Rolls recording the letters patent issued under the *great seal, dealing with matters such as wardships, grants of land; the legal affairs of widows also came under this heading. The "alienation of land was dealt with in this manner. Also enrolled were grants of offices and the "temporalities of bishops and other ecclesiastics; and also letters regarding the creation of peers and various other licences. [patent < Lat. pateo = open] -
Cf. previous; Close Rolls; Fine Rolls; Pipe Rolls
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.