Stockholm, National Library, B 2. Collection of Laws Cataloguer Ville Walta Finnish Literature Society (SKS) Codices Fennici Creative Commons BY 4.0 Stockholm National Library B 2 Saec. XV2Sweden(Finland). Magnus Erikson’s <hi rend="italic" >Landslag</hi>, <hi rend="italic">Stadslag</hi>, and <hi rend="italic">Gårdsrätten</hi> as well as the Kyrkiobalk from <hi rend="italic">Upplandslag</hi>.

Inside front cover, in a hand of saec. XVIII (the same that writes on fol. 159r) are Latin quotations from the classics: ‘Plato: Judici officium noli commitere stultis ... Non bellemus ut bellamus, sed ut pacem habeamus’. Followed by a runic alphabet, called here ‘Alphabetum Gothicum’.

Fols. Ir–XIIv: In hands of saec. XVII. Texts relating to the laws and their royal confirmations.

[Ir] <hi rend="italic">Försprååk på Swerigis lagh.</hi>Then Pläger wara en älmenneligigin sätth ... [Iv] ... girughetenn skulldh kommen (by Olaus Petri; cf. Hesselman 1917, 315–316).

[Iv–IIr, lower margin] Att Män icke haffuer samma lagh i köpstäderne här i Swerike som på Landeth ... konung Erich af Pomeren, konung Christoffer af Beyeren och konung Christiann Tyran. [IIr] Några almenneliga Regler der Domaren bör rätta sigg effter (Olaus Petri’s <hi rend="italic" >Domareregler</hi>; cf. Hesselman 1917, 301–311). Eenn domare skall först besinna att hann är eenn Gudz befalningzmann ... [IXr] ... och mher mach vpå. Urätt saacköre giör ingen herra riik. Männ lagh och rätt är herrans priis.

[IXv] (In another hand of saec. ?XVII) Konung Birges stadfästellse öfwer lagen. dateret I Stockholm Anno 1296(also found on fol. 1r in the end of the manuscript; cf. Schlyter 1834, 3–6). Birger med Gudz nådom konunger ... [Xr] ... ottunda dagh efter Sancte Staffans dag åm Juletima.

[Xv] Konung Magnus Erichsons stadfästellse öfwer lagen dateret i Süderköping Anno 1327 (cf. DS 2624). Magnus son hertig Erichs med Gudz nådom ... [XIv] ... a Sancti Laureulze aften.

[XIv] Konung Christoffer af Beieren stadfästelse öfwer lagen och privilegierne (cf. SDHK 24111). Christopherus Dei gratia Sueciae, Daciae, Norveigae ... [XIIv] ... Stockholmis in crastino sanctorum Philippi et Jacobi apostolorum Anno domini Millesimo quadringentesimo quadragesimo secundo.

[XIIv] (An oath) <hi rend="italic">Iuramentum militum et eorum consimilium</hi>. Jak bider mik ... epter mina betzsta förmogen.

Fols. 1r–11v: Kyrkobalket from Upplandslag. Missing one folio from the beginning (starts in the middle of the index). Ed. Schlyter 1834, 7–86.

[1r] ... ganger edh um nokor ganger ... Incipit primum capitulum. A crist scalu alle cristnir ... [11v] ... then the fælla wilia.

Fols. 12r–77r: Magnus Eriksson’s <hi rend="italic">Landslag</hi>(imperf.). All chapters preceded by an index. Ed. Schlyter 1862, 1–371.

