Beinecke MS 31 (olim Z111.81)                                  Denmark [?], s. XVI^^ex
Christian III and Frederick II of Denmark, Laws (in Low Ger.)

     1. ff. 1r-88r    "Recess" of Christian III of Denmark, dated 1558, with a
     Register of the 70 articles. ff. 1v and 88v-89v blank

          Cf. Stormectigste Hnborne Frstis oc Herris Her Christians den
     Eredie Danmarckis...Recess (Copenhagen: Laurentz Benedicht, 1567), in
     Danish.

     2. ff. 90r-147r    "Dat Daenische See-Recht" of Frederick II of Denmark
     dated 1561, with a Register of the 73 articles. ff. 90v and 147v-153v
     blank

          Cf. Den Danske Sraet Som Stormectigste Hnborne Frste oc Herre Her
     Frederich den Anden...(Copenhagen: Andrea Gutterwiss, 1577), in Danish.

     3. ff. 154r-176r    Laws of Frederick II of Denmark (Krieges Schepes
     Artickell), dated 1565, with 69 articles. ff. 154v and 176v-177v blank

     4. ff. 178r-207r    "Handtuestung" of Frederick II of Denmark dated
     1559, with a Register of the 48 articles. f. 178v blank; ff. 207v-209v blank

          Cf. Konning Frederich den Andens Handfaestning...(Copenhagen:
     Andrea Gutterwiss, 1577), in Danish.

     5. ff. 210r-233v    "Hoffrecht" of Frederick II of Denmark with a
     Register of the 47 articles, dated 9 May 1562. f. 210v blank

          Cf. Baards Retthen Huorledis holdis skal paa kronens Slotte oc
     Gaarde offner alt Danmarckis...(Copenhagen: Andrea Gutterwiss, 1577),
     in Danish.

          Paper (sturdy; watermarks buried in the gutter), ff. iii (paper) +
     i (contemporary paper) + 233 + iii (paper), 200 x 150 (ca. 135 x 95)
     mm. Written in 15-16 long lines, ruled in hard point, single vertical
     bounding lines only.
          I-XXVIII^^8. First 4 folios of quire signed in lower margin, recto
     (e.g., Bij, Biij, etc.).
          Written by one scribe in cursive script.
          Headings in large gothic textura, with flourishes.
          Binding: s. xix^^2. Tan and brown mottled calf, gold-tooled; on the
     spine, "DESZ BRODMECHTIGESTEN [sic] HOCHGEBARNEN FoeRSTENVIMD," and the
     crowned monogram of comte Paul Riant. By the same binder who did MS 24.

          Written in Northern Germany or Denmark in the late 16th century,
     after 1565; perhaps copied by Pawel Hansen whose signature appears on
     ff. 154r, 178r (The copy seems to have been made all at one time, not
     in separate sections as the laws were decreed.) Early provenance
     unknown. Sold by Weigel (Leipzig, 1881; note on original front flyleaf)
     to comte Paul Riant (bookplate, and monogram on spine; L. de German and
     L. Polain, Catalogue de la Bibliotheque de feu M. le comte Riant
     [Paris, 1896] v. 1, p. 362, no. 2487), whose Scandinavian library was
     given to Yale in 1896 by Mrs. Henry Farnam.

     Bibliography: De Ricci, v. 1, p. 168, no. 31.

     Barbara A. Shailor