Fine Rolls in United Kingdom

The Rolls Series, which while not an exclusively legal source, contains much legal material (Source: the University of South Caroline Gould School of Law) Relating to financial affairs, they were records of payments due in return for royal grants of licenses, pardons, etc. and fines promised to the king in lieu of military service. They were compiled in Chancery and a copy was sent to the Exchequer for their records, where they were known as the Originalia Rolls which are extant from 1194-95. These often duplicated entries in the charter, patent or close rolls.

Hardy, Thomas D., ed. Rotuli De Oblatis Et Finibus in Turri Londinensi Asservati, Tempore Regis Johannis. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1835.

Abstract: Transcripts of oblata rolls of 1, 2, and 3 John, and of the fine rolls of 6, 7, 9, 15-17, and part of 18 John.

King’s College, London, and National Archives (Great Britain). Henry III Fine Rolls Project. London: King’s College, 2005-.

Notes: Available online at https://www.finerollshenry3.org.uk/home.htmlAbstract: Aims to publish the Fine Rolls of Henry III from 1216 to 1248 in English calendar format, in both print and electronic form. Taken from series C 60 in the National Archives at Kew. The print version will be published by Boydell and Brewer. The fully searchable electronic version provides free access, and also free access to digital facsimiles of the rolls. The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and it is hoped that a second three year project will complete the publication down to the end of 1272.

Roberts, Charles, ed. Excerpta e Rotulis Finium in Turri Londinensi Asservatis, Henrico Tertio Rege Ad. 1216-1272. 2 Vols. London : Eyre, 1835.

Abstract: Text in Latin. Also known as Rotuli finium. Contents: Vol. 1, 1216-1246; Vol. 2, 1246-1272.

Fine Rolls and Medieval Law

Fine Rolls and Legal History

Bibliographies of English Law History

• Maxwell, William H. A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Volume 1: English Law to 1800. London: Sweet and Maxwell, 1955-
• Beale, Joseph H. A Bibliography of Early English Law Books. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1926.
• Winfield, Percy H. The Chief Sources of English Legal History. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1925.

Resources

See Also

• Comparative Legal History (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Medieval Law Enforcement (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Punishment (in this legal Encyclopedia)
• Pleading (in this legal Encyclopedia)