They set out accordingly and met Ormonde at Kilkenny, whence the four Earls travelled southward together for some miles; Ormonde riding by the side of his ancient enemy, and telling him that he was rushing to destruction. No apparent impression was made; Desmond making no secret of his plan, which was to defend a few castles and raze the others, and to keep the bulk of his force in the field till the arrival of foreign aid. Lords Gormanston and Delvin refused to sign the proclamation of treason, which no doubt would not be popular in Ireland. They relied entirely on the technical ground that they were not members of the Council; but the plea was not accepted in England, and they were obliged to make some sort of excuse.[287] [Sidenote: Sir William Drury sent to help Fitzwilliam.] Just at the time when Essex was undertaking to 'decipher' Desmond, the Queen wrote one of those stinging despatches which terrified men more than her father's axe or her sister's faggots. She accused the Lord Deputy and Council of want of judgment, and of truckling to a rebel while such a faithful subject as Captain Bourchier was severely imprisoned, and other faithful subjects were sorely oppressed. They should have proclaimed Desmond traitor and proceeded against him without delay; her honour was touched, and there were as many troops as 'have sufficed for others that have supplied your place to have prosecuted like rebels of greater strength and force than we perceive he is of.' Since Perrott's departure Fitzwilliam had frequently complained of the want of a high military officer in whom he could confide. Such 'an express gentleman,' as the Queen designated him, was now sent in the person of Sir William Drury. Fitzwilliam was to consult him in all martial affairs, and to place him in such authority as befitted so gallant a soldier and so experienced a servant. Five days later the Privy Council warned Fitzwilliam that if he once entered Munster he would be bound in honour to exact an unconditional submission from Desmond, but that he would do well to wink at the misdeeds of smaller offenders, provided they yielded themselves by a fixed day. There were troops enough ready in the West of England to come to the rescue should an invasion of Ireland really take place.[288] [Sidenote: The Desmond 'Combination.']