[12r] Konung balker. (Index) Um swerikis konungz rike ... [13r] Eth konungs rike som kallas swerike hawer ... [20v] ... aff allo konungs doombruthum. [21r] Giftomala balker (index) I. Hwilkom lindom man scal ... [21v] Uil man sik konu bidhia tha scal han gifto man ... [25v] ... ather som wæært ær. Ärfdha balker (index) i. Om bonde door eller husfru ... [26r] Döör bonde eller husfru och liffwa barn ... [29r] ... halft giwis fore hans siæll. Jordha balker (index) i. Fem ærw lagha fangh iorda ... [30r] Fem ærw lagha fang iordha ij swerikis ... [35v] ... iordh aghanden anlada allan. Bygninga balker (index) i. Hvru bonder ägha by byggia ... [37v] ... Vilia bonder by byggia aff nyo ... [52v] ... epter ty som skils ij tiufwa balkenom. (Two articles added in a hand of saec. XVII) [53r] Köpsmala balker (index) i. Om lösöra köpp fä eller kläde ... Köper man aff androm ... [54v] ... borghat stande a sinom widzordhom. Thingemala balker (index) i. Hvru laghman äger wälias ... [55v] Nv skal lagman wälia, tha skal biscoper ... [61v] ... vtan han kan forfall haffwa. (followed by a saec. XVII addition) [62r] Edzöres balker (index) i. Först än nokor gör heemgango ... [63r] Rriidher man heem at androm thäs ... [67v] ... (balk 54) medh twem mannom sielffum | [68r] (drapmala balk medh wadha, balk 5) Kastar man eller skiuter ... [69r] ... twem mannom ok xij manna edhe. Saramala balker (index) i. Hvru man skal annan til sara binda ... Uil man annan til saara binda ... [71r] ... ok huarte konung eller häradh. Sarabalker medh wadha (index) i. Hvgger man annan med wadha ... Hugger man at androm och wardher ... [72r] ... med siex manna edhe. sequitur tiuf. [72v] Thiuffwa balker (index) Om gor tiuff ee huaria ... [73r] Stiäl man annars fää, nööt, swin, faar ... [77r] ... ok theth wari konungis en sak. (a saec. XVII addition: Nw stiäl man korn aff åkre ... )

Fol. 77v: A family tree displaying Claus Bielke’s origin from Israel, lagman of Uppland, and his relationship to Sten Sture. Probably drawn around 1585–1594, since Claus Bielke is entitled riksråd but not friherre. A modern hand has completed the family tree in pencil.

Fol. 78r–v: An explanation of some old words found in the lawbooks. Written in a hand of saec. XVI–XVII.

[78r] En lithen uthtydning på några gambla ord som finnes i Lagbokene och icke nw äre uthi dagligh brwkning. Tryggia Eedh ä then edh som konunger gör ... [78v] ... ändoch nu annorledes tillgår.

Fols. 79r–142r: Magnus Eriksson’s <hi rend="italic">Stadslag</hi>. The chapters begin with an index. Konunga balk 26, Radstuffwo balk 17 and Edzöres balk 27 have been left out. Only the first few lines of Konunga balk 9 and Edzöres balk 19 are found. Ed. Schlyter 1865, 3–400.

[79r] Konungx balk. (index) i. Huru borghmæstera ok radmæn sculu takas ... [79v] Nu scal man borhmamästare wälia ok radmän ... [85r] ... scal ganga um alt riket. [85v] Giftomala balker (index) i. Hwilkom lundom man skal sik quinno ... [86r] Uil man sik konu bidhia ok fästa tha scal ... [89v] ... ägher til rekenskapp ganga. Ärfdha balker (index) Om byaman door eller husfru hans ... [90r] Nv dör byaman eller husfrw hans och ... [93v] ... som afflat godz än theth barn door. Iordha balker (index) i. Hwen ärfda godz skal vpbindas eller ... [94r] Nv vil nokor sälia tompt sina eller gard ... [97v] ... ok swaria huat the hördho. Bygninga balker (index) i. Twe skulu the wara j huariom stadh ... [98r] Twe sculu the j huariom stadh wara som bygning manna ... [104r] ... norra ok sudhra varj soom lagh. Köpmala balker (index) i. Om lösöra köp fa köp klädhis ... [105r] Alt theth man köpir hofwar fää eller kloffwath ... [113v] ... gange til ärffwdh for konung oc stadhen. Skipmala balker (index) i. Huru man skal sith godz ... [114r] Hvilkin man til stadzens komber ... [117r] ... twe a huars thera veghna. Radstuffwa balker (index) i. Huru mangh maalman ma kära ... [118r] Ey ma man flere maal kära a annan ... [124v] ... han j torn läggia eller j stadzens gömo. [125r] Radstuffwa balker (index) i. Nv ridher man heem at androm ... [125v] Ridher man hem at androm eller ganger ... [129r] ... balkenom tha scal mistha hand sina. Högmala balker (index) i. Om man myrdher man eller konu ... [129v] Myrdher man annan eller kona eller huar ... [131r] ... han aater j stadhen misthe howdh sith. Drapmalabalker medh wilia (index) Om the drap man trängdher ... Nv draper man annan vthan trängh ok ... [132v] ... dräpin ligge j twäbothe. Drapmala balker medh wadha (index) i. Hvru mangh hugge skulu til wadh tälias ... [133r] Nv hugger man at manne ok vardher ... [134v] ... eller väri sik sielffuer tredhi. Saramalabalk medh wilia (index) i. Nv vil man annan til saara bindha ... [135r] Nv vil man annan til sara binda tha skal ... [137v] ... ok han kan thera nadh faa. (Saramala balker medh wadha) (index) Om man kan faa hugga annan ... [138r] Hugger man at andhrom ok annar wardher ... [139r] ... fyldher edhin och orkar ey botum. Tiuffwa balker (index) i. Nv kan man sik tiufnadh ey aff ... [139v] Värdher thum tiuffnadher noker I handom takin ... [142r] ... konunge ok stadhenom.

