He matriculated at the University of Oxford from St. Mary's Hall of Oriel College, 30 October 1584, and is described as the son of a priest (clerici filius).

He left without taking a degree, it is said because he disliked the Oath of Supremacy; but it appears that he acted as a Protestant minister at Cannock, Staffordshire, for some time.

[1] Sugar endured his fearful death with exemplary courage: at one point during his ordeal, he said "I shall soon be above the sun",[This quote needs a citation] and later "after a sharp dinner I shall have a sweet supper".

[This quote needs a citation] He and his companion Grissold were beatified on 22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II along with eighty-three others.

There is a painting depicting him before his execution by Rebecca Dering,[2] along with a fresco of him and his companion at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire.