himself came at length to be held in subjection
by his own minister. The Duke of Gloucester was advancing rapidly in
the same course; and, unless the king aroused himself from his
inaction, and took the government into his own hands, he would soon
lose all power to do it, and would sink into a condition of
humiliating dependence upon one of his own subjects.

[Sidenote: The example of ancestors.]

Then, again, she urged upon him at other times the example of his
father and grandfather, Henry IV. and Henry V., whose reigns, through
the personal energy and prowess which they had exhibited in
strengthening and extending their dominions, had given them a
world-wide renown. It would be extremely inglorious for the descendant
of such a line to spend his life in spiritless inactivity, and to
leave the affairs of his kingdom in the hands of a relative, who of
course could only be expected to exercise his powers for the purpose
of promoting his own interest and glory.

[Sidenote: Anne.]

[Sidenote: House of York.]

Moreover, she reminded him of a danger that he was in from the
representations of other branches of the royal line who still claimed
the throne, and might at any time, whenever an opportunity offered, be
expected to attempt to enforce their claims. As will be seen by the
genealogical table,[6] Lionel, the _second_ son of Edward III.--whose
immediate descendants had been superseded by those of John of Gaunt,
the third son, on account of the fact that the only child of Lionel
was a daughter, and she had been unable to make good her claims--had a
great-granddaughter, named Anne, who married Richard, a son of Edmund,
the _fourth_ of the sons of Edward III.[7] Richard Plantagenet, who
issued from this union, was, of course, the descendant and heir of
Lionel. He had also other claims to the throne, and Margaret reminded
her husband that there was danger at any time that he might come
forward and assert his claims.

[Footnote 6: On page 20.]

[Footnote 7: That is, the fourth of the table. There were
other children not mentioned here.]

[Sidenote: The king not safe.]

Under these circumstances, it was evident, said she, that the king
could not consider his interests safe in the care of any person
whatsoever out of his own immediate family--that is, in any one's
hands but his own and those of his wife. A minister, however strong
his professions of fidelity and attachment might be, could