THE importance of fixing the sequence of chancellors, for chronological purposes and especially the dating of charters, is very great. Waldric, who preceded Ranulf as chancellor to Henry I., was, as a warrior and then a bishop, a man of mark. It has hitherto been supposed, as by Mr. Archer (who wrote his life for the Dictionary of National Biography), that his latest appearance as chancellor was early in 1106, before the king's departure for Normandy. His feat in taking Duke Robert prisoner at Tinchebrai (28th Sept., 1106) is well known, but was believed to be the only evidence of his presence in Normandy with the King. There is, however, in Gallia Christiana (vol. xi.) a valuable charter recording a “causa seu placitum,” decided before King Henry at Rouen, 7th Nov., 1106, among those present being “Waldricus qui tune temporis eratregis cancellarius.” We can trace, therefore, his tenure of the office up to that date.

There is some doubt and difficulty as to another charter. Foss believed that Waldric was the “Walterus Cancellarius” who is found in a charter to Tewkesbury of “1106.” This charter is printed in the Monasticon (ii. 66) from an Inspeximus temp. Henry IV. There is, however, a better Inspeximus on the Charter Roll of 28 Edward I. (No. 16), in which the name is clearly Waldric. But the difficulty is that the same Inspeximus contains another version of this charter (No. 2), with a fuller list of witnesses.