e, Madam
Francis could allow a truce to her enmity, and could be kind for a
while, at least, to her husband's discarded mistress. So the little
Beatrix, her daughter, was permitted often to go and visit the
imprisoned Viscountess, who, in so far as the child and its father
were concerned, got to abate in her anger towards that branch of the
Castlewood family. And the letters of Colonel Esmond coming to light,
as has been said, and his conduct being known to the King's council, the
Colonel was put in a better position with the existing government than
he had ever before been; any suspicions regarding his loyalty were
entirely done away; and so he was enabled to be of more service to his
kinswoman than he could otherwise have been.

And now there befell an event by which this lady recovered her liberty,
and the house of Castlewood got a new owner, and fatherless little Harry
Esmond a new and most kind protector and friend. Whatever that secret
was which Harry was to hear from my lord, the boy never heard it; for
that night when Father Holt arrived, and carried my lord away with him,
was the last on which Harry ever saw his patron. What happened to my
lord may be briefly told here. Having found the horses at the place
where they were lying, my lord and Father Holt rode together to
Chatteris, where they had temporary refuge with one of the Father's
penitents in that city; but the pursuit being hot for them, and the
reward for the apprehension of one or the other considerable, it was
deemed advisable that they should separate; and the priest betook
himself to other places of retreat known to him, whilst my lord passed
over from Bristol into Ireland, in which kingdom King James had a court
and an army. My lord was but a small addition to this; bringing, indeed,
only his sword and the few pieces in his pocket; but the King received
him with some kindness and distinction in spite of his poor plight,
confirmed him in his new title of Marquis, gave him a regiment, and
promised him further promotion. But titles or promotion were not to
benefit him now. My lord was wounded at the fatal battle of the Boyne,
flying from which field (long after his master had set him an example)
he lay for a while concealed in the marshy country near to the town of
Trim, and more from catarrh and fever caught in the bogs than from the
steel of the enemy in the battle, sank and died. May the earth lie light
upon Thomas of Castlewood! He who writes this