John Foxe's Book of Martyrs

1583

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1484	Queene Mary. The persecution life and story of M. Iohn Rogers martyr.

Anno 1554. February.
¶ Here beginneth the eleuenth Booke, wherein is discoursed the bloudy murthering of Gods Saintes, with the particular Processes and Names of such good Martyrs, both Men and Women, as in this tyme of Queene Mary, were put to death.

The Story, Life and Martyrdome of Maister IOHN ROGERS.

February 4.

The lyfe & story of M. Iohn Rogers.

T HE fourth daye of February, suffered the constant Martyr of God. M. Iohn Rogers, concernynge whose life, examinations, and suffring, here followeth in order set forth. And first touching his lyfe and bringing vp. Iohn Rogers brought vp in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge, where hee profitably trauelled in good learning, at the length was chosen and called by the Merchants Aduenturers, to be their Chaplaine at Antwerpe

M. Rogers Chaplayne to the Marchaunt aduenturers at Antwerpe.

in Brabant, whome he serued to their good contentation many yeares. It chaunced him there to fal in company with that worthy seruant and Martyr of God, William Tindall, and with Miles Couerdale (which both for the hatred they bare to the popish superstition and idolatry, and loue to true religion, had forsaken their natiue country.)

M. Rogers brought to the Gospell by M. W. Tindale, & M. Couerdale.

In conferring with them the scriptures, he came to great knowledge in the Gospell of God; in so much that he cast of the heauy yoke of Popery, perceiuyng it to be impure and filthy Idolatry, and ioyned himselfe with them two in that paynefull & most profitable labour of translating the Bible

Of M. Rogers doing in this translation read afore.

into the Englishe tongue, which is intituled: The translation of Thomas Mathew.

He knowing by the scriptures, that vnlawful vows may lawfully be broken, and that Matrimony is both honest and honourable amongest all men, ioyned hymselfe in lawfull matrimonye, and so went to

M. Rogers goeth to Wittenberge.

Wittemberge in Saxony, where he with much sobernes of liuyng did not onely greatly encrease in all good and godly learnyng: but also so much profited in the knowledge of the Dutch tong,

that the charge of a congregation was orderly committed to his cure.

February 4.

The lyfe & story of M. Iohn Rogers.

M. Rogers Chaplayne to the Marchaunt aduenturers at Antwerpe.

M. Rogers brought to the Gospell by M. W. Tindale, & M. Couerdale.

Of M. Rogers doing in this translation read afore.

M. Rogers goeth to Wittenberge.

In which ministery, he diligently and faithfully serued many yeares, vntill such tyme as it pleased God by þ^e faithfull trauell of his chosen and deare seruant king Edward the sixt, vtterly to banish all Popery forth of England, & to receuie in true Religion, settyng Gods Gospell at liberty. He then beyng orderly called, hauyng both a conscience and a ready good will to helpe forward the worke of the Lord in his natiue country,

M. Rogers returneth from Saxonie into England in K. Edwards tyme.

left such honest and certaine conditions as he had in Saxony, and came into England to preach the Gospel, without certaintie of any condition. In which office, after he had a space diligently and faithfully trauailed, Nicholas Ridley then bishop of London, gaue him a

M. Rogers reader and Prebendary in Paules.

Prebende in the Cathedrall Church of Paules, and the Deane and the Chapter chose hym to be the Reader of the Diuinitie lesson there,

wherein he diligently trauailed, vntill such tyme as Queene Mary obtaining the crowne, banished the Gospell and true religion, and brought in the Antichrist of Rome, with his Idolatry and superstition.

