4 February 1555 – The burning of John Rogers

On this day in history, 4th February 1555, John Rogers, clergyman and Biblical editor, was burned at the stake at Smithfield.

Rogers was the first English Protestant burned in Mary I's reign after being condemned as a heretic. he refused the chance of a last-minute pardon if he recanted, and died bravely. His wife and eleven children, one being newborn and at the breast, attended his burning. Martyrologist John Foxe recorded that Rogers "constantly and cheerfully took his death with wonderful patience, in the defence and quarrel of the Gospel of Christ."

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