"But, unhappily, in England at present might makes right, and you may be sure that at King Richard's death, be it when it may, Prince John will make a bold throw for the throne, and, aided as he will be by the pope and by Phillip of France, methinks that his chances are better than those of the young prince.

A man's power, in warlike times, is more than a boy's.

He can intrigue and promise and threaten, while a boy must be in the hands of partisans.

I fear that Prince Arthur will have troubled times indeed before he mounts the throne of England.

Should Richard survive until he becomes of age to take the field himself and head armies, he may succeed, for all speak well of him as a boy of singular sweetness of disposition, while Prince John is detested by all save those who flatter and live by him.