During the rebellion of Lord Offaly or the “Silken Thomas,” the O’Tooles and O’Byrnes ravished the country north of Dublin, and having plundered Howth, they “went to Malahyde and burst open the gates till they came to the hall-doors, when as they were resisted with great difficulty,” they returned homeward. After the rising had been suppressed, the unfortunate young leader executed, and his family attainted, Gerald, afterwards 12th Earl of Kildare, only escaped from the English Government through the assistance of his aunt, the Lady “Aleanora” FitzGerald, and for the protection she had afforded her nephew she was detained at Malahide Castle awaiting the King’s pleasure. From here, in 1545, was dated her petition for pardon to Henry VIII., which he granted. Lord Strafford tried to gain some of the Talbot possessions and privileges in 1639, but without success. John Talbot was banished to Connaught for taking part in the rebellion of 1641, and his castle and 500 acres were granted on a seven-year lease in 1653 to Miles Corbet, who was Chief Baron. His house in Dublin had been visited by plague, and he took up residence at Malahide about Christmas time. Here he lived until obliged to fly for his life, and he was afterwards executed as a regicide. There is a tradition that Cromwell was his guest at Malahide during his tenancy. A picture appearing on the Down Survey Map (1655-56) represents the castle as having a large tower at one end, and the notes describe it as “a good stone house therein, with orchards and gardens and many ash-trees, with other outhouses in good repair.” Upon the Restoration the Talbot family came again into possession. Close to the castle are the ruins of a church which was erected and endowed by the Talbot family, and where they were buried for many years. Here is the altar tomb of Maud Plunkett, “The Bride of Malahide,” who was “maid, wife, and widow on one and the same day.” Her third husband was Sir Richard Talbot. The tomb is particularly remarkable because of the effigy which represents Lady Talbot as wearing the “horned coif” of 1412, and it is the only representation of this fashion in Ireland. It is said the church was unroofed by Corbet, either to make bullets of the lead or to cover a barn with the other material.