Who is Edward Shockley from Sarum: The Novel of England and what is their importance?

Edward Shockley lives in sixteenth century England during the years of the Protestant Reformation. He is a Protestant but lies about his beliefs to marry Katherine, a devout Catholic. They have a daughter, Cecilia. Shockley has on and off business deals with Forest but none that are successful. He discovers his wife secretly supporting the Catholics in their plots against Elizabeth I.