swallow them if necessary. Some of these reached Castlehaven, but only served to show him that he was hopelessly overmatched.[171] [Sidenote: Capitulation of Kilkenny, March 27.] [Sidenote: Citizens and soldiers] [Sidenote: Fair terms granted.] Cromwell approached Kilkenny by Bennet's Bridge and sent in his summons on March 22. Sir Walter Butler, a cousin of Ormonde's, was governor of the town, and briefly replied that he held it for the King. A battery with three guns was accordingly planted at St. Patrick's Church, and on March 25 about a hundred shot struck the wall near the castle. An attempt to carry the breach failed with the loss of a captain and twenty or thirty men, the garrison having erected earthworks and palisades inside. At the same time a thousand men were detached to attack the Irish town near the cathedral, where the wall was but weakly defended by the townsmen, and the Cromwellians entered with a loss of only three or four men. After this, the walled portion of the town on the other side of the Nore was easily taken, and the victors endeavoured to enter the main city over St. John's Bridge, but they were driven back with a loss of forty or fifty men. In the meantime fresh guns were brought up, and the mayor sent to represent the difficult position of the citizens. No doubt, he wrote, Cromwell would be willing to grant them fair terms, but they were in the power of the garrison, and so 'in danger of ruin as well from our own party as from that of your Honour's,' and it was reasonable that the soldiers should be included. To avoid further loss, and perhaps to get away from the plague, Cromwell after some discussion acquiesced in this view, and on the next day Butler saw that further resistance would be useless. Considering that Kilkenny had been the very centre of the lately powerful Confederacy, the terms granted were liberal enough. The garrison marched out with the honours of war, surrendering their arms two miles out of town and then going where they pleased. The citizens submitted to a payment of 2000_l._ in two instalments, in consideration of which Cromwell had 'made it death for any man to plunder.' Those who wished to remove themselves or their property might do so, 'none excepted,' within three months. There was no armistice during the negotiations, and the garrison of Cantwell Castle, now called Sandford's Court--'very strong, situated in a bog, well furnished with provisions of corn'--surrendered, though specially ordered by Sir Walter Butler to abandon their post and strengthen the scanty garrison of Kilkenny. They were allowed to go beyond sea.[172] [Sidenote: The town not plundered.] [Sidenote: Damage to the churches.] [Sidenote: Death of Bishop Rothe.]