First edition of a rare and highly important work on Portuguese law, written by an influential 16th-century judge. It contains a vast repository of laws not included in the Manueline ordinances, which were in force from 1512 until 1603. The present work was assembled by order of Cardinal Henry of Évora (1512-1580), who served as a regent when King Sebastião (1554-1578) was still a minor. A second edition was published in 1796, but the present first edition is far scarcer.
The work consists of six parts. Part one discusses legislation on the offices and regiments of officials; part two does the same for jurisdictions and privileges; part three includes legislation on judicial matters; part four brings together legislation on offences and matters ancillary to them. This part also includes a transcription of the anti-Jew and anti-Muslim laws existing at the time, with references to the original sources. Part five discusses legislation relating to the King's treasury; and the final part is on extraordinary cases.
Duarte Nunes do Leão (1530-1608) was a Portuguese lawyer, philologist and historian of Jewish origin. He studied law at the University of Coimbra and became a judge at the Casa da Suplicação, the Supreme court of the Portuguese kingdom. He must have possessed a wealth of knowledge and experience about Portuguese laws and their uses, which is probably why he was asked to write the present work.
With an ownership annotation at the head of the title-page, another at the foot and a crossed out annotation in the middle of the title-page. The vellum is slightly stained and creased. Internally slightly browned throughout, with repaired wormholes on the title-page and a repaired corner on the first leaf of the dedication, leaf 7, and the final leaf of the second work, some leaves have small (water) stains, in most cases not affecting the text, with annotations in the margins of most leaves in a 17th-century (?) hand. Overall in good condition. Iberian books 71008/ IB 13753; Innocencio II, p. 210; Porbase 323913 (8 copies); USTC 346031 (22 copies); WorldCat 36899813, 65113426 (11 copies); Ad 2: Iberian books 70749/ IB 11153; Porbase 323909 (7 copies); USTC 346118 (13 copies); cf. Not in Sauer & Auvermann, Europäische Rechtsgeschichte.