Calendars provide summaries full enough, for most purposes, to replace the original documents. These summaries are printed in chronological order and do not necessarily reflect the archival ordering of the documents (hence ‘calendar’). They are the primary finding aid for the records that they describe. The Close Rolls record 'letters close', that is, sealed and folded because they were of a personal nature, issued by the Chancery in the name of king or queen. They usually contained orders or instructions. Other private documents might also be enrolled. This series details records from the reign of Henry III (1227-72), excluding the period of his minority rule from 1216 to 1227.