clue to Butler's sentiments; but a document hitherto unknown throws much light upon the conduct and feelings of Butler in the last days of Wallenstein. This is an account of what occurred, written by his regimental chaplain, father Patrick Taaffe, which has been found among the legal papers of a suit between the relations of Butler, concerning the property he had left. Taaffe's account is dated Prague, 12th February, 1653, and it would appear that he had been requested by another priest to relate to him the course of the events at Eger, and Taaffe in his answer gives a circumstantial account of what occurred. He states that Butler was in winter quarters at Klatrub, and his regiment was dispersed in detachments to guard the passes from the upper Palatinate into Bohemia, when suddenly at midnight a courier arrived from the duke of Friedland, with express orders that the colonel should at once, without loss of time, assemble his regiment and march to the White Mountain, near Prague. "The colonel astonished, had me awakened and called to him. He assured me that this unexpected order of the generalissimo confirmed him in the suspicions which he had entertained, of his disloyalty, on several previous occasions. For what else is it, said he, to call away me and my soldiers from the defence of the passes against the enemy so near to us, but to open the door to the enemy and invite him into Bohemia ? But go we must, said he, for so peremptory an order cannot be disobeyed. He added to this: I think that I shall die on the White Mountain, but if, as I hope, I find many honourably-minded, and of approved fidelity, I shall not die unrevenged; and I think that the White Mountain will be stained with more blood than in the battle against the Palatine Frederick." Taaffe then relates that the detachments of the regiment were immediately called in and that they marched towards Pilsen. About half way, they met some cavalry and infantry with baggage from which Illo or Terzka (Taaffe does not remember which) gallopped forward, and, in the name of the generalissimo, ordered Butler to join them and march towards Mies. On the 22nd of Feb., continues Taaffe, we arrived at Mies. By order of the duke of Friedland, and contrary to military usage, the colonel was obliged to pass the night with the colours, in the town, while the soldiers remained without in the field. This still further increased his suspicions of Wallenstein, as he concluded from it that they feared he would make his escape. He consulted with father Taaffe, who advised him to fly, but Butler maintained that flight was unworthy of a courageous man, and that it would be of no advantage to the emperor, unless he could bring off the soldiers and the colours with him. On the next day, Butler and his regiment were so placed on the march among the other troops, that he could not remain behind, and go off with them as he intended to do if he could. Butler was again, on this night, separated, with the colours, from the regiment. He sent for father Taaffe, and after a private conversation with him, sent him with a written message, in the English language, to Gallas, or Piccolomini,

to the effect, that he would die a hundred deaths rather than draw his sword traitorously against the interests of the emperor; and also told Taaffe to assure whichever of them he should meet first, that he might be considered in all respects, a faithful and honourable officer of his majesty. He even added, continues Taaffe, that perhaps by the special providence of God, he had been compelled to this march, that he might perform some especially heroic act. Taaffe then relates that he delivered the message to Piccolomini, at Pilsen, and that the latter said he had never doubted Butler's loyalty to the emperor, but that, as he was placed among the disaffected, in order that others who were not so well acquainted with his character, might know it also, Taaffe should, as secretly as possible, apprise him in writing to return, and bring Wallenstein with him alive or dead, if he wished to be advanced by the emperor. "Of all this," says Taaffe, "I was an eye-witness."

"I here," proceeds Mailàth, "interrupt father Patrick Taaffe's narrative, to make some observations. When Butler was at Klatrub, the emperor's proclamation against Wallenstein was unknown to him, for otherwise he would not have obeyed Wallenstein's order to march to the White Mountain; and nevertheless, he already suspected Wallenstein's disaffection. He believed that there was a great faction for Wallenstein in the army, and expected a great battle at the White Mountain, between the emperor's troops and the adherents of Wallenstein; the latter must therefore have already given many tokens of treason, and his proceedings have met with approbation in the army. Further, the decision which Butler came to, and executed in regard to Wallenstein, was his own and not from any superior authority; for the letter of Taaffe, containing Piccolomini's charge, to bring in Wallenstein living or dead, did not reach Butler before the deed. If this had happened, Taaffe would relate it, and Butler would have made its contents of effect with Gordon and Leslie, which he did not do, as the continuation of Taaffe's story proves. Lastly, Taaffe's account is quite worthy of credit, for he separates accurately what he communicated as an eye-witness from that which he only heard; and even in that which he gives as from an eyewitness, he distinguishes accurately what he knew with certainty, from that which he does not remember well."

