Reported conversation of an Irish woman, Anne Hussey to Phillip Bainbridge, August 1640.
That Mr Conyard told her the Catholics were glad the King went speedily into Scotland, for ere he returned there would be a great change, and he was assured the Catholics in England would flourish more in England than they had these many years, for some good reasons that he would show. To which Mrs Hussey replied, as she told me, and demanded how that could be, he answered his Queen was no fool, for there were 7,000 men and more in readiness to perform her designs (help the Catholics), and the end of last month he brought another man with him, and said he was one of the officers of war, and thereupon he drew out a pipe and began to sound, and said within 20 days she would see more. Mrs Hussey further saith that last month he came to her and told her he was going to the Spanish, Venetian, and French ambassadors, to send messages to the Pope, and he then said he had three letters about him directed to the Pope. She saith that at that time she said to him that it was impossible to overcome the King by the sword, to which she answered if it could not be done otherwise his hand should do it. All this was said in Irish.
(Reported conversation of an Irish woman, Anne Hussey to Phillip Bainbridge, August 1640. 'Mr Conyard' was William O' Connor, an Irish priest and confessor to the Queen.)