The 25th December in the second year of William’s reign was in 1067 according to our reckoning. But the old system of reckoning the year “ab Incarnatione” began the year on 25th December. This was the old English system, and this charter proves that William’s chancery also commenced the year at the Nativity.[61] The time spent on this important charter has not been wasted. We have found that one who stands in the front rank of English philologists, and for whom the same would, doubtless, be claimed in “diplomatic,” may arrive, in spite of great learning, at quite erroneous conclusions, simply from inexact treatment of the evidence before him. A word more on Ingelric. According to Mr. Freeman, “that Ingelric was an Englishman seems plain.”[62] Mr. Stevenson, however, who has specially studied the subject of personal names, holds that this was Frankish. The St. Martin’s charter specially speaks of his having acquired his lands under Edward the Confessor. Mr. Stevenson, however, goes further, and states, as we have seen, that it proves him to have been “one of William’s clerks” (_sic_); and he argues that “if he was a chancery clerk, he may have continued the traditions of Edward’s chancery.” It is remarkable, however, that in an Exeter charter (1069) to which Mr. Stevenson refers us, he again attests, as in two of the charters dealt with above, as “Ingelricus _presbyter_.” I have chosen, therefore, for this paper the style “Ingelric the priest.” * * * * * No question of origin can arise in the case of a third personage, who also enjoyed the favour both of Edward and of his successor, namely, Albert of Lotharingia. Known hitherto as having, it is supposed, given its name to Lothbury--for the “Terra Alberti Loteringi” is mentioned in the list of London wards _temp._ Henry I.[63]--he occurs in many places on the pages of Domesday. As “Albertus Lothariensis” we find him a tenant-in-chief in the counties of Herefordshire and Beds (186, 216_b_2), one of his manors in the latter county having been held by him, we read, under Edward the Confessor; and he also occurs by the same style as holding under the latter king at Hatton, Middlesex (129). But, so far, there is nothing to show that Albert was a cleric. It is a Westminster Abbey charter that supplies the missing clue: Willelmus rex Anglorum Francis et Anglis salutem. Sciatis me dedisse Sancto Petro Westmonasterii et abbati Gilleberto ecclesias de Roteland et terras pertinentes ad easdem ecclesias sicut Albertus Lotharingius de me tenebat ipsas ecclesias cum omnibus pertinentibus ad ipsas. Teste Hugone de Portu.[64]