Thomas, Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy in Ireland, is summoned back to England after becoming involved in multiple local factional disputes including against the Earl of Ormond. Once in England, he is imprisoned for alleged treasons in Ireland. Soon afterwards, his son, 'Silken Thomas', heard a mistaken rumour that his father had been executed and that the King planned the same fate for him, and thus rose in rebellion. This was a failure, ironically ending in his execution, and his father died with grief at the news.