[1] Ralph himself tells us these facts; and that his resignation of the abbacy was made against the wishes of the brethren, in consequence of his bad health.
On the other hand, the corrections and erasures of the autograph show that he took pains to verify his details; and his informants are sometimes worthy of exceptional confidence.
[2] The tone of the chronicle is usually dispassionate; but the original text contained some personal strictures upon Prince John, which are reproduced in Roger of Wendover.
However, Ralph's role in editing Niger's chronicle is now disputed, and it is believed that a monk at the nearby monastery of St Osyth's made the amendment.
[3] On Richard I the abbot passes a judicious verdict, admitting the great qualities of that king, but arguing that his character degenerated.