Galharde, 12 March 1539 Folio. [2] ff Last page with autograph signature by Aluarez (Álvaro Fernandes), Lord Chancellor. Below are woodcuts of the Royal Arms and of the armillary Sphere with the letters C.A.D.A.T.G., on the ecliptic. Reference: Anselmo 618; BN 693 (autograph signature by Ioham Paaez and not Aluarez); King Manuel 354

8. Ley que mãda deuasar das pes/soas que teuverẽ ajuntamẽ-/to carnal com suas parẽ/tas e affis cõ que es-/teuerem cõcerta-/dos de casar. Lisboa, Luis Rodriguez, 26 July 1540 Folio. [2] ff This law investigates the legality of common-law marriages; an inquiry into their legal and social status is ordered. Below colophon with autograph signature by Aluarez (Álvaro Fernandes), Lord Chancellor. Last page with printer woodcut. Reference: Anselmo 1013; BN 696 (no indication of autograph signature); not in King Manuel’ catalogue.

BOOK 2 – Leis e Ordenações.

Collection of eleven treatises and decrees issued by King D. Joao III (1535 - 1549), bound in one folio volume. All the twelve works are printed in a heavy Gothic type, and bound in one volume in a brown calf binding, richly tooled, with the inscription: Leis e Ordenações.

1. Ordenaçam da defesa dos veludos e sedas./Dom Ioam per graça de deos Rey de Por/tugal e dos Algarues n.p. (German Galharde), n.d. (after 3 June 1535) Folio. [4] ff Copy similar to the one described in Book 1, document 2

2. Dom Joam per graça/de deos rey de Portugal... Lisboa, German Galharde, 18 January 1539 Folio. [2] ff Copy similar to the one described in Book 1, document 4. This copy also has in the last page the autograph signature by Aluarez, Lord Chancellor. We didn´t find any reference to an autograph signature in this variant, both in Anselmo and King Manuel.

3. Ordenaçam pera os estudantes/da uniuersidade de Coymbra so/bre hos Criados. Bestas. e trajos/ e outras cousas Lisboa, n.p., 31 January 1539 Folio. [2] ff Variant of the copy described in Book 1, document 5. Anselmo 1090A; Not in King Manuel’s Library; BN 733

4. Ley que declara o comprimen/to que ham de ter as espadas. E/a pena que aueram as pessoas q/doutra maneyra as trouuverem. Lisboa, Germao Galharde, 12 March 1539 Folio. [2] ff Variant of the copy described in Book 1, document 7. Reference: Anselmo 618A; BN 695; Not in King Manuel’ catalogue

5. Ley sobre o pam que se vende/fiado: e sobre o que se empresta a/pagar em pam. Lisboa, Germao Galharde, 12 March 1539 Folio. [2] ff Variant of the copy described in Book 1, document 6. Reference: Anselmo 619A; BN 716; Not in King Manuel’ catalogue

6. Ordençã da ordẽ do juizo. Lisboa, German Galharde, 27 March 1539 Folio. [10] ff Above de title is the Royal coat of arms with a griffin crest, similar to issue dated 1526 (Book 1, document 3), and the title-page is bordered by woodcuts. On verso of title the portrait woodcut of the king D. Manuel II, seated on the throne, holding the scepter and the armillary Sphere. Reference: Anselmo 620; BN 729; Not in King Manuel’ catalogue

7. Ley sobre as deuassas que se ham de ti/rar: e mais diligencias que se ham de fazer/assi acerca dos passa-/dores dos gados/como dos que hos compram/vendem/mudam/ou leuam a pastar de hum lugar era outro. Lisboa, German Galharde, 13 january 1550 Folio. [6] ff In last page, text and autograph signature by Martim Esteves Reference: Anselmo 1093; BN 710; Not in King Manuel’ catalogue

8. Casos que el rey nosso senhor cõme-/te aos seus desembargadores do paço. Lisboa, Luis Rodriguez, n.d. (after 15 June 1549) Folio. [2] ff Reference: Anselmo 1051; BN 638; Not in King Manuel’s catalogue

9.Ordenaçam sobre se nam lan-/çarem has egoas a asnos, e sobre ho capar dos sindeiros Lisboa, Luis Rodriguez, 9 August 1549 Folio. [1] ff Reference: Anselmo 1054; BN 638; Not in King Manuel’s catalogue

10. Ordenaçam sobre hos lobos. Lisboa, Luis Rodriguez, n.d. (after 9 August 1549) Folio. [2] ff Reference: Anselmo 1052; BN 737; King Manuel 356

11. Ordenaçam sobre hos caua-/los e armas. Lisboa, Luis Rodriguez, n.d (after 7 August 1549) Folio. [4] ff Reference: Anselmo 1053; BN 737; Not in King Manuel’s catalogue.