Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 1
The martyrdom of Iohn Rogers.
THe fourth of Februarie suffered M. Iohn Rogers. 1555.His examination before the Lord Chancellor, and the rest of the Councell, the two and twentieth of Ianuary.
Lord Chan.
Wilt thou returne to the Catholike Church▪ and vnite and knit thy selfe with vsus, as all the Parlament house hath don?
Rog.
I neuer did nor will discent from the Catholike Church.
L. Chan.
But I speak of receiuing the Pope to be supreme head.
Rog.
I know none▪ other head of the Catholike Church but Christ; neither will I acknowledge the Bishop of Rome to hauehave any more authoritie then any other Bishop hath either by the word of God or the doctrine of the Church foure hundred yeares after Christ.
L. Chan.
If Christ be the only head, why diddest thou acknowledge K. Henry supreame head of the Church?
Rog.
I neuer granted him supremacie in spirituall things, as forgiuenesse of s…nnes, and giuing of holy Ghost, and to be a Iudge aboue the word of God.
L. Chan.
There is no inconuenience to hauehave Christ supreme head and the Bishop of Rome also. I was ready to hauehave answered, that there could not bee two heads of one Church: but he said, make vsus a direct answere, whether thou wilt be one of this Catholike Church, or no.
Rog.
I do not beleeue that your selues doe thinke in your hearts that he is supreme head in forgiuing of sinnes, &c. being this twenty yeares you hauehave preached, and some of you hauehave written to the contrary.
L. Chan.
Tush, that Parlament constrained men by cruelty to abolish the primasie of the Pope.
Rog.
Then you doe wrong, by cruelty to perswade mens consciences: if that cruelty did not perswade your consciences, how would you hauehave your cruelties to perswade our consciences?
L. Chan.
They were driuen by force to consent to that act, wheras in this Parlament it was vniformally receiued.
Rog.
It goeth not by the more or lesser part which condiscended vntounto it, but by the wiser, truer, and godlier part: then he interrupted me, and bade me answere him, for we hauehave more to speake with then with you; for there were ten persons more. Then he asked me whether I would enter into the Church with the whole Realme: I said I would see it proued the Church: then I vndertook, if I might hauehave pen and ink, proue the contrary; but he said that should not be permitted, and told me I should be sure neuer to hauehave the Quéens merciemercy, if I would not acknowledge the Pope supreme head of the Church, and said, Paule forbiddeth me to contend with hereticks.
L. Chan.
Do… thou not say in the Créed, I beleeue in the Catholike Church?
Rog.
I find not the Bishop of Rome there: it signifieth the consent of all true teaching Churches of all ages. And the Church of Rome cannot be one of them, which teacheth so many doctrines against Gods word; can that Church that doth so be the head of the Catholike Church?
When he would hauehave me proue wherein the Pope taught against the word. I said, to speake with strange tongues is against the scripture.
L. Chan.
Thou canst proue nothing by the Scripture: it is dead, it must hauehave a liuely expositor, for all hereticks hauehave alleaged Scriptures.
Rog.
The Scripture is aliue: all hereticks hauehave alleaged Scripture, but they were ouercome by it. Then he bade away with me to prison: then I stood vp, for I had kneeled all the while. Then Sir Richard Southwell said, I know well thou wilt not burne in this geare. I said I trusted in God yes.
When they touched me with marriage being a Priest: I said the true Catholik Church did euer allow marriage to Priests.