Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/286

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BUTLER 975 when that numerous aid powerful sept were completely routed, and O'Nolan, with his son, and many others, made prisoners. During this excursion, on the receipt of intel- ligence that Waltér de Burge, and O'Carroll had ravaged the coubty of Kilkenny, they marched with such expedi- tion to Callan, that they surprised the rebels, and com- pletely defeated them with the slaughiter of eight hundred men. At the terminatioh of this successful campaign, in 1407, he returned to Dublin, when he was appointed lord deputy of Ireland, although he was yet a minor; and a parliament which he held there confirmed the statutes of Kilkenny and Dublih, together with the charter granted under the great seal of England. He afterwards stood godfather with the Earl of Desmond, to George Plantage- net, the unfortunate Duke of Clarehce, who was bora in Dublin. In 1412 he accompanied Thomas of Lancaster into France, in which year Henry V. mounting the throne, he was received with great favour by him; and returned to Ireland in 1419, with the appointment of lord-lieute- nant from that victorious monarch, by virtue of a more ample commission than had been granted to any of his predecessors. He shortly after convened á parliament, which granted a large supply to the king, and conferred on himself a pecuniary recoinpence for his activity and zeal for the public benefit. He now attacked O'Reilly and compelled him to sue for peace; and turning his arns against M'Murrough, who at that time made all Leinster tremble, completely reduced his formidable power. These signal successes rendered him equally dreaded and hated by the natives, and in 1421 a dreadful slaughter was con- mitted on his family near the monastery of Leys, twenty- seven being slain, and a considerable number taken prisoners. Incensed at this outrage, he immediately levied a body of troops, and invading the territories of Leys, com- pelled the aggressors to sue for peace, and to make ample compensation for the damages they had committed On the decease of Henry V. in 1422, his lordship was