he was born of Protestant parents, but when they died, while he
was yet a child, he was committed to the care of his uncle, Albert
Slavata, a Jesuit, and was by him brought up a strict Catholic.
When he had finished the course of his study at Metz he spent some
time at the University of Altdorf, and afterwards studied at Bologna
and Padua. He then travelled in Italy, Germany, France, Spain,
England, and Holland, studying the military forces and tactics of
each country.

"On his return to Bohemia he took service under the Emperor
Rudolph and joined the army of General Basta in Hungary, where he
distinguished himself greatly at the siege of Grau. When peace was
made in 1606 Wallenstein returned to Bohemia, and though he was but
twenty-three years old he married a wealthy old widow, all of whose
large properties came to him at her death eight years afterwards.

"Five years later he raised at his own cost two hundred dragoons to
support Ferdinand of Gratz in his war against the Venetians. Here
he greatly distinguished himself, and was promoted to a colonelcy.
He married a second time, and again to one of the richest heiresses
of Austria. On the outbreak of the religious war of 1618 he raised
a regiment of Cuirassiers, and fought at its head. Two years later
he was made quartermaster general of the army, and marched at the
head of an independent force into Moravia, and there re-established
the Imperial authority.

"The next year he bought from the Emperor Ferdinand, for a little
over 7,000,000 florins, sixty properties which the emperor had
confiscated from Protestants whom he had either executed or banished.
He had been made a count at the time of his second marriage; he was