Close rolls

CLOSE ROLLS, or close writs, Eng. law. Writs containing, grants from the crown, to particular persons, and for particular purposes, and, not being intended for public inspection, are closed up and sealed on the outside, and for that reason called close writs,in contradistinction. to grants relating to the public in general, which are left open and not sealed up, and are called letters patent. (q.v.) 2 Bl. Com. 346.