But Eustace K. Stephans son was sore offended herewith, and reprouing
his father for concluding such an agréement, in a great rage departed
from the court, & taking his waie toward Cambridgeshire (which countrie
he meant to ouerrun) he came to the abbeie of Burie, and vpon S.
Laurence daie caused all the corne in the countrie about and namelie
that which belonged to the said abbeie, to be spoiled and brought into a
castell which he had in keeping not far from thence. [Sidenote: Eustace
king Stephans son and Simon earl of Northāpton depart this life both in
one wéeke.] But as he sat downe to meat the same daie vpon receiuing the
first morsell he fell mad (as writers haue reported) and miserablie
ended his life. The same weeke Simon earle of Northampton departed this
world of a like disease, and so two of the cheefest aduersaries which
duke Henrie had, were rid out of the waie. Eustace was buried at
Feuersham in Kent, and earle Simon at Northampton.

[Sidenote: The earle of Chester deceasseth.] About the same time also
that noble and valiant earle of Chester called Ranulfe departed this
life, 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 William 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 further him: so that his part became dailie stronger, and the kings
weaker.

About the same time the castels of Reading and Béertwell were deliuered
to duke Henrie, [Sidenote: _Matth. Par._ _Rob. Mont._] and the ladie