CLOSE ROLLS, or close writs, Eng. law. Writs containing, grants from the
crown, to particular persons, and for particular purposes, and, not being
intended for public inspection, are closed up and sealed on the outside, and
for that reason called close writs,in contradistinction. to 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.