Public records: Chancery rolls
Most of the public records discussed so far are those of the Exchequer,
the financial branch of medieval government. Many other administrative
records were maintained by the Chancery, in its original role as the royal secretariat
(its other function as a court of equity is covered in a separate section).
From the end of the 12th century, the Chancery began to record copies of the
documents it produced on several series of rolls.
As outlined below, various series were produced at different times, but
probably the most important for the genealogist are the Patent and Close Rolls
(which originally recorded royal letters - sent open or closed), the Charter Rolls
(royal charters) and the Fine Rolls (financial 'offerings' to the king). With a few exceptions,
these four series have been published, at least as far as the year 1509, mostly as English abstracts.
(These printed texts run to about 180 volumes, as far as the reign of Elizabeth.)
The printed versions of these records, most of which are indexed by name, are among the most accessible and useful for
medieval genealogists. The people mentioned in them are certainly not all royal officials (although if your
ancestor was a royal official, they may allow a fairly detailed account of his movements to be compiled).
Many of the entries record the day-to-day dealings of the manor-holding classes with government - appointments
to local offices, permission to hold markets
or grant land, involvement in law suits, debts, misdemeanours and so on.
Others are concerned with matters of more direct genealogical interest, such as the inheritance of land,
provision of dower for widows and the wardship of minors. In the late medieval period, many private charters
were also enrolled for safety. Many humbler people are also mentioned in the rolls, either in their own right,
or incidentally - for example, the enrolled orders concerning the partition of estates may contain detailed surveys,
in which tenants are named.
Below is a list of some of the series of Chancery rolls (and two series of inquisitions),
with a brief indication of their contents, and details of the main printed editions.
For source material on the internet,
click here
C52 (Richard I - Edward II). Miscellaneous charters - some of them spurious -
issued mainly by kings from William I to Henry III.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- L. Landon, ed., The Cartae Antiquae, rolls 1-10 [and 11-20]
(Pipe Roll Society, new series 17,33; London, 1939,1957)
Latin texts
[Return to list of Rolls]
C53 (1199-1517). Royal charters issued under the Great Seal, including confirmations (with recitals) of earlier charters.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Rotuli Chartarum ... [1199-1216] (Record Commission; [London,] 1837)
Latin texts, in record type
- Calendar of the charter rolls ... [1226-1517] (6 vols; London, 1903-1927)
English abstracts (witnesses are omitted); some Latin texts; with an appendix for 1215-1288
[Return to list of Rolls]
C54 (from 1204). Their original purpose was the enrolment of Letters Close (i.e. letters sealed closed)
issued under the Great Seal, which typically conveyed orders to the officers of the crown; these
included writs summoning peers to Parliament. Enrolments declined as the use of the Great Seal was
supplanted by that of the Privy Seal, and ceased altogether during the reign of Henry VIII.
The Close Rolls were also used for the enrolment of private deeds; particularly after many were
destroyed in the Peasants' Revolt.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Rotuli litterarum clausarum ... [1204-1227]
(2 vols; Record Commission; London, 1833, 1844)
Latin texts, in record type
- Close Rolls of the reign of Henry III ... [1227-1272]
(14 vols; London, 1902-1938)
Latin transcripts
- Calendar of the Close Rolls ... [1272-1509]
(47 vols; London, 1892-1963)
English abstracts
- Writs summoning peers to Parliament and writs of military summons (from the Close Rolls)
for the reigns of Edward I (1272-1307) and Edward III (1327-1377),
were printed, with other documents, in F. Palgrave, ed.,
The Parliamentary Writs and Writs of Military Summons ...
(2 vols in 4 parts; Record Commission; London, 1827-1834)
Latin texts, English abstracts and calendar)
[Return to list of Rolls]
C55 (1243-1434). Several specific types of writs not enrolled in the main series.
The following information is available online:
The main printed edition is:
- Calendar of various Chancery Rolls (supplementary Close Rolls, Welsh Rolls, Scutage Rolls) ...
[various rolls between 1284 and 1326] (London, 1912)
English abstracts
[Return to list of Rolls]
C60 (from 1199). In early times they were known alternatively as the Oblata Rolls.
They record the payments or 'offerings' to the crown which were required for the transaction
of almost any piece of administrative or judicial business.
