The gilt key which was worn at the girdle when the Butlers attended the King is still preserved at the castle.
A few years after the fortress had changed hands, King Richard II. spent a fortnight at Kilkenny as the guest of the Earl of Ormond.
The Carew MSS. inform us that the Earl of Ormond made Kilkenny Castle his chief residence in 1596.
The 1st Duke of Ormond was born in 1610, and is generally known as the “Great Duke.” He was for many years Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
In 1642 the castle was taken by the “Council of Confederate Catholics,” and was held by them for some years.
Oliver Cromwell besieged both town and castle in March, 1650. On the 23rd he opened fire on the castle, and two days following a breach was made at noon, but the garrison twice beat off the besiegers and quickly repaired the damage.
Cromwell’s time being short for the work before him, he was about to retire when the mayor and the townspeople offered to give up the town, and he was shortly reinforced by Ireton.
Sir Walter Butler had received instructions from Lord Castlehaven to surrender, in case no help arrived before a given time, so considering the weakness of his garrison he made terms with the Parliamentarians which were of an honourable nature. As the garrison marched out Cromwell complimented them on their gallantry, saying he had lost more men in the storming of Kilkenny than in the taking of Drogheda.
The estate was restored to the Duke upon the Restoration. The Count de Lauzun had been commander for James II. at Kilkenny, and the castle had been carefully preserved by him.
The Duke died in 1688, and was succeeded by his son, who also was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. William III. dined in the castle in August, 1690, as the Duke’s guest.