¶Christopher Shoomaker Martyr.
TO these blessed saintes before past, we will also adioyne Christopher Shoomaker: of whom this I finde briefly in the Register of syr Iohn Longland: and that the sayde Christopher Shoomaker,* 1.1 a parishioner of great Missendē came to the house of one Iohn Say, and after other mat∣ters of talke, read to him out of a little booke, the woordes which Christ spake to his disciples. And thus comming to his house about foure times: at euery time read some∣thing out of the same booke vnto him: teaching him not to be deceiued in the priestes celebration at Masse, and decla∣ring that it was not the same very present body of Christ as the priestes did phantasie: but in substance bread, bea∣ring the remembraunce of Christ. And taught him moreo∣uer, that the Pilgrimage, worshipping and setting vp can¦dles to saintes were all vnprofitable. And thus the sayde Ioh. Say beyng taught by this Christopher, and also con∣firmed by Iohn Okendē, and Robert pope, was brought to the knowledge of the same doctrine. Thus much briefly I find in that Register concerning Christopher Shooma∣ker, declaring further that he was burned at Newbery a∣bout this time, which was an. 1518. And thus much out of Registers of London.
IN turning ouer the Registers and Recordes of Lincoln likewise, and comming to the yere of our Lord. 1520. and 1521. I finde that as the light of the Gospell began more to appeare, and the number of the professors to growe, so the vehemencie of persecution, and stirre of the bishops be∣gan also to encrease. Wherupon ensued great perturbatiō & greeuous affliction in diuers & sondry quarters of thys realm, especially about Buckingham shyre, and Amershā, Uxbrige, Henley, Newbery, in the dioces of London, in Essex, Colchester, Suffolke and Northfolke, and other partes moe. And this was before the name of Luther was heard of in these countryes among the people. Wher∣for for they are much begyled and misse informed, whiche con∣demne this kinde of doctrine now receaued, of noueltie, asking where was this churche and religion xl. yeares a∣goe, before Luthers time?* 1.2 To whome it may be aunswe∣red, that this Religion and forme of doctrine was planted by the Apostles, and taught by true Byshops, afterward decayd, and nowe reformed againe, although it was not receiued nor admitted to the Popes Clergye before Lu∣thers time, neyther yet is, yet it was receiued of other, in whose heartes it pleased the Lorde secretly to worke, and that of a great number, whiche both professed and suffered for the same, as in the former times of this history may ap¦peare. And if they thinke this doctrine be so newe, that it was not heard of before Luthers time how thē came such great persecution before Luthers time here in Englande? If these were of the same profession, whiche they were of, thē was their crueltie vnreasonable, so to persecute theyr