Accusing Queen Elizabeth I and Prince Henry of witchcraft

Transcript

[Page one]

The relation of Roger Morse of the

town and county of Southampton

Clothier taken the xxvij [27th] day of November

1624

Before John Elvie, Mayor, Edward Epton

William Movey, John Long, Arthur Baker

John Mayor, Richard Dalby and

George Gallop Alderman Justices of

the peace within the said town

and county

Morse says that yesterday being the xxviij [28th]

day of this instant November about nine o’clock

in the evening one Mr Butler the curate of

Milbrooke in the county of Southampton came

unto this relator’s house, bringing thither with

him a stranger called Mr Morgan, and required

to lodge there that night, which this relator

granted, and thereupon brought them into a

chamber in the house there to lodge and about

half an hour after this relator and one

John Percher came into the said chamber

unto them, where they fell in discourse together

touching the wars in the Low Countries

and so of England and of Spain. And this

relator saying that if Queen Elizabeth

had lived but a little longer she would have

made the King of Spain a poor King or

to the like effect, the said Morgan made

answer this: They say that she was a

whore and a witch. And this relator performing

in this discourse the present state and

strength of our King and Kingdom before

Spain the said Morgan replied that

England was weak and the Castles were weak

[Page two]

naming the Castles of Dover and Hurst

and Calshot Castle. And that the King

of Spain paid more in one year to his soldiers

than all the revenues of England were worth

…Saying further, you shall

see what will become of England and

repeating those words oftentimes. And this

relator in their said discourse saying that the

late prince Henry of Wales would have met

with Spain well enough, if he had lived

or to the like effect, the said Morgan replied

they say before his body was cold on earth

his soul was frying on a gridiron [a hot grill for cooking] in hell