have been in some sort a dependant of the house of Ormonde, and to have regarded the earl as his feudal superior. The following passage from the Dedication to the earl of Ormonde will sufficiently show Carve's disposition towards the house of Ormonde and his desire to extol the name of Butler:

It has not occurred by chance, that my pen has preferred to address you rather than any one else; for it relates the heroic actions of those of your name, which add glory to your illustrious family. It tells of those Butlers, your most noble cousins, who, as they were ever chiefest in name in their own country, so among foreign nations were always of the first consideration on account of their eminent valour. Deign to follow them with me to the farthest bounds of Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Bohemia, and hear the fame of the Butlers of your most noble house, celebrated everywhere for its fidelity to the emperor and other kings. Would that (I say this with all the sincerity of my heart), would that the spirit of thy Walter, to whom I was for many years the inseparable companion, could return to life and appear in arms before you; then, indeed, you would see a man, in war, rather a friend to peace than eager for hostile strife, you would behold a man, potent in arms and in all his warlike dispositions, regarding nothing so much as, by his most strenuous endeavours, to restore to the Holy Roman Empire its pristine tranquillity.'

In the Preface to the reader, Carve thus explains his motives for writing his journal :

:

While affected by the grief of others, I was also myself very much touched by the domestic funeral of my most esteemed Butler, with whom I had lived a most delightful time, the greatest part of it in the most confidential intercourse; having been always treated by him as a brother, having always respected him as a father. To make some return for his very great kindness, and show before I died, that I was not ungrateful, it occurred to my mind that I might compose a book relating his illustrious deeds, and publish it to the world. I had seen with what envy he had frequently undertaken many expeditions under the best auspices. I had seen his name unjustly traduced during his life, and first covered with glory after his death; but I had also seen and learned from the example of others, how brief is the remembrance after their decease, especially of military commanders. That I might prevent such happening to my Butler, the most dear to me of all men, I undertook to write this little History, or rather Itinerary, that whilst writing concerning many memorable things which happened to myself, I might record also the deeds of my Butler, and leave a token of my affection by publishing this little work, in a manner, as a monument of it. I had desired indeed to have comprised in one and the same work, all his actions and those of the other Butlers, but when I found that I could hardly do that amid the tumult of war, and that leisure and quiet would be required for it, I laid aside the idea till a more convenient time.2

This passage occurs in the Dedication to James Butler, earl of Ormonde, the original is as follows:

"Quod vero ad te potius quam ad quemvis alium suo impetu feratur calamus, non id quidem temere evenit. Complexus est enim ipse heroica Tuorum facta; quæ ad tuam quoque totiusque Perillustris Stemmatis laudem spectant, portat Nobilissimos Majores et Consanguineos tuos Butleros, qui ut in Patriâ semper fuerunt summi nominis, ita apud exteros, ob egregiam vit. tutem, præcipuæ auctoritatis. Age, vade, si lubet, in extremam usque Germaniam, Poloniam, Lithuaniam, Hungariam, Bohemiam, penetra, si vacat, et audi si non

Butlerorum tuorum fama Imperatori Romano, aliisque regibus æque fida, quam nobilissimæ prosapiæ tuæ gloriosæ ubique celebretur? Utinam (cum intimo id affectus mei sensu ingenué proloquor), utinam, inquam, manes Waltheri Tui, cui annos plusculos individuus fui comes, in vitale corpus remigrare possent, et se tibi in armiis præsentare, videres utique virum inter arma potius ad amicam pacem quam hostilia bella propensum, spectares virum in armis fortem, omni bellico apparatu nil potius spectantem, quam ut Imperio Romano pristinam restitueret pro virili suâ tranquillitatem."

"Ad Lectorem.-Me jam etiam aliorum

Carve devotes a chapter to the heroic actions (heroica facta) of Walter Butler previous to his decease :—

After [the taking of Frankfort on the Oder], he remained a prisoner for six months and was ransomed for 1000 imperial crowns. He directed his course to our army, which then, after the battle of Leipsig, was marching through Lusatia into Silesia, and meeting with marshal Tieffenbach was received by him with the greatest honour and favour. He here, by the authority of Tieffenbach, compelled colonel Behem, who had been the principal calumniator of Butler at the emperor's court, to deny in writing the calumnies he had uttered against him, and to assert that, on the contrary, Walter Butler had done all that became a brave soldier. Having duly vindicated his reputation, Walter, with the leave of the generals, proceeded to Warsaw, in Poland, and at his own expense raised a regiment of dragoons of chosen soldiers, which it was his intention to lead back into Silesia. Our Walter had scarcely arranged for winter quarters when he received orders from Wallenstein to march to Sagan in Lusatia, a town of Wallenstein's, which being likely to be captured by the enemy, he thought its defence could not be entrusted to one more faithful than Walter, where he arrived unexpectedly and dispersed the enemy. After three months in Bohemia he departed for Lymburg, from thence to Wallenstein at Pilsen, who led him away to the siege of Prague.1

These matters being thus settled, Walter Butler was ordered to Eger, and making sudden irruption upon the enemy made a great slaughter of them and took twelve standards, and thereby obtained the good graces of Wallenstein, so much so that he received as a reward the county of Jegerndorff and its appurtenances for his winter quarters. While making a stay of some duration at this place he united himself in matrimony with the very noble countess of Phondana. But the many actions performed by our Walter

dolore tristem, domesticum quoque funus optimi Butleri mei tangebat plurimum, quocum dulcissimos dies, eosque plusculos in omni confidentiâ exegeram, â quo suavissime semper tanquam Frater habitus, cultus ut Pater fueram: cujus tantæ benevolentiæ cum par esse non possem, nollem tamen ingratus mori, hoc tandem succurrit animo, ut præclara ejus facta mundo vulgata, inter homines Libello, aperirem. Viderem quantâ cum invidiâ multas sæpe expeditiones optimis auspiciis susceperat, videbam ejus nomen ipso adhuc vivente inique traductam, post mortem effulgere clarius: videbam vero etiam, aliorum doctus exemplo, quam brevis, maximé inter milites, mortuorum sit recordatio. Hæc omnia ut in Butlero meo virorum omnium amantissimo caverem, Historiolam vel Itinerarium potius hoc scribendum suscepi, ut dum de multis quæ mihi memoranda contigerunt, scriberem, etiam Butleri mei recordarer, ac amorem meum quantulocunque hoc opusculo saltem publico affectus monumento testatum relinquerem. Voluissem quidem omnia ejus et Butlerorum aliorum facta, uno solo ad id suscepto Libello complexus esse, sed cum inter bellicos tumultus id fieri difficulter possit, et id tranquillius otium requirat, cogitationem illam in commodiora tempora deposui."

166 Post sex mensium captivitatem Waltherus tandem vincula mille Imperialium litto redemit. Movebat tum forté post

Lipsiacam stragem exercitus noster per Lusatiam in Silesiam, ad quem Butlerus noster cursum direxit, ac Marescallum Tieffenbach conveniens summo cum honore ac raro favore ab eo est receptus. Hic colonellum Behem, qui potissimus fuerat Butleri apud Cæsarem diffamator, auctoritate Tieffenbachii adegit scripto revocare, quæ contra Waltherum in aula Imperatoris temeré effuderat, in quo Waltherum egisse quod masculum militem addecet, asseverat. Famâ rité assertâ, Waltherus obtentâ a Generalibus veniâ, in Poloniam Varsariam profectus est, suisque impensis centum equo pedestrium selectorum militum collegit ut in Silesiam eâdem quâ venerat viâ reduceret. Vix Waltherus noster pactus erat cum incolis loci pecuniam pro hybernis militum solvendis, cum a Wallensteinio sine morâ diu (sic) noctuque properandi Saganum advenit imperium. Est Saganum urbs in Lusatiæ confiniis sita spectans ad ipsum Wallensteinium quam cum hostes impetituri videbantur, Wallensteinius fideliori quam Walthero committi haud posse putavit, ideoque nil cunctatus Waltherus Wallensteinii decretis obsecundare, opinione hostium citius adfuit, eosque ex insperato ad ortus fudit fugavitque, ac immanem prædæ vim obtinuit, cumque illic trimestri substitisset in Bohemiam postea ac Lymburgum profectus est, inde Pilsnam ad Wallensteinium abiit, qui eum ad obsidendum Pragam abduxit."

Butler in the service of his Imperial majesty upon various most dangerous occasions can scarcely be related. I shall only add this one, worthy to be remembered in all ages to come, that at the battle of Nordlingen, in the presence of the king of Hungary and Bohemia and the cardinal Infant, he fought most bravely for twenty-four hours without intermission and lost his lieutenant-colonel and watchmaster.

He was then

sent to besiege the city of Aurach, close to which was a very strong fortress of the duke of Wertemberg's, which he took, but not without considerable loss of men, and after taking it by storm gave it up to be pillaged by the troops. At length after having recovered various towns and forts, this eminent man, worthy of being held in perpetual remembrance, most loyal to the emperor, closed his life most placidly, at Swarrendorp, having received all the rites of the Catholic Church.1

In a subsequent chapter Carve relates the rise and general events of the career of Albert Wallenstein till its close in the catastrophe of Eger :