Some patents were also entered, for the appointment of sheriffs, escheators and other officials.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Rotuli de oblatis et finibus ... tempore regis Johannis [1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 15-18 John]
(Record Commission; [London,] 1835)
Latin texts, in record type
- A roll of Fines, Liberate and Contrabrevia for 27 Henry III (1242-1243),
attested in Gascony, is printed in F. Michel, ed.,
Rôles Gascons, vol.1 (Paris, 1885)
Latin texts
- Excerpta e rotulis finium ... Henrico tertio rege,
A.D. 1216-1272
(2 vols; Record Commission; [London,] 1835, 1836)
A selection of Latin texts, in record type; for the
remainder of entries from this reign there appears to be no published calendar or index
- Calendar of the Fine Rolls ... [1272-1509]
(22 vols; London, 1911-1962)
English abstracts; fines are omitted where details of the writ are not given,
or if there are corresponding entries on the Patent or Charter Rolls
- The Fine Rolls of Edward VI (1547-1553) are included in
Calendar of the Patent Rolls ... Edward VI, vol.5
A project is in progress to fill the gap in the existing calendars:
- Henry III Fine Rolls Project (National Archives/King's College, London/Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent)
English calendar of the fine rolls of the reign of Henry III (1216-1272), in progress, for publication on the Internet and in print. The website includes both searchable draft text and images of the original documents. As an alternative to the interactive viewer, a directory of image files is available here.
So far three volumes of Calendar of the Fine Rolls of the Reign of Henry III have been published, covering 1216�1242 (Woodbridge, 2007-2009).
[Return to list of Rolls]
C143 (Henry III to 1485). An inquisition ad quod damnum
could be held before the king gave permission for a market or fair to be held, or
for someone to make a grant of land, to determine 'what damage' this might do
to his interests or the interests of others. Some Tudor inquisitions are among the inquisitions
post mortem (C142).
The following information is available online:
The P.R.O. online catalogue includes brief abstracts for:
- C143 (Henry III to Richard III)
(Where available, relevant details can be found either by using the "search the catalogue" option,
or by clicking "browse". In browsing mode, type the series name ("C143") into the
"Browse from reference" text box and click "go", then select the "View by ... Reference" option.
Details of individual documents should now be visible.)
The main printed editions are:
- List of inquisitions ad quod damnum... [28 Henry III-2 Richard III]
(Lists and Indexes 17, 22; London, 1904, 1906)
List with brief abstracts, including names and places;
a few similar Exchequer inquisitions (E151) are included, in Appendix 2 of no 22;
index of places (but no index of names)
C143 is now included in the online catalogue (see above)
- Lists of Inquisitions post mortem, Henry V-Richard III;
Inquisitions ad quod damnum and miscellaneous inquisitions, Henry VII-Charles I (C138-C142)
(List and Index Society 268; Kew, 1998)
The lists give the name, year and county for each inquisition post mortem; for the other
inquisitions there is a brief note as to the subject
[Return to list of Rolls]
C145 (1218-1485). These include inquiries on a wide range of subjects,
including estates which were forfeited for treason.
Some Tudor inquisitions are among the inquisitions
post mortem (C142).
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Calendar of inquisitions miscellaneous (Chancery) ...
[1219-1485]
(8 vols; London, 1916-2003)
English abstracts, with a general index; some items later added to the class are omitted
- The Appendix de quamplurimis aliis inquisitionibus a regno Hen. III. usque Jac. I
in vol.4 of Calendarium Inquisitionum post mortem ...
(Record Commission; London, 1828) includes Latin abstracts of some inquisitions now in this class
- Lists of Inquisitions post mortem, Henry V-Richard III;
Inquisitions ad quod damnum and miscellaneous inquisitions, Henry VII-Charles I (C138-C142)
(List and Index Society 268; Kew, 1998)
The lists give the name, year and county for each inquisition post mortem; for the other
inquisitions there is a brief note as to the subject
[Return to list of Rolls]
C62 (1200-1436).
Records of writs authorising payments by the Exchequer (and other
writs connected with the accounting procedure); their volume decreased in the late
14th century, and the series ends in the early 15th.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Rotuli de Liberate ac de Misis et Praestitis, regnante Johanne
[Liberate Rolls 2, 3 and 5 John; Misae Roll of 11 John; Praestita Roll of 12 John]
(Record Commission; London, 1844)
Latin text, in record type (the Misae and Praestita Rolls are now classified with the Exchequer records)
- Fragments identified subsequently, for 2 John, were printed as
... fragments of ... the Liberate Roll of the second year of King John, 1200-1 ...
