# The Issue of the Plots—The Death of Thomas, Third Viscount of Castlewood; and the Imprisonment of His Viscountess explained — The History of Henry Esmond > Chapter companion for The History of Henry Esmond by William Makepeace Thackeray. ## What happens The chapter details the aftermath of the discovery of a Jacobite conspiracy at Castlewood. Lady Castlewood attempts to feign illness to avoid arrest, but the officers, led by Captain Westbury, search the house and find incriminating papers. Lord Castlewood and Father Holt flee, but Lord Castlewood is later wounded at the Battle of the Boyne and dies. Harry Esmond learns of his patron's death and reflects on his own orphaned and illegitimate status. ## Themes in this chapter ### Politics and Loyalty The chapter explores the conflicting loyalties of characters to King James versus King William, and the personal consequences of political allegiance. ### Family and Kinship Harry Esmond's reflections on his illegitimacy and lack of a known mother highlight themes of family, inheritance, and belonging. ### Honor and Sacrifice Lord Castlewood's death fighting for what he believes is the right cause, and Harry's pride in that, underscores the theme of honor in battle. ## Character check-ins ### Lady Castlewood Attempts to deceive the arresting officers by feigning rheumatism and using cosmetics to appear ill, but is ultimately arrested. ### Henry Esmond As a page, he observes the search and later learns of Lord Castlewood's death, reflecting on his own orphaned and illegitimate status. ### Lord Castlewood (Francis) Flees with Father Holt after the conspiracy is discovered, joins King James in Ireland, is wounded at the Boyne, and dies of fever. ### Father Holt Flees with Lord Castlewood, leaving behind partially burned papers that are discovered during the search. ### Colonel Westbury Leads the search of Castlewood House, treating the examination with some levity and discovering the hidden papers. ### Thomas Esmond Mentioned in letters as Colonel Francis Esmond, who refuses to join the Jacobite plot and shows little interest in affairs beyond his family and hounds. ### Richard Steele Appears as a soldier named Dick Steele, called in to interpret a Greek document found among the papers. ### Victoire Lady Castlewood's maid, who assists in the deception and later dramatically tries to prevent the officers from opening a wardrobe. ## Key lines > At first my lady was for dying like Mary, Queen of Scots (to whom she fancied she bore a resemblance in beauty), and, stroking her scraggy neck, said, 'They will find Isabel of Castlewood is equal to her fate.' Lady Castlewood initially resolved to face death dramatically, comparing herself to Mary, Queen of Scots, and declaring that she would meet her fate with equal courage. _Highlights Lady Castlewood's theatrical and self-dramatizing nature._ > I am glad my lord fought for the right cause. It was better to meet death on the field like a man, than face it on Tower-hill, as some of them may. Harry expresses satisfaction that Lord Castlewood died fighting for his cause, considering a soldier's death on the battlefield more honorable than execution at the Tower of London. _Reflects Harry's youthful idealism and sense of honor._ > He was in the hands of Heaven and Fate; but more lonely now, as it seemed to him, than he had been all the rest of his life; and that night, as he lay in his little room which he still occupied, the boy thought with many a pang of shame and grief of his strange and solitary condition: how he had a father and no father; a nameless mother that had been Harry felt abandoned to providence, more isolated than ever, and lay in his room brooding with shame and sorrow over his anomalous status—having a father but no real father, and a mother whose identity was unknown. _Captures Harry's deep sense of loneliness and the stigma of his illegitimacy._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vi-the-issue-of-the-plots-the-death-of-thomas-third-viscount-of-castlewood-and-the-imprisonment-of-his-viscountess - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters