The life story of John Rogers, first of the Protestant Martyrs under Queen Mary and editor of the first authorised English Bible; told as if in his own words, from a newly 'discovered' secret manuscript hidden in the walls of Newgate Prison. This historical fiction is based on a core of extraordinary historical fact, enlivened and elucidated by plausible fiction from the Martyr's twelve times great grandson. The story spans John Rogers' early, formative life in Deritend and exhilarating time at Cambridge, where the future leading lights of the English Reformation were gathered and famously congregated in The White Horse pub, otherwise known as 'Little Germany' in reference to the seat of European Reformation. On to Oxford and then, following several seminal experiences, into the Catholic Church, leading one of the London churches under the shadow of St Paul's. Circumstances and his conscience lead him then to Antwerp, where he encounters and is forever influenced by the Bible translator William Tyndale. Evangelical conversion follows for Rogers and after Tyndale’s execution, it is Rogers who completes the Thomas Matthew Bible, the first authorised English Bible in the reign of Henry VIII. In Antwerp he also meets and marries the love of his life, Adriana - who becomes his lifelong companion and counsel and with whom he has eleven children. With Adriana he moves to the very heart of Reformation, Wittenberg, where he meets and befriends Philip Melanchthon, confidant to Martin Luther himself. A pastoral role in the Lutheran Church in Meldorf follows, where Rogers faces the challenge of taking on a congregation that had lynched their previous minister in a drunken riot. Meanwhile King Henry VIII’s death heralds the ascension of his son King Edward VI, whose predisposition toward Protestantism under the influence of his reformist Council drives reformist policies forward. Rogers at last considers it safe to return to his homeland and is rewarded with the livings of St Se
The life story of John Rogers, first of the Protestant Martyrs under Queen Mary and editor of the first authorised English Bible; told as if in his own words, from a newly 'discovered' secret manuscript hidden in the walls of Newgate Prison. This is based on extraordinary historical fact from the Martyr's twelve times great grandson.
