Woodes Rogers
Background
Woodes Rogers is an administrator in England. His brother was killed off the coast of Mexico when their ship was hit by a cannon ball fired from a Spanish galleon. Rogers has a wife named Sarah.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 1 XIX. played by Luke Roberts
Rogers goes into Eleanor Guthrie's cell and offers to release her if she helps him tame Nassau. He then asks her for a list of people who can be allies and those who would be an impediment to order. Eleanor then writes down one name who she says is the person that would be an impediment.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 2 XX. played by Luke Roberts
Rogers names and points out all the ships in his convoy to Eleanor and tells her that he has an obligation to his investors. He then points out the Gloucestershire and tells her that if Eleanor fails, he will send her back to London on it.
Eleanor tells Rogers how she eventually took over the business from Richard Guthrie at the age of 17. She tells him that she gained power by convincing Captain Benjamin Hornigold and Captain Charles Vane to betray Blackbeard, who was the most feared pirate at the time. Rogers thinks that Eleanor is using him to solve a lover's quarrel with Vane, but she assures him that it is because she knows Vane that she understands that he must be removed.
Later, Captain Chamberlain tells Rogers that he read Rogers' accounts of his voyages, but also heard about rash decisions he made which were costly. Hornigold and Dufresne go onto Rogers' ship and Hornigold is upset to see Eleanor on the ship. Hornigold then tells Rogers that Captain Flint and his crew are dead and gives Rogers Flint's flag.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 3 XXI. played by Luke Roberts
Rogers tells Eleanor that he spoke with Chamberlain and they now know when they will arrive on Nassau. He shows her a speech he wrote in which he will offer pardons to the inhabitants of Nassau. He asks her to help him with any modifications she may have to get the most people on their side. He admits to Eleanor that time is of the essence and that he told Spain, who is one of his investors, that he would return the Urca gold to them.
Rogers and his fleet arrive at Nassau and Chamberlain tells him that there are ships in a line at the harbor. During a meeting, Chamberlain suggests they can not take Nassau without incurring significant naval losses. Rogers says that he will go to offer the pardons and Eleanor suggests Hornigold give the offer of pardons. Hornigold and then Dufresne take a boat to Nassau.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 4 XXII. played by Luke Roberts
Rogers tells Eleanor that he would trade 10 of his advisers for her. He continues that he expects by tomorrow that half of the pirates will have accepted pardons. He then invites her to be his senior adviser.
Rogers tells Eleanor that Blackbeard and his men will eventually surrender and Eleanor assures him that she wants him to succeed. Chamberlain tells Rogers that Blackbeard will soon realize they have no choice, but to surrender Vane. After Chamberlain leaves, Rogers asks Eleanor how her enemies on the island would describe her. Eleanor tells him that they would call her untrustworthy and he tells her that he trusts her.
Lieutenant Perkins knocks on Rogers' door and Rogers goes to the upper deck and Chamberlain tells him a ship is approaching. Rogers tells Chamberlain to lift their anchors. Vane's ship erupts in flames and Chamberlain has the crew fire at the ship and Vane jumps from his ship. Vane's fire ship rams into one of Rogers' other ships and the pirate fleet escapes.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 5 XXIII. played by Luke Roberts
Rogers, Eleanor, and Mrs. Hudson travel to Rogers new residence on Nassau. Perkins brings Rogers a piece of paper requiring him to sign off that the damage to the ship the Willing Mind was through no fault of Rogers. Hornigold walks over to Rogers and tells him that they found a large fortune in Spanish gold in the fort. Eleanor asks if there is any word about Rackham, and Hornigold says both he and Anne Bonny are believed to have fled.
