Close Roll facts for kids
The Close Rolls (which means Rotuli clausi in Latin) were important old records created in medieval England, Wales, Ireland, and the Channel Islands. They were made by the king's main office, called the Chancery. Their purpose was to keep a central copy of all the secret letters or instructions, known as letters close, that the king sent out.
History of the Rolls
The oldest Close Roll we still have today was started in 1204. This was during the time of King John, when Hubert Walter was in charge of the Chancery. However, it's possible that these records were being made even earlier, perhaps as far back as 1200.
Copies of the letters were written on sheets of parchment. Parchment is a special type of paper made from animal skin. These sheets were then joined together to make very long scrolls. Each year had its own scroll, which was like a giant book of the king's secret orders.
What Was Inside the Close Rolls?
At first, the Close Rolls mainly contained copies of land and money that the king gave away. These records were also sent to the Exchequer, which was the king's money office. But soon, the rolls started to include much more information. After 1226, records about money were moved to another type of roll called the Liberate Rolls.
In the early 1200s, most of the king's orders went from his office to local officials called sheriffs. These orders were all written down in the Close Rolls. Over time, as new types of records were created, the Close Rolls became more specific. After 1533, they mostly contained copies of private agreements and land deals between people.
Before that time, however, the Close Rolls held lots of useful information about medieval England. They weren't just about politics or wars. For example, you can learn about how Parliament started. The rolls show how King John asked important people from Bristol to meet him in 1211. They also contain copies of letters that called important nobles to Parliament.
The rolls also give us fun cultural details. For instance, a record of the king giving a bright red cloak to a man who was about to become a knight might tell us about the beginnings of the Knights of the Bath. Also, the Close Rolls show how much Henry III cared about decorating his treasures. They list the things he bought, showing he was a true art lover.
Published Copies
The Close Rolls from 1204 to 1227 were later published as shortened Latin texts. This was done by the Record Commission in 1833 and 1844. They came out in two large books called Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in Turri Londinensi asservati.
Later rolls, from 1227 to 1272, were published by the Public Record Office between 1902 and 1938. These were longer Latin texts in fourteen volumes. A special extra book for the years 1244–66 came out in 1975.
The rolls after 1272 were not published as full texts. Instead, they were put into a "calendar" form. This means they were summarized in English, but all the important details were kept. These summaries are called Calendar of Close Rolls. Forty-seven volumes were published between 1900 and 1963, covering the years 1272 to 1509. The rolls from King Henry VIII's time (1509–47) are part of another series called Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII.
Today, many of these published texts and calendars from 1227 to 1509 can be found online. You can search through them on a special part of the British History Online website.
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