“Patent Writs” & “Close Writs”- “Publicly-Accessible Writs” & “Classified Writs”

This page is a subsection from the All Types of Writs section.

Patent Writ:

Hist. An open writ; one not closed or sealed up.

“Close Writs” are the opposite of Patent Writs:

Close Writ:

(17c) Hist. 1. A royal writ sealed because the contents were not deemed appropriate for public inspection.  2. A writ directed to a sheriff instead of to a lord.”

  • Clause Rolls:(17c.) Hist. Sealed rolls containing royal writs (close writs) & other documents that the sovereign deemed inappropriate for the public record. — Also termed close rolls.

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