The continuation of Taaffe's narrative is as follows:

That which follows I relate from Butler's own account, whom I ever found not less true in words than brave in deeds. On the way from Plana to Eger, Friedland had Butler summoned to his carriage and held, contrary to his custom, the following friendly and confidential conversation with him. He said-Herr Butler, I regret that I have hitherto been so strange, and even ungrateful, to so brave and meritorious a commander of a regiment; but the blame rests not so much upon me as on the emperor, who promised me much with which I could have rewarded meritorious officers and brave soldiers; but as he did not keep his promise, it has not only been out of my power to recompense the military according to my wishes, but I am also even compelled, not so much on my own account as for the sake of my officers, to take another course by which I can oblige the emperor to fulfil his promise, so that I may be able to recompense the deserving. Among these I am aware that few come before Herr Butler. But that he may see how

highly I esteem him, and how much I shall benefit him, I will give him two regimentsone of horse and one of infantry of Terzka's, and besides this appoint in Hamburg 200,000 (as well as I remember) dollars, for the raising of fresh soldiers through my envoys in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and quarters, or a mustering place, at the same town. Butler answered to this with great but feigned expression of thanks, for the offer of so many and such high marks of favour-that he owed no duty or allegiance to the emperor except as a soldier; and that he might therefore preserve his honour, which was dearer to him than his life, without spot, he would first write to request his discharge from the emperor, which he had no doubt of obtaining, as he could not compel a freeman and a foreigner into his service; he would then prefer to serve his highness, whose great science in the conduct of armies, and good fortune in battles above all men he had learned by experience. I do not remember that any thing else, except this conversation happened upon the way. After the arrival at Eger, Butler and the colours, as had been done the whole way, were assigned quarters in the town, while his soldiers remained without in the field. On the first night of his arrival at Eger, Butler invited lieutenant-colonel Gordon and watchmaster Leslie, officers of the infantry regiment of Terzka, at that time forming the garrison of Eger, to his quarters. After they, according to military custom, had drunk somewhat, whether from design or from the wine, he began to speak more unreservedly; he endeavoured to make out their sentiments, and thus addressed them.-I came unexpectedly here, brother officers, I did not dream of this unexpected expedition. I should be very glad to know what you think of it, for it appears to me very strange that our generalissimo, who formerly never approached the enemy unless with some 50,000 men, now advances towards him with only some five or six thousand? When they answered that this novelty looked very like treachery; Butler said: This has long been my opinion; we must therefore, take counsel together how we may keep unstained our honour and the allegiance which we owe to his Imperial majesty. We are foreigners, and have no other inheritance except fidelity and honour, which are to be preferred to everything else. After he had said a good deal more to bring their minds to the determination which he had already taken, but which he did not yet disclose to them (for as they were then of a different religion, and also officers of count Terzka, he did not trust them), lieutenant-colonel Gordon counselled flight, which was easy, as he had the keys of the town. Butler answered that it would be disgraceful to fly and leave behind the emperor's soldiers and colours which he had entrusted to them, so that they might be led against the emperor. Moreover their flight would be of little use to the emperor, for he knew well that in his regiment there were hardly any three who could not perform as good services as they three without soldiers; they must therefore think of some other method more glorious to them and more advantageous to the emperor. At last, watchmaster Leslie, with much courage and openness, burst out with the words as much longed for as suggested by Butler, Let us slay the traitors! Upon this, Butler much cheered, said, Stand by me, brothers, only pledge yourselves to keep the secret, and admit privately into the town some of my faithful officers and soldiers. I take the dangerous execution upon myself, for the support of the Almighty has never failed those who undertake what is difficult for the sake of God, justice, and loyalty. In desperate situations God helps in an unexpected manner. Lieutenant-colonel Gordon refused for a time to join in this determination, whether it was from fickleness or on account of the greatness of the danger, but at last, encouraged by Butler, he agreed.

So far the account of Patrick Taaffe. The narrative of the murder of Wallenstein and his adherents is nearly the same as that which has hitherto been known. I will indicate in their proper places any new matter supplied by Taaffe. I now return to the account of the last moments of the life of Wallenstein.

