The rolls of parliament were the official records of the meetings of the English parliament from the reign of Edward I (1272-1307) until the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509), after which they were superseded by the journals of thelords, and, somewhat later, the commons.
This volume covers the last four parliaments of Henry VI’s minority (1432-7) and the first three held during his majority (1439-1445). Once the king had come of age, the constitutionalneed for frequent and regular parliaments subsided. The rolls show clearly the transition towards the king’s personal role. The impact of the king’s own preferences is seen in material linked to the foundations at Eton and Cambridge which were initiated in 1440. The second session of the 1445 parliament saw the coronation of his queen, Margaret of Anjou. Growing financial problems as well as in the war with France after the defection of the duke of Burgundy from his English alliance are also revealed in the rolls.
The rolls from the period are reproduced in their entirely, complented by a full translation of all the texts from the three languages used by the medieval clerks (Latin, Anglo-Norman and Middle English).

Anne Curry is Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Southampton