Created baron by patent 1541.53

His brother Piers was possessed of a great estate, for his father settled on him Grallagh and other lands together with the manors of Drangan, Craghane, and Magowey, comprising in all over 16,000 acres. Elder brother Edmond viewed with resentment so excessive an appanage for a younger son, and after his succession to the title, made strenuous efforts to regain what he regarded as his rightful inheritance. This led to family feuds and protracted litigation. By a decree in Chancery dated 23 Nov 1562 in the suit of "Sir Edmond Butler Knt. Baron of Dunboyne v Peter Butler of Grallagh, his younger brother" it was ordered that the plaintiff should recover against the defendant, Grallagh, Drangan and other lands. Piers flouted the decree, for a Remembrance issued on 24 Feb 1566, where Peter Butler was bound over in the sum of £3,000 to deliver up to Lord Dunboyne by the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, the lands mentioned. But even this did not avail the unhappy Dunboyne, for Piers had a powerful supporter in his uncle Ormonde, and by decree under the Queen's Letter of 8 Sep 1566 it was ordered that inasmuch as Peter Butler had failed to defend the suit in Chancery of 1562 at the advice of the Earl of Ormonde, "who claimed sovereignty over the lands," the suit should be again tried at common law, and Peter Butler should enjoy undisturbed possession until such time as the Baron of Dunboyne obtained judgment thereunder. With such influential backing, Piers was able to retain possession of the greater part of his estate up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1578.53