Wallenstein hoping by means of his wealth [hisce gradibus argenteis] to ascend the throne of Bohemia, had selected a fitting place called the White Mountain (at which Frederic, the count Palatine was formerly defeated and driven from his own lands, as well as from those which he had usurped, contrary to all right and justice), but so treacherous a machination could not long be concealed from the emperor, who, as soon as the rumour had reached his ears, prohibited the generals who were loyal to him from receiving any further commands from Wallenstein; and this prohibition was first published at Prague. But it happened when Wallenstein wished to assemble the army on the White Mountain, that count Terzky, his relation, having ascertained that the treason was discovered, returned to Wallenstein, informed him of the disclosure of his design, and explained the hazardous nature of the step he was about to take. He thereby induced Wallenstein to order all the cannon to be spiked, and to appoint to the command of Pilsen a man devoted to himself, whom no promises or solicitations should induce to give it up to any one but himself. Wallenstein himself turned towards Eger with a thousand soldiers, partly foot, and partly of horse. In this escort was comprised the regiment of Walter Butler, which rumour represented to the Imperialists everywhere, as being of Wallenstein's faction, but how falsely, the event shows. This indeed is clear, that Wallenstein had frequently endeavoured to induce Butler to share in his designs, had promised him large estates and high rank, and that he had offered him large funds in bills, partly on Hamburg and partly on Sagan, to raise Irish soldiers for his service. Butler was always suspicious of this favour, so tardily shown towards him by

fecto vigiliis amiserit. Nec tamen hosti pedem unum cesserit, quoad Hispani (qui se vere viros et magnos milites eo in conflictu præstiterunt) cum Croatis in succursum venirent. Quanta his sanguinis utrobique profluvies, facile est prudenti cogitare, dum audit eodem prælio sedecem millia eodem die quæ fuit decimâ sextâ Augusti anni millesimi sexcentesimi trigesimi quarti, in loco conflictus occubuisse. Ab hoc conflictu missus est Waltherus cum octo legionibus ad obsidendam civitatem Auracensem cui fortissima adjacebat arx duci Wirtembergensi parens quam feliciter non tamen sine suorum militum jacturâ aliquâ tandem obtinuit et prædæ militum cum vi cepisset reliquit. Tandem post varia oppida et castella recuperata, vir sempiternâ memoriâ dignissimus Cæsari fidissimus, ad Swarrendorp vitam placidissime, omnibus prius sacris ritu Catholico munitus, finivit.—pp. 71-2, vol. i.

Wallenstein. But when he understood distinctly what an evil design was intended, he would never consent to be released from his oath to the emperor. From that out, his whole endeavours were directed towards arresting this traitor, who had been raised to so great a height by the emperor, and delivering him up to be punished according to his deserts. When he found, that unassisted he was not equal to this undertaking, he took into his counsels a soldier of staunch loyalty to the emperor, and of great bravery, Walter Devereux, at that time commander or captain of a troop, who most faithfully gave his assistance to Walter Butler. Sure of his aid, Butler without hesitation joined his regiment to the forces of Wallenstein, then on the march to Eger.1

The rest is told as in Mailàth. It is not easy to divine how Harte, in a second edition of his "Life of Gustavus Adolphus," for which, as he states, the account of Wallenstein's death was new written, chiefly on the authority of Thomas Carve's work, could have fallen into the error of attributing the death of Wallenstein to James, and not, as the fact was, to Walter Butler, the same who behaved so gallantly at Frankfort on the Oder.

Carve's second volume is dedicated to Isabella [recte Elizabeth] countess of Ormonde, and in the prefatory letter, extolling the Butlers generally, he says, "I need not mention James and Walter Butler; Germany knows, and Poland, how illustrious are their names and what men they were ever found to be." Carve mentions that James Butler was colonel of the regiment of which Walter Butler was lieutenant-colonel at Frankfort on the Oder, and that he was also at the siege of Lymburg, and that he afterwards served in Poland against

1 [Wallenstein] sperans argenteis hisce gradibus ad Bohemici regni solium conscendere, ad id delegerat etiam locum commodum (montem album appellant, in quo olim Palatinus Comes Fredericus et alieno honore sibi contra jus fasque arrogato et propriis terris exutus est), sed non potuit diu latere Cæsarem tam iniqua machinatio, ad cujus aures cum venisset rumor, scripto quamprimum inhibuit fidelioribus belli ducibus ne post hac a Wallensteinio imperia capesserent: Hocque scriptum Pragæ primùm innotuit. Accidit verò, cum Wallenstein totum exercitum convocare proposuisset in dictum montem, ut Comes de Tersky, affinis Wallensteinii de propalato proditorio proposito certior factus, ad Wallensteinium rediret, ipsique proditum negotium instituti sui nunciaret, explicaret etiam quam periculosæ plenum opus aleæ agitaretur, eo Wallensteinium adduxit ut omnia tormenta bellica clavis obdurari præciperet, Pilsnæque hominem sibi fidum præficeret, qui nullis pactis pollicitationibus aut rationibus, locum illum alteri quam Wallensteinio traderet: Ipse vero se Egram versus converteret cum millibus aliquot partim equitum partim peditum. In hoc comitatu comprehendebatur legio Waltheri Butleri, quæ fama Cæsareanis passim Wallensteinianæ factionis esse iniqué arguebatur, quam verò id falso,

