Green’s Dictionary of Slang

roger n.1

[despite the ‘e’ the g was pronounced hard, thus ? corruption of SE rogue; Ribton-Turner, A History of Vagrants (1887), notes Gaelic ruaigair, a pursuer, a hunter, Erse ruaigaur and Lowland Scot. rugger, an outlaw]

a wandering beggar who pretended to be a poor scholar from Oxford or Cambridge.

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[UK]R. Copland Hye way to the Spyttel House Biiii: Syr, yet there is another company / Of the same sect, that lyue more subtylly / And be in maner as mayster wardayns / To whome these Rogers obey as capytayns / And be named Clewners, as I here say.
[UK]Rowlands Good Newes and Bad Newes 13: What Roger, well met rogue, old fellow beggar.