(Pipe Roll Society, new series 21; London, 1943)
Latin text
- A roll for 26 Henry III (1241-1242) is printed in F. Michel, ed.,
Rôles Gascons, vol.1 (Paris, 1885)
Latin text
- Calendar of the Liberate Rolls ... Henry III [1226-1272; appendices 1220-1267]
(6 vols; London, 1916-1964)
English abstracts
[Return to list of Rolls]
C64 (a few dates between 1200 and 1522). Incomplete set of rolls,
covering a variety of both Chancery and Exchequer business in Normandy,
before its loss to the French in 1204; also a list of the English lands of Normans which were then seized
by the king. The series briefly resumed, as 'Norman Patent Rolls', after the reconquest of Normandy by Henry V
two centuries later.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- A fragment, for 5 John, was printed as
... fragments of ... the Norman Roll of the fifth year of King John, 1203
(Pipe Roll Society, new series 21; London, 1943)
Latin text
- Rotuli Normanniae ... Johanne et Henrico quinto Angliae regibus ...
De annis 1200-1205, necnon de anno 1417
(Record Commission; London, 1835)
Latin text, in record type
- Calendar of the Norman Rolls: Henry 5 [1418-1422] in The Forty-First Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper
of the Public Records, Appendix I, pp.671-810 (London, 1880) and The Forty-Second Annual Report ...,
Appendix, pp.313-472 (London, 1881)
Brief English abstracts (unindexed)
[Return to list of Rolls]
E371 (from 1213). Not strictly Chancery rolls, but prepared by the Chancery to
notify the Exchequer of fines or other payments to be collected. Later rolls also contains details
of commissions and other matters.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Fragments for 7 Richard [E163/1/3] were printed as
... fragments of the originalia roll of the seventh year of Richard I, 1195-6...
(Pipe Roll Society, new series 21; London, 1943)
Latin text
- Fragments for 7 and 15-16 John [C60/3A, 5C] were printed in
Rotuli de oblatis et finibus ... tempore regis Johannis
(Record Commission; [London,] 1835)
Latin text, in record type
- H. Playford and J. Caley, eds,
Rotulorum originalium in curia scaccarii abbreviatio [Henry III to Edward III]
(2 vols; Record Commission; [London,] 1805, 1810)
Latin abstracts, in record type
- An index, for Henry VIII to Anne, is in E. Jones,
Index to records called the Originalia and Memoranda on the lord treasurer's remembrancer's side of the Exchequer ...
(2 vols; London, 1793, 1795)
[Return to list of Rolls]
SC9 (1290-1321), C65 (from 1327) and C74 (1277-1469). The Parliament Rolls record the proceedings of Parliament,
namely the petitions, answers and bills which preceded acts of Parliament (the acts themselves
are enrolled from 1483 only, earlier ones being on the Statute Rolls). From 1483, petitions begin to be omitted;
private acts of Parliament also disappear during the 16th century.
The following information is available online:
An online chronological listing of Private and Personal Acts of Parliament is available:
The main published editions are:
- Chris Given-Wilson, general ed., The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, 1275-1504 (printed edition, 17 volumes, Boydell and Brewer; CD-ROM, Scholarly Digital Editions; 2005)
Transcripts of all the surviving parliamentary rolls from the reign of Edward I to that of Henry VII (Latin, French and English), together with new translations into modern English, appendices of supplementary material, a general introduction and an introduction for each parliament. The digital editions include more than a hundred specimen images of the original documents. Also available to subscribers at British History Online.
- [The 2005 edition of the Parliament Rolls supersedes the following:
Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et petitiones, et placita in Parliamento [to 1503]
(6 vols; Record Commission; London, 1767-1783; index volume, London, 1832)
Latin text; including many original petitions]
- The Statutes of the Realm ...
(11 vols in 12 parts; Record Commission; London, 1810-1828)
[Return to list of Rolls]
C66 (from 1201). Enrolments of Letters Patent (i.e. letters left open, rather than sealed) issued under the Great Seal.
(Among the subjects they later covered were inventions - hence the modern meaning of the word 'patent'.)
There was a very wide variety of subject matter, including grants of lands and wardships,
licences to widows to marry,
pardons, confirmations of charters and licences to alienate land. On the back of the rolls were entered proclamations
and commissions, giving details of appointments to a variety of offices.