Max walks into the room while Rogers is having a meeting and asks to speak with him in private. She tells him that she cannot endorse his version of Nassau if she is considered an outsider and offers him a black pearl in order to become friends. Eleanor realizes it is part of the Spanish gold. Later, Rogers tells Eleanor how he got the scar on his face and they kiss. Mrs. Hudson enters the room and admits to Rogers that she provided information to a man named Juan Antonio Grandal, from the Spanish intelligence department. She tells him that the Spanish know of the scheme to convert some of their gold into more portable items and that he must return all of the value of the gold.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 6 XXIV. played by Luke Roberts
Perkins tells Rogers that the ship with the Spanish gold is ready to leave for Havana. Eleanor tells Rogers that now that the Spanish know that their gold has been converted into something easier to hide, they feel insulted. She suggests they fight the Spanish, but he tells her that their only chance is for them to find Rackham and Anne to get the rest of the value of the gold back. After he is captured, Rackham is brought to Rogers' office and tells Rogers that he read his book. Rogers tells Rackham that he needs him to return all of the gold he took or they are all dead. Rogers tells Rackham that Spain knows about the gold being exchanged for other items. Rackham relates to Rogers of how he remembers as a boy the way men spoke of Henry Avery and wanted people to speak of his name in the same manner. Rogers tells Eleanor that Rackham agreed to have the gold returned and Rackham has written a letter to be delivered to Anne by Lieutenant Hersey. Eleanor warns Rogers that Anne is dangerous, but Rogers assures her that Hersey is capable. Max walks up to Rogers and asks why Rackham was arrested. Hersey's body is brought back to Nassau and Rogers tells Eleanor and Max that Anne must be found.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 7 XXV. played by Luke Roberts
After meeting with Anne, Max returns to Rogers and tells him and Eleanor that Anne will return the cache. As Rogers is walking to Rackham's cell, he notices the Door Guard is obviously suffering from an illness and tells him to report to Dr. Marcus. Rogers tells Rackham that he believes Anne will give up the remainder of the cache and says that the last thing he will allow is for himself to be cast as a villain. As Rogers is leaving Rackham's cell, Rackham warns him that Anne will be even more upset when she finds out that she was lied to, and Rackham was never tortured and that everyone is a villain in Nassau. Mrs. Hudson tells Rogers about Grandal's new demand that Rackham must be delivered to the Spanish.
Eleanor returns to Rogers and they have sex. Afterwards, Rogers tells Eleanor of the illness that is sweeping through his men and ultimately Eleanor is more like her fellow Nassauans than English and she gives him her word that she will never betray him. After the attack at her tavern, Max tells Rogers that John Silver is the one who killed Dufresne. Rogers asks Max to have her prostitutes spread word about how pathetic Flint's ploy is. Flint takes a boat to the beach and sits down in front of Rogers. Rogers tells Flint that he knows of Flint's and Thomas Hamilton's efforts that helped him get to where he is now. Flint tells Rogers that Thomas was killed for trying to change England and that Miranda Barlow was killed while she and Flint tried to make peace with England. Rogers warns Flint that he can be a villain and he will hang any pirate he catches, and he is not afraid of Flint. Flint then returns to The Walrus.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 3 Episode 8 XXVI. played by Luke Roberts
Rackham is brought in chains to a carriage where Rogers is sitting along with a chest with Anne's share of the cache. Rogers tells Rackham that he is being sent as a prisoner to the Spanish. Major Rollins tells Rogers that they are ready, and Rackham is surprised to hear that Anne is still alive. Rogers assures Rackham that his execution will probably be quick. Rackham tells Rogers that as long as Anne is alive, there is a chance she will attempt to free Rackham.
Rackham tells Rogers about his father and how his father became an alcoholic after his business failed. He tells Rogers that while Rogers had an easy life, he had to struggle, and yet still caught up to Rogers. Riders are seen approaching and Rackham tells an officer to engage the riders. Rackham tries to choke Rogers, but Rogers punches him unconscious. The riders kill Rogers' escort and shoot the wagon tire, causing the wagon to crash. Two of the riders reveal themselves to be Vane and Anne and Anne kisses Rackham. Flint and Billy Bones grab the chest while Vane and Anne stay behind to try and free Rackham. Vane has Anne ride away with Rackham and as he is about to ride away, Vane is shot by Rogers. Hornigold's men approach and beat Vane, who is about to kill Rogers.
A wounded Rogers rides into town and is carried to see Dr. Marcus. While he is being attended to by Marcus, Rogers tells Eleanor that they captured Vane. Rogers asks Eleanor if he can trust her to keep her emotions concerning Vane from clouding her judgement and she tells him that when Rogers freed her, all she thought about was revenge and she doesn't know how she will react when she sees Vane.