Enrolments of special writs addressed to sheriffs for the restoration of land unlawfully taken from the rightful freehold tenant.
Actions to establish rightful possession were heard before an assize of novel (recent) disseisin. If the assize found in favour of the original tenant, and the same disseisor again took the same property, this was known as a re-disseisin. Procedure here was to direct the sheriff to hold an inquest, and if this found in favour of the original tenant, a further writ instructed the sheriff to restore the land.
Due to the financial aspect of re-disseisin proceedings it was enacted in the Second Statute of Westminster (1285) that writs of re-disseisin should be enrolled and sent into the Exchequer at the year's end 'to see how the sheriff doth answer of the issue of such writs'. This presumably accounts for the commencement of the rolls at this date.
The writs state that they were directed to the sheriff to take action, that it had been shown that the plaintiff (named) who appeared in the king's court (place given) had been returned seisin of his holding against the defendant (also named). Details of the land are given.