There are published English calendars of the patent rolls from 1232, but to save space they omit "ordinary commissions of gaol delivery, and appointments of justices to try assizes of novel disseisin, of mort dancestor, of darrein presentment, and the like". Although these are of limited value to general historians, they are of great interest to genealogists. Lists of these omitted entries for the first nine years of the reign of Edward I (1272-1282) have been published in the 42nd-50th Annual Reports of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records (1881-1889), and there is a manuscript Latin calendar of the omitted entries for 1232-1272 at the National Archives (OBS 1/465-467). But for 1282 onwards they seem to be available only in the original patent rolls.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Rotuli litterarum patentium ... [3-18 John]
(Record Commission; [London,] 1835)
Latin text, in record type
- Calendar of the Patent Rolls ... Henry III [1216-1232] (2 vols; London, 1903, 1903)
Latin text
- Calendar of the Patent Rolls ... [1232-1509] (52 vols; London, 1891-1916)
English abstracts; some judicial commissions and appointments are omitted.
- Calendar of the Patent Rolls. 1-9 Edward I [1272-1282] (42nd-50th Reports of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records; 1881-1889)
List of entries omitted from the main series of calendars.
- A. H. Watford and C. A. F. Meekings, Calendar of the general and special assize and general gaol delivery commissions on the dorses of the patent rolls. Richard II, 1377-1399. (Nendeln, 1977)
- The Patent Rolls of Henry VIII (1509-1547)
are included in the Calendar of Letters and Papers, Henry VIII
(see Miscellaneous public records)
- Calendar of the Patent Rolls ... [1547-1582]
(19 vols; London, 1891-1986)
English abstracts
- Chancery patent rolls, 23-29 and 30-36 Elizabeth I, index to grantees [1580-1594]
(List and Index Society 141, 167; London, 1977, 1980)
- Draft calendar of patent rolls ... [27-31 and 34 Elizabeth I: 1584-1589, 1591-1592]
(List and Index Society 241-243, 247, 255, 272; London, 1990-1999)
- Calendar of Patent Rolls, 25-33, 36-40 Elizabeth I [1582-1598] (project in progress to
complete the calendaring of the patent rolls of Elizabeth I)
(List and Index Society 286, 287, 293-297, 300-302, 308-311, 317, 322, 323, 326, 327; London, 2001-2009)
[Return to list of Rolls]
C67 (from 1275).
Several series of enrolments of particular types of Letters Patent, not enrolled on the main series. These include
the Protection Rolls (letters of protection and safe conduct), the Pardon Rolls (letters for general and special pardons)
and the Staple Rolls (concerning trading monopolies).
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Roll 9 is printed in F. Michel, ed.,
Rôles Gascons, vol.3 (Paris, 1906)
Latin text
- Selections from Rolls 13 and 15 are printed in Rotuli Scotiae ..., vol.1
(Record Commission; [London,] 1814)
Latin text, in record type
- Rolls for 1338-1340, 1374-1377, 1548-1549, 1554-1555 and 1558-1560 are
included in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls ...
- Rolls 56-59 and 74-75 are
included in the Calendar of Letters and Papers, Henry VIII
(see Miscellaneous public records)
[Return to list of Rolls]
C72 (1214-1338). Enrolled records of exemption from scutage (a payment made instead of performing military service),
permission to tenants in chief to collect scutage from their tenants,
and also summonses for several domestic military campaigns.
The following information is available online:
The main printed edition is:
- Calendar of various Chancery Rolls:
supplementary Close Rolls, Welsh Rolls, Scutage Rolls ...
[including Scutage Rolls for 1284-1326]
(London, 1912)
C72/9-12. English abstracts
[Return to list of Rolls]
C81,82 (from 1230). Authorisations for the use of the Great Seal.
The following information is available online:
The main printed editions are:
- Calendar of Chancery Warrants preserved in the Public Record Office ... [1230-1326]
(London, 1927)
English abstracts of warrants with no corresponding enrolments
- Those for the reign of Henry VIII are included in the Calendar of Letters and Papers, Henry VIII
(see Miscellaneous public records) and those for the reign of Edward VI
in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls ... Edward VI
- Sir H.C. Maxwell-Lyte,
Historical notes on the use of the Great Seal of England (London, 1926)
Includes many extracts
[Return to list of Rolls]
C77 (1276-1295). Entries relating to Wales, and some relating to England but attested in Wales.
The following information is available online:
The main printed edition is:
- Calendar of various Chancery Rolls (supplementary Close Rolls, Welsh Rolls, Scutage Rolls) ...
(London, 1912)
English abstracts
[Return to list of Rolls]