Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 About the same time also that noble and valiant earle of Chester called Ranulfe departed this life,The earle of Chester de|ceasseth. a man of such stoutnesse of stomach, that death could scarselie make him to yeeld, or shew any token of feare: he was poisoned (as was thought) by Willi|am Peuerell. After him succeeded his sonne Hugh, a man likewise of passing strength and vertue. Now although earle Ranulfe fauoured the part of duke Henrie, yet in these later yeares he did but little for him: wherefore it was thought that the death of this earle was not so great a losse to the duke, as the deaths of Eustace, earle Simon, and other the kings fréends deceasing about the same time seemed to fur|ther him: so that his part became dailie stronger, and the kings weaker.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 About the same time the castels of Reading and Béertwell were deliuered to duke Henrie, and the la|die Gundreda countesse of Warwike draue out the souldiers that held it for king Stephan, Matth. Paris. Rob. Mont. and deliue|red the towne to duke Henrie. In this yeare duches Elenor, wife to Henrie Fitzempresse, was brought to bed of hir first borne son, whom they named Wil|liam, after the maner of the ancient dukes of Aqui|taine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus came things to passe in sundrie places wi [...]h so good successe as duke Henrie could wish, where|vpon meaning to follow the steps of prosperous for|tune, he marched foorth to Stamford,Stamford was taken. Simon Dun. Ger. Dor. and taking the towne at his first comming laid siege to the castell. Now they that had it in keeping sent messengers to king Stephan, requiring rescue, but the same time he had laid siege to the castell of Gipswich, which Hugh Bigot kept against him:Gipswich or Ipswich be|sieged. and bicause he wold not depart from that siege till he had the castell gi|uen vp into his hands (which came at last to passe) in the meane time the castell of Stamford was yéelded vp to duke Henrie, N. Triuet. who immediatlie therevpon de|parted from Stamford eastward, meaning to come to the succour of his fréends besieged at Gipswich or Ipswich (as it is commonlie called) not vnderstan|ding as yet that they had surrendred the hold: but ha|uing knowledge by the way what was happened, he returned and marched streight to Notingham, and got the towne easilie;Notingham. for they within the castell had set it on fire, therfore he besieged the castell stan|ding vpon the point of a stéepe craggie rocke, and was furnished with a strong garison of men, and all things necessarie for defense, so that it could not ea|silie be woone.