Catalogue description Chancery: Norman Rolls

These rolls record letters patent and close, writs, mandates and other instruments passing under the great seal and relating to the Duchy of Normandy while it was under the dominion of the English crown before 1204 and during the reign of Henry V, 1417-1422.

The series also includes chirographs, concords and other documents executed in the Norman Exchequer at Caen, as well as documents of a diplomatic character, including treaties between the kings of England and the dukes of Brittany and of Burgundy.

The rolls of John's reign are similar in form, language and writing to the close rolls and other rolls of the same period. Those of the reign of Henry V consist principally of letters of safe-conduct and protection, grants and confirmations of their estates to such as voluntarily surrendered to him or to his commanders, and restitutions of their temporalities to such convents as recognized his authority. In addition, the rolls include grants to Henry's followers of the castles and estates of such Normans as were slain or remained in open rebellion, and of grants of offices, commissions of array and presentations to ecclesiastical benefices. A considerable number of the letters concern grants in England.

An online calendar of the Norman Rolls of Henry V, 1417-1422 (C 64/8-17), created by Emeritus Professor Anne Curry, University of Southampton, is available at normanrolls.org.

Most of the records in this series have been transcribed or calendared in the following publications: Rotuli Normanniae in Turri Londinensi, ed T D Hardy (Record Commission, 1835); Report of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records, 41 (1880) and 42 (1881); Catalogue des Rolles Gascons, Normans et Francois, ed T Carte (1743); The Memoranda Roll for the Michaelmas term of the first year of the reign of King John 1199-1200, ed H G Richardson (Pipe Roll Society, new series, xxi, 1943).