BUTLER
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BUTLER
death, rather than supporting life". His death
occurred on one of his journeys to the Attikamegues,
a Montagnais tribe dwelling on the upper St. Maurice
River. A troop of Iroquois lying in ambush riddled
his right arm and breast with bullets, while the blows
of their tomahawks completed the sacrifice. Mother
Mary of the Incarnation writes that "his death was
an incredible loss to the mission". Father Buteux
has left, besides other documents, an interesting
account of the captivity of Father Isaac Jogues. _
Rochemon*teix, Les Jesuites et la NouveUe-France au A 1 //« sircle (Paris. 1890), I. 204, 205; Thwaites. Jesuit Relations. VI. 320; IX, 307; XXXVII, 9, 19-07; LXXII. 114. 115; Sommekvogel, Bibliographic des ierirains de la eompagnie de Jesus. 11,471; VII, 1953.
Edward P. Spillane.
Butler, Alb an, historian, b. 10 October, 1710, at Ap- plet ree, Northamptonshire, England; d. at St-Omer, France, 15 May, 1763. He shares with the venerable Bishop Challoner the reputation of being one of the two most prominent Catholic students during the first half of the dreary eighteenth century, when the prospects of English Catho- lics were at their lowest. After the death of his father in 1712, he was sent to the cele- brated "Dame Alice's School", a t Ferny halgh, in Lancashire. From thence while still young he was transferred to the English College at Douai, where he went through the full course, and was ordained priest in 1735. He had al- ready gained a reputation for ex- traordinary dili- gence and regu- larity, and was asked to remain at the college as professor, first of philosophy, later on of theology. During his years at Douai, he devoted himself to what became the great work of his life, "The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints". His mastery of ancient and modern languages fitted him specially for a task which involved such wide reading, while his unremitting industry and steady perseverance enabled him to overcome all obstacles. He also assisted Dr. Challoner, by preparing matter for the latter's "Memoirs of Missionary Priests", the standard work on the martyrs of the reign of Eliza- beth and later. Butler's notes are still preserved at Oscott College.
In 17 15 Alban Butler was chosen to accompany the Earl of Shrewsbury and his two brothers, James and Thomas Talbot, both afterwards bishops, on a tour through Europe. On his return he acted as mission priest in various parts of the Midland District, to which he belonged by origin. Though ever seeking leisure for study, we are told that he was precise in the discharge of all his duties, and his time was always at the disposal of the poor or others wiio had a claim upon him. We next find him acting as chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk, whose nephew (and heir presumptive), the Hon. Edward Howard, he accompanied to Paris as tutor. During his residence there, Butler at length completed his work on the " Lives of the Saints", on which he had been engaged nearly thirty years. It contains biographies of more than 1,600 saints arranged in order of date; and is a monument of work and research. It was published
Alban Butler
anonymously, in London, in 1756-59, nominally in
four, really in seven octavo volumes. This was the
only edition which appeared during the author's
lifetime; but there have been many others since, and
the work has been translated into Italian and French.
In 1766 the presidency of the English College at
St-Omer, in France, falling vacant by the elevation
of Thomas Talbot to the episcopate, Alban Butler
was appointed to succeed his former pupil, no doubt
that he might be placed where he would have greater
facilities for study. The college had formerly
belonged to the Jesuits, but had been handed over
to the secular clergy by the French Government
when the Society of Jesus was banished from France.
The Douai authorities accepted the college in order
to save it from being confiscated, with the intention
of restoring it to its owners should circumstances ever
permit. The Jesuits, however, resented their action,
and under these circumstances Alban Butler hesi-
tated about accepting the position offered him; but
we are told by his nephew and biographer, Charles
Butler, that having taken counsel of the Bishops of
Amiens and Boulogne, he was advised that he could
accept the post with a safe conscience. A few years
later the general suppression of the Society of Jesus
throughout the world put an end to any doubt on
the matter. Butler found, however, that his hopes of
leading a studious life were doomed to disappoint-
ment, for his reputation by this time was such that
no less than four bishops of neighbouring dioceses,
Arras, Boulogne, St-Omer, and Ypres, continually
sought his advice, and invested him with faculties
as vicar-general. Thus during the concluding years
of his life he had to devote himself to active work
more than at any previous time. He was buried in
the parish church of St-Denis almost opposite to
the English College at St-Omer. Since the Revo-
lution, all traces of his tomb have disappeared. His
works include: "Letters to a Gentleman on Bower's
Lives of the Popes" (1754); "Lives of the Saints"
(1756-59; many times republished); "Life of Mary of
the Holy Cross" (1767). After his death Bishop
Challoner published "The Movable Feasts and Fasts";
and Charles Butler edited: "Travels" (1791), "Medi-
tations" (1791) and, "Life of Sir To bie Matthews"
(1795).
Butler, Life; Cooper in Diet. Nat. Biog.; Gillow, Bibl. Diet. Eng. Cath.; Kirk, Biog. Collections, MS.
Bernard Ward.
Butler, Charles, one of the most prominent figures among the English Catholics of his dav, b. in London, 1750; d. 2 June, 1832. He belonged to an ancient. Northamptonshire family, and was a nephew of the Rev. Alban Butler, the author of "The Lives of the Saints". After spending two or three years at a private school at Hammersmith, he was sent to the preparatory house at Equerchin, dependent on the English College at Douai. then to the college itself, where he went through the full course. On his return to England he gave himself to the study of law. Owing to his religion, lie was unable to become a banister; so he followed the example of a large class of Catholics of that day. who became conveyancers and practised in chambers. He studied successively under .Mr. Duane and Mr. Maire, both conveyancers of eminence, and Catholics. In 1775 he began to practise, and continued for over forty years. From the first he was very successful. and for more than half the period named he was acknowledged as the first conveyancer of the day. Among his pupils were some distinguished men, notably Sir Thomas Denman, afterwards attorney- general. Butler was not, however, content with his position. The fact that he could not be called to the Bar was a continual mortification to him, and it was chiefly this which led him to take an active part in the efforts of Catholics to obtain the repeal
