Susan ROGERS

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Pembroke Hall
• Fact: Went to Antwerp as Chaplain to English Merchants
• Fact: Rector of Holy Trinity, Queenhithe, London
• Birth: 1507, Deritend near Birmingham, Co. Warwick, England
• Fact: Apr 1550, Admitted Rector of St. Margaret Moyses
• Fact: 10 Jul 1550, Vicar of St. Sepulchre

Notes:

While in Antwerp John met Tyndal under whose influence he abandoned the Roman Catholic faith and married an Antwerp lady. On the accession of Mary, Rogers preached at Paul's Cross against "pestilent Popery, idolatry, and superstitution." Ten days later, August 15, 1553, he was summoned before the Council and told to stay within his own house. On January 1554 he was sent to Newgate where he spent a year. On January 29, 1555 he was sentenced to death for denying the Christian character of the Church of Rome. On February 4, 1555, he was burned to death at Smithfield while his wife and children watched.

Excerpt from NEHG Register 1851, Vol 6: After his sentence and condemnation on the 29th of January, before the Council, Mr. Rogers says in the account of his examination: "Well, my Lor," quoth I, "here I stand before God and you, and all this honorable audience, and take him to witness, that I never wittingly or wilfully taught any false doctrine, and therefore have I a good conscience before God and all good men. I am sure that you and I shall come before a Judge that is righteous, befoer whom I shall be as good a man as you; and I nothing doubt, but that I shall be found there a true member of the true Catholic Church of Christ, and everlastingly saved. And as for your false church, ye need not to excommunicate me further of it, I have not been in it these twenty years, the Lord be thanked therefor. But now ye have done what ye can, my Lord I pray you yet to grant me one thing."
"What is that?" quoth he.
"That my poor wife, being a stranger, may come and speak with me, so long as I live, for she hath 'ten children' that are hers and mine, and somewhat I would counsel her what it were best for her to do."
"No." quoth he, "She is not thy wife!"
"Yes my Lord, quoth I, "and hath been these eighteen years."
"Should I grant her to be thy wife?" quoth he.
"Choose ye," quoth I, "whether ye will or not, she shall be so nevertheless!"
"She shall not come at thee!" quoth he.
"Then I have tired out all your charity," said I.

On the 4th of February, A.D. 1555, being Monday, in the morning, he was warned suddenly by the keeper's wife of Newgate, to prepare himself for the fire; being sound asleep, with much shaking he could scarce be awakened, at length being raised and waked and bid to make hast, "Then," said he, "if it be so, I need not tie my points," and so was handed down to Bonner to be degraded. That done, he craved of Bonner but one petition, and was asked what that should be, "nothing" said he, "baut that I might talk a few words with my wife before my burning;" but this could not be obtained; then said he, "you declare your charity what it is;" and so was brought into Smithfield, by Chester and Woodroofe, Sheriffs of London, to be burnt, not being permitted to use many words, only exhorting the people to remain the confirmation thereof, was not only content patiently to suffer and bear all the bitterness and cruelty heaped upon him, but also most gladly to resign his life, and give his flesh to the consuming fire, a testimony of the same.
Woodroofe asked him, if he would revoke his abominable doctrine and evil opinion of the sacrament of the altar? He answered, "That which I have preached, will I seal with my blood!" then quoth Woodroofe, "thou art a heretic!" "That shall be known at the day of judgment!" replied he, "Well," quoth Woodroofe, "I will never pray for thee," "But I will pray for you," said Rogers; so he carried to Smithfield, saying the Psalm "Miserere" by the way; immense crowds collecting to see him pass, rejoicing and giving thanks to God for his constancy; among them, his wife and ten small children, one an infant at the breast, they too, joined in the acclamations to strengthen his courage, "comforting him in such a manner as if led to a wedding.
A little before burning at the stake, a pardon was offered, if he would recant, but utterly refused. There, in the presence of Rochester, Comptroller of the Queen's household, Sir Richard Southwell, both the Sheriffs, and a great concourse of people, the fire was put to him; and when it had taken hold of his legs and shoulders, like one feeling no smart, he washed his hands in the flame, as in cold water, and lifting them toward heaven, until entirely consumed by the devouring fire, most mildly this happy martyr yeilded his spirit in the hands of his Heavenly Father.
He was the first of all that blessed company with suffered in Queen Mary's time, and styled the Proto-Martyr.

Name:
Rev. John Rogers, b. 1507 at Deritend near Birmingham, Co.Warwick,Eng. He was educated at Cambridge, leaving there about 1525, he took holy orders in the Roman Catholic Church about 1526, and from this tie on his life was one of turmoil and strife in the religious world. He became a leader of the Anglican Reformation, and paid the penalty by being burned at the stake on Feb. 4, 1555, his children being forced to witness the ordeal.

John married Adriana DE WEYDON in 1536. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]