declaravit eventus. Hoc quidem evidens est Wallensteinium sæpius conatum esse Butlerum in consilii sui societatem traducere, ipsique pollicitum esse amplissimas terras et opimas dignitates, ducentaque Imperialium millia per cambium partim Hamburgi partim Segani destinasse ad colligendos milites Ibernos in sua servitia fidos, Butlerum tamen semper suspectum habuisse tam prolixe propensum sibi Wallensteinii favorem. Quando vero clarius intellexit quo res pessum vergeret nunquam consentire voluisse ut Sacramento Cæsari facto solveretur: Dehinc omnibus viribus annexus est, ut Proditorem hunc a Cæsare adeo elevatum comprehenderet, ac Imperatori pro merito plectendum traderet: cum verò ipse solus sufficiens haud esset tam arduo negotio expediendo, in consilium propositi sui adhibuit militem inter paucos fidum Cæsari, et plenum masculo animo Waltherum Deveroux, tunc temporis turmæ uni præfectum seu Capitaneum qui suam Walthero operam fidelissimam addixit. Hoc adjutore securus Butler, libenter suam legionem Wallensteinicis copiis Egram commigrantibus adjunxit.

De Jacobo et Walthero Butleris nil moveo, novit Germania, novit Polonia quam chara capita quam rara nomina quantos vivos semper experta sit.

the Muscovites. At the conclusion of Carve's work is a chapter entitled "Series Butlerianæ Prosapiæ," an account of the lineage of the Butlers. Of the "Butlerianum Stemma" he enumerates fourteen families in order: 1. Dunboyne; 2. Cahir; 3. Mountgarret; 4. "De Tullia Equitis Aurati ;" 5. Ikerrin; 6. "Jechia olim celeberrima ;" 7." De oppido Pauli (Paulstown) ex hac familiâ Perillustris Dominus Waltherus Butlerus, Comes, et Sacræ Cæsareæ Majestatis Colonellus, ac ejusdem Cubicularius, et Theobaldus Butlerus, Richardus item Butlerus cum Edmundo, omnes Capitanei, ortum et originem suam sumpserunt;" 8. Kilcash; 9. Moyally; 10. "Cilvolicio;" 11. Knockgraffon, of which was Thomas, surnamed the Lame, famous in the wars in France; 12. Grange; 13. Bansagh; 14. Clocnova.

Carve then descends to particular families" nunc ad particulares familias descendo"-and gives the names of many cadet branches of the above fourteen principal families. Among the "Illustres Familiæ ex Vice-Comiti Monte Garretæ exortæ," he states the second to be that “de Daginsalano ex quâ Illustrissimus Dominus meus Jacobus Butlerus, Generalis, excubiarum Præfectus in exercitu Hispanico, Nobilitate inter Polonos clarus, Sacræ Cæsareæ Majestatis necnon Regni Poloniæ Colonellus, descendit."

2

Coleridge's translation shows the Iago or Zanga-like character that Butler is made to play in Schiller's famous tragedy; and a despatch from secretary Windebank to lord Strafforde, at Dublin Castle, upon the event, affords proof of the great importance attached to it at the period: and, in conclusion, it may be observed, that natural repugnance to such a deed as "the taking off" of Wallenstein, as well as its manner, secret and treacherous, will probably ever form a bar to a fair consideration of the conduct of Walter Butler. If Taaffe's evidence can be relied upon, and circumstances concur to render it unimpeachable, then Butler was assuredly not the double traitor of the tragedy, nor a sort of executioner for the mere love of gain. He was compelled to be cognizant of, and his life was in peril, if he did not seem to aid and abet a treason, in the failure or success of which the fate of the empire and the emperor was involved. After his death, it would appear that Wallenstein had miscalculated his strength and that his great designs would probably have miscarried; but so great was his power and his potency of character that Butler by cutting him off in his treason was reasonably, at the time, considered to have saved the empire.

And who shall say that he did not? This deed of Walter Butler may have prevented a train of consequences the most momentous, and if the manner of executing it forbids us to call the act, with Carve, "heroic," the circumstances as now stated will, I trust, go far to relieve Butler's character from the infamy which has hitherto

1 Piccolomini, act i., scene 5. Death of 5; act iii, scene 6; act iv., scene 2. Wallenstein, act i., scene 4; act ii., scene Strafforde's Lett., vol. i. pp. 215, 216.