Legal Definitions - Engrosser of the Great Roll

The term Engrosser of the Great Roll refers to an ancient historical office within the English Exchequer, the governmental department responsible for the nation's finances. This official's primary duty was to formally write out, or "engross," the Great Roll, also known as the Pipe Roll.

The Great Roll was a comprehensive annual record of the Crown's financial accounts, detailing all revenues, expenditures, debts, and arrears owed to the monarch. To "engross" a document meant to produce a formal, clear, and often large-format written copy, ensuring its accuracy, permanence, and legal authority. Therefore, the Engrosser of the Great Roll was the meticulous scribe responsible for creating and maintaining the definitive financial ledger of the kingdom, a role closely associated with, or sometimes synonymous with, the Clerk of the Pipe.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the Engrosser of the Great Roll:

• Example 1: Recording Annual Feudal Dues

  Imagine a medieval baron who owed annual feudal payments, such as scutage (money paid in lieu of military service) or tallage (a tax on tenants), to the King. After the payments were assessed and collected by local officials, the Engrosser of the Great Roll would meticulously record these sums in the Pipe Roll. This entry would detail the baron's name, the specific payment, the amount due, and whether it had been paid or was still outstanding. This record served as the official account of the Crown's income from its feudal tenants.

  This example illustrates how the Engrosser's role was central to documenting the Crown's regular income, ensuring a clear and permanent record of financial obligations and receipts.

• Example 2: Documenting Fines and Penalties

  Consider a situation where a local court imposed a fine on a merchant for violating trade regulations, with the fine payable to the Crown. Once the fine was levied, the details would be passed to the Exchequer. The Engrosser of the Great Roll would then formally enter this fine into the Pipe Roll, noting the merchant's name, the offense, the amount of the fine, and its payment status. This entry would become the official legal record of the Crown's claim and the merchant's liability.

  This example demonstrates the Engrosser's function in creating authoritative records of extraordinary income, such as fines and penalties, which were crucial for both accountability and enforcement.

• Example 3: Auditing and Dispute Resolution

  Suppose a royal official, like a sheriff, was accused of mismanaging funds or failing to remit all due taxes to the Crown. During an audit or an inquiry into such allegations, the Engrosser of the Great Roll's meticulously maintained Pipe Roll would be the primary document consulted. The entries made by the Engrosser would provide the definitive historical account of what was owed by the sheriff and what had been received by the Exchequer, serving as crucial evidence to resolve the financial dispute.

  This example highlights the critical importance of the Engrosser's work in creating a reliable, legally binding financial history that could be used for auditing, accountability, and resolving disputes over royal finances.