THE KING’S ACHIEVEMENT

By Robert Hugh Benson
Author of “By What Authority?” “The Light Invisible,” “A Book of the Love of Jesus,” etc.

Non minus principi turpia sunt multa supplicia, quam medico multa funera.
(Sen. de clem. 1, 24, 1.)

I must express my gratitude once more to the Rev. Dom Bede Camm, O.S.B., as well as to the Very Rev. Mgr. Barnes, who have done me great service in revising proofs and making suggestions; to the Rev. E. Conybeare, who very kindly provided the coins for the cover-design of the book; to my mother and sister, to Eustace Virgo, Esq., to Dr. Ross-Todd, and to others, who have been extremely kind in various ways during the writing of this book in the summer and autumn of 1904.

I must also express my great indebtedness to the Right Rev. Abbot Gasquet, O.S.B., both on account of his invaluable books, which I have used freely, and for his personal kindness in answering my questions.

ROBERT HUGH BENSON

The Catholic Rectory, Cambridge, July 14, 1905.

CONTENTS

BOOK I.
THE KING’S WILL.
CHAPTER
[I. A DECISION]
[II. A FORETASTE OF PEACE]
[III. THE ARRIVAL AT LEWES]
[IV. A COMMISSION]
[V. MASTER MORE]
[VI. RALPH’S INTERCESSION]
[VII. A MERRY PRISONER]
[VIII. A HIGHER STEP]
[IX. LIFE AT LEWES]
[X. THE ARENA]
[XI. A CLOSING-IN]
[XII. A RECOVERY]
[XIII. PRISONER AND PRINCE]
[XIV. THE SACRED PURPLE]
[XV. THE KING’S FRIEND]
BOOK II.
THE KING’S TRIUMPH.
PART I.—THE SMALLER HOUSES.
[I. AN ACT OF FAITH]
[II. THE BEGINNING OF THE VISITATION]
[III. A HOUSE OF LADIES]
[IV. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING]
[V. FATHER AND SON]
[VI. A NUN’S DEFIANCE]
[VII. ST. PANCRAS PRIORY]
[VIII. RALPH’S RETURN]
[IX. RALPH’S WELCOME]
PART II—THE FALL OF LEWES.
[I. INTERNAL DISSENSION]
[II. SACERDOS IN AETERNUM]
[III. THE NORTHERN RISING]
[IV. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SEAL]
[V. THE SINKING SHIP]
[VI. THE LAST STAND]
[VII. AXES AND HAMMERS]
BOOK III.
THE KING’S GRATITUDE.
[I. A SCHEME]
[II. A DUEL]
[III. A PEACE-MAKER]
[IV. THE ELDER SON]
[V. THE MUMMERS]
[VI. A CATASTROPHE]
[VII. A QUESTION OF LOYALTY]
[VIII. TO CHARING]
[IX. A RELIEF-PARTY]
[X. PLACENTIA]
[XI. THE KING’S HIGHNESS]
[XII. THE TIDINGS AT THE TOWER]
[XIII. THE RELEASE]

BENEFICO—IGNOTO
HVNC—LIBRVM
D.