Mortuary roll

A special messenger, denominated a breviator, gerulus, rollifer, rotularius, tomiger, or other title, from the laity was hired to transmit these letters from one to another.

The roots of this tradition have their beginnings in the 8th century when some monasteries started to send letters to other communities announcing the deaths of monks or nuns and asking for prayers for their souls.

[1] The practice of making and circulating mortuary rolls seems to have become unpopular by the late 14th century, possibly due to the disruption of monastic and public life at the time of the Black Death.

That of the Abbess Matilda of the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in Caen is the longest to have survived with a length of 72 feeds and width of 8-10 inches, having circulated among 253 religious institutions.

The extraordinary circulation of this role in Northern France and England, during which various members of monastic communities, collegiate churches and cathedral chapters subscribed, contributed substantially to the short-lived Order of Savigny.