Close Rolls
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
or close writs, Engl. law, are writs containing grants from the crown, to particular persons, and for particular purposes, and, not being intended for public inspection, are closed up and scaled on the outside, and for that reason called close writs, in contradistinction from 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.