The National tribune., 1881-10-15
WALLENsTEIN, THE BOHEMIAN WIZARD.

From the Philadelphia Times.
During the Thirty Years War one of the most
conspicuous figures at the head of the Imperial
armies the great Bohemian general, Wallen-
stein, Duke of Friedland. He held the state of a
king. His victories made emperors and princes
his dependents. He alone was able to make head
against the all-cOnquering Gustavus Adolphus.
In an evil hour when fame and fortune had
poured in richest measure all that the lot of man
covets into his hands, he conceived the idea of
turning on his sovereign and, Selling Bohemia,
proclaiming himself King. The Emperor heard
of the plot in good time The details are among
the most extraordinary episodes in history. With
price put upon his head, although still the COM
mander of the Imperial army Wallenstein went
TO the town of Oeger in the confines Of the Ba-
varian palatinate, not far from the Bohemian line
Here it was not generally known that the great
general, whs regarded with as much rever-
ence as the Emperor himself was in disgrace.
He was still the Imperial Viceroy.
Among his officers Wallenstein had particularly
distinguished one Leslie, Scotchman and had
made his fortune. This was the man who now
felt himself called on to execute the sentence
against him and to earn the price of blood. No
sooner had he reached Egra, in the suite of the
Duke, than he disclosed to the commandment of
the town, Colonel Butler, and to Lieutenant
Colonel Gordon, two Protestant Scotchmen, the
reasonable designs of the Duke, which the latter
had imprudently enough communicated to him
during the journey. In these two individuals
he had found men capable of a determined reso-
luton. They were now called on to choose be-
tween treason and duty, between their legitimate
sovereign and fugitive, abandoned rebel and
though the latter was their common benefactor
the choice could not remain for a moment doubt
full. They were solemnly pledged to the allie
glance of the Emperor, and this duty required
them to take the most rapid measures against
the public enemy. The opportunity was favor
able; his evil genius seemed to have delivered
him into the hands of vengeance. But not to
encroach on the province of justice they resolved
10 deliver up their victim alive, and they parted
with the bold resolve to take their general
prisoner This dark plot was buried in the
deepest silence, and Wallenstein. far from Sis
pecting his impending ruin, fiattered himself
that in the garrison of Egra he possessed his
bravest and most faithful champions.
At this time he became acquainted with the
Imperial proclamatiOns containing his sentence
and which had been published in all the camps.
He now became aware of the full extent of the
danger which encOmpassed him, the utter impos-
sibility of retracing his steps, his earfuy orlorn
condition and the absolute necessity of at once
trusting himself to the faith and honor of the
Emperor's enemies To Leslie he poured forth
all the anguish of his wounded spirit and the We
hemence of his agitation extracted from him his
Last remaining secret. He disclosed to this officer
his intention to deliver up Egra and Ellenbogen,
the passes of the kingdom, to the Palatlne OF
Blrkenteld, and at the same time informed him
OF the near approach of Duke Bernard, of whose
arrival he hoped to receive tidings that very
night These disclosures which Leslie immedi-
aIely communicated to the conspratOrs, made
Iheih chahge their original plan. The urgency of
the danger admitted not of half measures Egra
might III moment be in the enemys hands and a
sudden revolution set their prisoner at liberty. To
anticipate this mischance they resolved to assas
sInate hIm and his associates the following nigbt
In order to execute this design with less noise
1t was arranged that the fearful deed sbould he
perpetrated at an entertainment which Colonel
Butler Should give in the Castle of Ezra. All the