E 27c1255-c1600Exchequer: Treasury of the Receipt: Chests
This series consists of chests, coffers (smaller strongboxes, usually kept inside chests) and forcers (small containers made of leather or wood, often reinforced with iron) used to provide secure storage for documents and objects of particular value belonging to the Crown which were originally housed in the Exchequer Treasury of Receipt.
Some are known to have been used for storing treaties and other documents of significance for diplomatic relations, and trial plates and other materials relating to the assay of the coinage. In most cases, however, no detail is known of the purpose for which the chests or forcers were created or of their original or later contents.