Gundreda countesse of Warwike draue out the souldiers that held it for
king Stephan, and deliuered 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 William, after the maner of the ancient
dukes of Aquitaine.

Thus came things to passe in sundrie places with so good successe as
duke Henrie could wish, wherevpon meaning to follow the steps of
prosperous fortune, he marched foorth to Stamford, [Sidenote: Stamford
was taken. _Simon Dun._ _Ger. Dor._ Gipswich or Ipswich besieged.] 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: and bicause he wold not depart from
that siege till he had the castell giuen vp into his hands (which came
at last to passe) in the meane time the castell of Stamford was yéelded
vp to duke Henrie, [Sidenote: _N. Triuet._] who immediatelie therevpon
departed from Stamford eastward, meaning to come to the succour of his
fréends besieged at Gipswich or Ipswich (as it is commonlie called) not
vnderstanding as yet that they had surrendred the hold: but hauing
knowledge by the way what was happened, [Sidenote: Notinghàm.] he
returned and marched streight to Notingham, and got the towne easilie;
for they within the castell had set it on fire, therefore he besieged
the castell standing 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 easilie be woone.

[Sidenote: Duke Henrie raiseth his siege from Notingham. _Polydor._]
When duke Henrie had assaied all the waies how to take it, and saw that
he could not preuaile, he minded to loose no more time: but raising his