In January 1647, the General Assembly of the Confederates met at Kilkenny, and Rinuccini succeeded in inducing it to reject the Ormond Peace by a crushing majority. It soon, however, appeared that of some peace they were most desirous, and in the Spring attempts were made to induce Ormond to cede Dublin to the Confederates.

A sufficient force would then be available to hold it against the Parliamentarians. It was evident that, in case a determined attack were made by Jones, the Puritan Commander, the Royalist troops, if unaided, could not succeed in doing this. Ormond, however, although certainly devoted to the cause of the King, could not, it appeared, bring himself to purchase such a doubtful advantage for the Royalists, at the price of procuring a very certain one for the Popish rebels, whom he detested. In the midst of the negotiations, he settled the question by handing over the city to the Parliamentarians (July 28th, 1647), and retiring himself to France.