It was not long before the Butlers had an opportunity of co-operating with Grey. The Kavanaghs threatened the Wexford colony, negotiations failed, and it became necessary to chastise them. Grey entered Carlow in person, and was joined by Saintloo, who, whatever his shortcomings as a governor, was not a bad soldier, and who brought 800 men. After fourteen days' burning and plundering, MacMurrough and his clansmen sued for peace, and agreed to hold their lands of the King. Grey then moved northwards, and provisions for eight days were prepared for a raid against O'Reilly, to be used otherwise by the Deputy in case O'Reilly should make timely submission. O'Reilly did submit, and Grey went to Dundalk with a view of meeting O'Neill, who was now young Gerald Fitzgerald's protector. O'Neill broke his appointment, and he did wisely, for Grey says he was determined to take Gerald if possible, 'and if not, by the oath that I have made to my sovereign lord and master, I would have taken the said O'Neill and a kept him till he had caused the said Gerald to be delivered to my hands.'[214] [Sidenote: The Savages in Down.] Foiled in this attempt, which can hardly be described as otherwise than treacherous, Grey determined to chastise the Savages, who had refused to pay rent to Brabazon, the King's tenant in Lecale. This old English family had become quite Hibernicised, and were now bringing Scotch mercenaries into the country. Various castles were taken and delivered to Brabazon, who also took charge of Dundrum, an important stronghold belonging to Magennis, which commanded the entry to Lecale on the land side. The Scots fled, leaving corn, butter, and other rural plunder behind. Grey was much struck by the fertility of the district, which is still famous. 'I never,' he said, 'saw a pleasanter plot than Lecale for commodity of the land, and divers islands in the same environed in the sea, which were soon reclaimed and inhabited, the King's pleasure known.'[215] [Sidenote: Labours of St. Leger's Commission.]