M. Rogers returneth from Saxonie into England in K. Edwards tyme.

M. Rogers reader and Prebendary in Paules.

After the Queene was come to the Tower of Londō, he beyng orderly called thereunto, made a godly and vehement Sermon at Paules Crosse, confirmyng suche true doctrine as he and other had there taught in K. Edwards

dayes, exhortyng the people constantly to remayne in the same, and to beware of all pestilent Popery, Idolatry, and superstition. The Councel beyng then ouermatched with popish and bloudy bishops,

M. Rogers called to accompt for his Sermon at Paules Crosse.

called hym to accompt for his Sermon: To whom he made a stout, wittie, & godly answer, and yet in such sort handled himself, that at that time he was clearely dismissed. But after that, Proclamation

was set foorth by the Queene to prohibite true preachyng,

M. Rogers agayne called before the Counsell, and commaunded to keepe his house.

he was called agayne before the Counsel, (for the bishops thirsted after his bloud.) The Counsell quarelled wyth hym concerning his doctrine, and in conclusion commanded hym as prisoner to keepe his owne house,

and so hee did: although by flying he might easily haue escaped their cruell handes, and many thyngs there were, which myght haue mooued hym thereunto. He did see the recouery of religion in England for that present, desperate: he knew he could not want a liuyng in Germany, and he coulde not forget his wyfe and x. children, and to seeke means to succour them. But all these things set apart, after he was called to answer in Christes cause, he would not depart, but stoutly stood in defence of the same, and for the triall of that truth, was content to hazard his lyfe.

M. Rogers called to accompt for his Sermon at Paules Crosse.

M. Rogers agayne called before the Counsell, and commaunded to keepe his house.

Thus he remayned in hys owne house as prisoner a long tyme, till at the length through the vncharitable procurement of Boner Bishop of London, who could not abyde such honest neighbours to dwell by him, he was remooued from his owne house, to the prison called

M. Rogers sent to Newgate.

Newgate, where he was lodged among theeues and murtherers, for a great space:

during which tyme, what businesse he had with the aduersaries of Christ, all is not knowen, neither yet any certaintie of his examinations, further thē he hymselfe did leaue in writyng, which God would not to be lost, but to remayne for a perpetuall testimony in the cause of Gods truth, as here followeth recorded and testified by his owne writyng.

M. Rogers sent to Newgate.

¶ The Examination and aunswere of Iohn Rogers made to the L. Chancellor,

and to the rest of the Counsell,

the 22. of Ianuary, Anno. 1555.

The Lord Chauncellour.

Examination & aunswere of M. Iohn Rogers.

FIrst the L. Chancellour said vnto me thus. Sir, ye haue heard of the state of the realme in which it staudeth now.

Examination & aunswere of M. Iohn Rogers.

Rogers. No my Lord, I haue bene kept in close prison, and except there haue bene some generall thyng sayd at the table whē I was at dinner or supper, I haue heard nothing, and there haue I heard nothing whereupon any speciall thing might be grounded.

L. Chan. Then sayd the L. Chancellor: Generall thynges, generall things, mockingly? Ye haue heard of my L. Cardinals commyng, and that the Parliament hath receyued his blessing, not one resisting vnto it, but one man which did speake against it. Such an vnitie, and such a myracle hath not bene seene. And all they, of which there are eyght score in one house, sayd one that was by (whose name I know not) haue with one assent and *

* Ful sore against theyr wills if they could otherwise haue chosen.

consent, receyued pardon of their offences, for the schisme that we haue had in England, in refusing the holy father of Rome to be hed of the Catholike Church. How say ye, are yet content to vnite and knit your selfe to the fayth of the catholike church with vs in the state in which it is now in England? Wyll ye do that?

* Ful sore against theyr wills if they could otherwise haue chosen.

Rogers

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Anno 1554. February. ¶ Here beginneth the eleuenth Booke, wherein is discoursed the bloudy murthering of Gods Saintes, with the particular Processes and Names of such good Martyrs, both Men and Women, as in this tyme of Queene Mary, were put to death.

Anno 1554. February.
¶ Here beginneth the eleuenth Booke, wherein is discoursed the bloudy murthering of Gods Saintes, with the particular Processes and Names of such good Martyrs, both Men and Women, as in this tyme of Queene Mary, were put to death.