Fols. 142v–144v: <hi rend="italic" >Gårdsrätten</hi>. With an index in the beginning. Cf. Klemming 1868–1881, 53–62.

[142v] Här byrias gardzrätt ärligs höfdinga herra magnussa konugs medh ... [144v] ... hand riddarscapp ok swena liggia.

Followed by Joh. 1:1–14 (in a different hand): In principio erat verbum et verbum erat apud deum ... et veritatis deo gratias.

Fol. 145r–v: A note on Högmalis ogerninga in Latin and Swedish (saec. XV). Cf. Beckman 1917, 52–53.

[145r] Ex institutione consilior regni ista sunt ... primo capitulo xvio. Högmälis ogerninga. Vm høgmalis ogerninga som øpinbara script bør ... i kirkio balkenom I xvi capitulo.

(Fol. 146 is blank)

Fols. 147r–157v: An alphabetical register of the laws.

Fol. 158r–v: A letter given by the rikets råd in 1507 (MS reads 1475). In a hand of saec. XVII. See SDHK 44598.

[158r–v] Ett rijcken Radhz breff som samtyckt ähr in till fempte man. Wij Jacob medh Gudz nåde Erchiebiscop I Upsala, Vincentius i Skara, Matias i Strengenäs, Otte i Westerås ... Datum Stockholm i profesto Martini Anno domini 1475. [158v] (A genealogical table relating to the judgement given in the above letter).

Fol. 159r: An excerpt from Johannes Magni’s <hi rend="italic">Historia Suetica</hi>, cap. XVII, lib. XXI (in a hand of saec. XVIII, the same that wrote on the inner front cover).

Fol. 159v: A note on the rights of a priest in Finland mentioning, for example, ‘tawsta land’ (saec. XV2/2 or beginning of XVI). Ed. in Beckman 1917, 54.

[159v] Thetta är kyrw ræth som the gøre ...

In addition: Regler för bygge, brygd osv., (saec. XVII).

Fol. 160r–v: contains a few other notes in Latin and in Swedish. For example, a note on marriage based on the texts of Raymundus de Pennaforte.

A paper quire added to the end:

Fols. 1r–4v: In a hand of saec. XVI and ?XVII.

[1r] Copia af k. Birgers breff om nya lagen (also found on fol. IXv). Birger medh Gudz nådhen ... [2v] ... S. Staffans dag om Jula. Demosthenes contra Democrition. Uthi ett konunga rijke hafuir waritt een ... som theres förfäder medh godh wilia annammedt hade.

[3r] (In another hand of saec. XVI. Excerpts from Ostgötalagen and some contradictions found in the new and old laws) Här fölge några allmenneliga reglar uthdragna aff Östgötha Lagen hwilcke nyttige äre I Rättegånger, Aff kircke Balcken ... ingen agar andras brutt bättra. [3v] Contrarietates legum. Först I konungz Balcken. The Gamle laghböker hålla ... [4v] ... Nye lag. Böte xl marker, gamle xx marker.

Inside back cover: Notes on the laws in Swedish in a hand of saec. XVII. Spörsmåll. Twa män hade hwar sin dotter, och togo ... ther må sonen taga 40 marker i böter.

 Parchment(160 folios) and paper (16 folios; I–XII in the beginning and 1–4 in the end) 160 + 16 folios 15,5 22,5 10 16,5 (main part: 10 × 16,5) Three sets of modern foliation in ink in the upper right margin; the additions at the end and beginning of the manuscript have been separately foliated. Iii + 1iii; (IV+1)xii; (VI–3)9 + 4V49 + IV57 + (IV+1)66 + (IV–6(?))68 + 4V108 + (IV+1)117 + 2V137 + 2(IV+1)166 + (II+1)160; (III–2)4 Partly trimmed catchwords visible on the last leaf of a quire (fols. 9v, 29v, 39v, 49v).

There are lacunae before fol. 1 and between fols. 67 and 68. Fols. 58, 83, 84, 114, 144, 152 and 158 are singletons. Fol. III is loose.

