The Norwegian Law of Christian V

20 chapters

Regarding Books and Almanacs

1^st Article

No one, whoever he may be, shall have anything printed before it has first been examined and approved in the Royal University of Copenhagen by the dean of the faculty to which the subject belongs, or by any other professor whom the dean may authorise for other legal reasons. The person responsible for the examination shall attach his signature and handwritten comments to what is to be published, in the same manner as if he intended to be responsible for it, and these comments shall be published in the books, writings and other materials to be published and printed.  If, however, any theological matter is to be printed in these realms, it must first be submitted to the superintendent in the diocese for examination, and with his report sent to the Royal University for further approval. Anyone who acts contrary to this, whether it be the printer or the person who causes things to be printed, shall be punished not only for disobedience, but also for the content of the writing, if there is anything contemptuous in it.

2.

No person may, in this realm or elsewhere, print any writings regarding His Royal Highness the King, the government, or the police,

unless it is reviewed by a person appointed by the King. Whoever acts against this shall be punished according to the nature of the matter.

3.

No books in Danish printed outside this kingdom may be imported or sold within these realms, whether they are from a domestic or a foreign publisher. Furthermore, no books in the German language dealing with foreign religions or other subjects likely to cause controversy or doubt about the unaltered Augsburg Confession may be imported, sold, or possessed within these realms without royal permission. Those who violates [these laws] with these books or deal with [these books] are to be treated as those who have not obeyed the King’s Law.

4.

Should any books printed in the King’s realms and land, or printed abroad and imported, give reason to instigate rebellion or be injurous to the His Royal Highness the King himself, or cause any other offense, then not only shall the persons, who have introduced such books, be punished with utmost severity, but the books shall be publicly thrown away and burned by the executioner.

5.

No person, foreign or domestic, shall print, import or sell any almanacs or calendars other than those composed and written by the person appointed for this purpose by the Rector

and the other professors of the University of Copenhagen. Owners of such almanacs and other violators of this prohibition shall be punished in the same manner as violators of the King’s laws.. However, there shall be no prohibition against the use of foreign almanacs and calendars for one's own use.

6.

No fortune-telling calendars may be composed or printed in these realms, and no augury regarding war, difficult times, pest or other similar occurrences may be included in them. No printer may print or publish such a calendar under the penalty of a hundred lod [= unit of measurement] of silver.