In the morning of the 25th of February, Gordon and Leslie admitted unremarked into the town several officers of Butler's regiment, namely Devereux, Geraldine, De Burgo, MacDonald, and a few more officers, about 100 privates of Butler's regiment, and almost as many German soldiers. Gordon invited Kinsky, Illo, Terzka, and captain

Neumann, to dinner. They were to have been murdered there, but the invited desired instead, an evening feast. Gordon agreed to this, and the deed was thus put off till the night. In the meanwhile the report spread that the Swedes were advancing; that they would enter Eger next day-Illo himself told this exultingly. This was a fresh ground for Butler to slay Wallenstein and his confederates. Night came on. When the guests appeared at the feast, De Burgo joined himself with 100 men to the patrol; he said it was done by command of the generalissimo on account of the nearness of the enemy, but the real reason was that any movement that might take place might be immediately suppressed. Twenty men beset the gate in Gordon's residence: they had orders to let no one in or out without Butler's order. When the servants went to their supper their doors were also guarded; a curious servant who wished to get out of the chamber was cut down. The officers were still sitting drinking when Butler's dragoons entered the apartment from two sides. Geraldine, who commanded them, cried out, "who is for the emperor ?" Gordon and Leslie sprung up, drew their swords, took each a light from the table in his hand, and cried, "long live the House of Austria!" Kinsky and Illo were cut down as they were hastening to get their weapons. Terzka, by good luck, laid hold of his sword, placed himself in a corner, and defended himself manfully. His doublet of elk-skin protected him from many thrusts, so that the dragoons thought he bore a charmed life, but at last he fell to the ground pierced through the body. Neumann had escaped out of the room, but as he did not know the watchword the guard cut him down upon the stairs. Geraldine went immediately with twelve dragoons to the castle. He was admitted, as he gave out that he brought intelligence to the duke. As he hastened to the duke's chamber, female shrieks from the other wing of the castle penetrated into Wallenstein's sleeping room. It was the cry of lamentation of the countesses Kinsky and Terzka, who had just learned the murder of their husbands. Wallenstein had arisen and gone to the windows, and had asked of the watch what the noise was. Then Geraldine, with his foot thrusting open the door of the sleeping apartment, called out, "art thou the traitor who would deprive the emperor of his crown and kingdom ?" Wallenstein stretched out his arms in silence; Geraldine's partizan pierced through his unflinching breast, and he sank upon the ground without a groan.

What Butler did the next day best appears again from Taaffe's narrative. It is stated there, that on the next morning he summoned the town council, told them of the deed, and the reasons for it, and administered to them the oath of allegiance to the emperor. He then proceeded, accompanied by a few, to the regiments in camp outside of the town, and of whose loyalty he had strong doubts. He demanded from them a similar oath, which they took, without a single refusal.

After Butler had ascertained, by looking through some letters found with Friedland, that the duke of Saxe, Francis Albert, would soon appear in person (as his letter promised), and that troops would follow him for the purpose of opening the closed passes that the confederated regiments might unite with Friedland, and carry out their chief design; he (Butler) sent out several squadrons of horse and dragoons upon the roads, which lead to the Palatinate, with orders to take the aforesaid duke wherever they might find him, and bring him in the emperor's name to Eger, which was also done.1

To Gallas, Butler reported briefly the slaying of Wallenstein, and in conjunction with Gordon, issued a proclamation to the army. In this it is stated that Wallenstein intrigued with the two electors of Saxony and Brandenburg, and would have plunged not only the army, but also the emperor's hereditary kingdoms and states into the most extreme danger and ruin. Wherefore, they, as the emperor's loyal subjects, had taken the most energetic means at hand to preserve the emperor's hereditary kingdom and states, and thereby inform them that, by the singular direction and providence of the Almighty and his assistance to the military execution, on the day before, the rebels and conspirators against his Imperial majesty had been brought to nought, and from life to death. In conclusion, all were called upon to have a particularly watchful eye upon the fortified places, and to obey no orders except those coming expressly from his Imperial majesty; and in fine, to have at heart the importance of preserving the general weal as the emperor's service and their allegiance required. The troops remained quiet. In one place only, in Silesia, some regiments revolted, but were soon quickly brought to order.

Having thus set forth the facts which relate to the murder of Wallenstein, it now remains to inquire who caused it.

It has hitherto been believed that the emperor caused the assassination, inasmuch as he had given the order to take Wallenstein alive or dead, and had thereby proscribed him. This assertion and view is founded principally upon "The Complete and Authentic Account of the Horrible Treason of the late Friedland and his Adherents, published by the Special Command of his Imperial Majesty."2 This exculpatory document has naturally and excusably misled even the contemporary Imperialist writers, Khevenhüller and Gualdo Priorato. But as the proscribing clause in question was not contained in either the first or second proclamation, it has been sought to re

1 Here ends all that is worth extracting from Taaffe's letter. The remainder is only in praise of the modesty of Butler, who ever afterwards when the subject was mentioned, ascribed the whole to the providence of God, which had always, in such a remarkable manner, protected the family of Ferdinand. It is also mentioned, in con

clusion, that Butler met with so gracious a reception from the Imperial court, that he never could do enough to evince his sense of it.

2 Vienna, 1634, pp. 38. This was the official apology published by the Imperial court, which will be discussed further

on.