There are some leaves missing, and some of the leaves are worn, but overall the manuscript is in good condition. The paper quires were inserted in the manuscript probably during saec. XVII.

 c. 31–36 unruled lines in one column (occasionally ruled edges are visible).

In the main part, one main hand writing a cursive of saec. XV. At least the <hi rend="italic" >Landslag</hi> and <hi rend="italic">Stadslag</hi> are by the same hand, probably also <hi rend="italic">Gårdsrätten</hi> and the alphabetical register. Several additions and notes in the margins of the Landslag, some from saec. XV, usually in Latin (by a hand very similar to the main one), others from saec. XVI in Swedish (lengthier ones on fols. 52v, 61v), often taken from Kristoffer’s <hi rend="italic">Landslag</hi>.

Several additional hands from saec. XVI–XVIII writing in the empty places and on the added folia.

At the beginning of chapters, larger initials in two colours (red and blue) with fleuronnée decoration in green. Smaller initials are lombards in red, blue or green. Rubrics and paraphs in red. Chapter headings are written in red in the upper margin. The paragraphs have been numbered in red in the outer margin.

Younger sections written on paper: no decoration.

Wood with dark brown covers. Blind-tooled with various ornamental figures, portraits of the evangelists and their attributes (cf. Stockholm, National Library, B 127) and fillets forming frames. Paper pastedowns on the insides of the covers. Paper or cardboard has also been inserted between the wood and the covers. No remnants of claps visible.

On the spine and on the front cover are pasted labels with the National Library’s shelf-mark ‘B 2’. On the spine also a label with a title of saec. ?XVI, which is almost completely illegible: ‘ ... Lagh ... ’.

The manuscript contains the legislation of King Magnus Eriksson together with the commonly included Kyrkobalk from <hi rend="italic">Uppslandslagen</hi>. The main part of the manuscript is written with care, by an experienced scribe during the second half of saec. XV. According to Beckman (1919, 7) it most resembles a textual tradition from Uppland. At the beginning and end of the book, paper quires, filled with various texts related to the legislation or to juridical matters in general, were added at a later date. A number of additions have been made to the <hi rend="italic">Landslag</hi>, some considerably younger than the main part of the manuscript. These additions show that the manuscript was in use for at least a few centuries.

Fol. 160v: ‘dominus magnus’ in a hand of saec. XV. The notes on the rights of the Finnish priests suggest the manuscript was in Finland by the beginning of saec. XVI.

The manuscript was probably in the possession of Claus Bielke by the end of the XVI century, since a table concerning his genealogy is drawn on fol. 77v (the table lists Claus Bielke as a riksråd (from 1585) but not as a friherre (from 1594)). Claus Bielke conducted negotiations in Reval and elsewhere in Finland. He was married to Lars Ivarsson Fleming’s daughter, Elin Fleming. He could have acquired the manuscript either during his missions or through his family.

In the lower margin of fol. 1r, information on the 19th-century editions by Schlyter. Shelf-mark of the National Library of Sweden on a paper label on the front cover.

Fol. 1r: a note on the purchase of the manuscript in 1703 for 25 daler. Next to this note, the name of J[ohan] G[abriel] Sparwenfeld (d. 1727) is found. The manuscript probably came to the National Library of Sweden as one of Sparwenfeld’s donations.

 Natanael Beckman, Studier i outgivna fornsvenska handskrifter, Stockholm 1917. Natanael Beckman, “Två finländska gårdsrätts redaktioner. Med anledning av Åbo akademis öppnande”, Göterborgs högskolas årsskrift 25 (1919), 6–7. Klas Bielke, , Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Tor Berg.), controlled 1.12.2014. Bengt Hesselman ed., Samlade skrifter af Olavus Petri, vol. 4, Uppsala 1917. G. E. Klemming ed., Småstycken på forn svenska, Stockholm 1868–1881. C. J. Schlyter, Uplands-lagen, Corpus iuris Sueo-Gotorum Antiqui, vol. 3, Stockholm 1834, XXI-XXII. C. J. Schlyter, Södermanna-lagen, Corpus iuris Sueo-Gotorum Antiqui, vol. 4, Lund 1838, XL-XLI. C. J. Schlyter, Konung Magnus Erikssons Landslag, Corpus iuris Sueo-Gotorum Antiqui, vol. 10, Lund 1862, XL. C. J. Schlyter, Konung Magnus Erikssons Stadslag, Corpus iuris Sueo-Gotorum Antiqui, vol. 11, Lund 1865, XIX-XX. Encoding added