When John Rogers (c.1570–1636) first went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, as a student in February 1588, he proved to be a complete wastrel.
His way was being paid by his uncle, a well-known Puritan preacher by the name of Richard Rogers (1551–1618), but John sold all of his books so as to spend the proceeds on various sinful pastimes. Not surprisingly, John was asked to leave Emmanuel College, a hotbed of Puritan theology and piety.
However, Richard Rogers’ wife Barbara (died c.1598), convinced her husband to intervene with college authorities and give his nephew another opportunity. So, the younger Rogers went up again to Cambridge, only to prove the profligate once more, again selling his books and squandering the money obtained on his vices. His uncle was about to wash his hands of him at that point but, yielding once again to the entreaties of Barbara, John was sent up to Cambridge yet a third time. This time things proved to be quite different, as a long-suffering God saved the young man, and Richard later confessed: ‘I will never despair of a man for John Rogers’ sake’.
