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The young, 'comely' and well-informed Essex gentleman, Thomas Haukes, called an exemplary 'bright starre' by the martyrologist, having been examined and condemned in London, was committed to Lord Rich and returned to Essex for execution at Coggeshall. There friends and acquaintance came to his burning, shown in this crowded scene hemmed in by armed guards. They asked for a signal to show that the spirit could remain constant in the fire, and Haukes is depicted giving this, lifting his hands over his head and clapping them as he gave his last. His last words, given in italic letters in 1563, were renewed in roman with slight differences in each of the succeeding three editions. The slopes and trees and village church in the background quite deftly suggest the country location. The style of the central portion of the woodcut, with its straight lines of stacked wood and flames that snake around the martyr, bear some similarity to the small group of single-column cuts that appear to have been borrowed from another (unidentified) source (see Introduction).

THus haue you hearde the conflictes of this worthy man T. Haukes, in reasonynge wyth hys aduersaries. Now to touche, partly the order of his lyfe, and how he behaued him selfe at hys death: First, he was of the country of Essex, borne of an honest stocke, in calling and profession a Courtier, brought vp daintely from his chyldhoode, and lyke a gentleman. Besides that, he was of suche comelynes and stature, so wel endued with excellent qualities, that he might seme on euery syde to be a perfect man. But his gentle behauiour towardes other, and especially his feruent study and singuler loue vnto true religion & godlynes, did surmoūt al the rest: Wherby Gods goodnes did not so much adourne him, as he hym selfe being the martir of God, maye seeme to nobilitate the whole cōpany of holy Martirs, lyke a bright starre, and make the Church and the truth that shine naturallye of them selues, to become (as a man would say) more bright, by his notable example. For if the conquestes of Martirs are the triumphes of Christe oure Prince, as S. Ambrose doth notably and truly write: vndoubtedly Christ in few men hath either conquered more notably, or triumphed

more gloriously, then in this one yonge man: he stoode so wisely in his cause, so honestlye in his life, and so constantly in his death: so that it cannot easely be told, whether he rather cōtemned lyfe, or deathe. For so he lyued, that he dyd not much esteme his lyfe: and so he dyed, that his death may be an example vnto all men, to contemne death.

But to the declaration of the matter: fyrste this Haukes, folowynge the discipline of the Court, grewe in yeares, in the seruice of the Lord of Oxford a good space, because he was acceptable vnto all the housholde, so longe as Edwarde the sixte liuynge, vertue myghte stand with tyme. But he dying, al thinges began to go backward, religion to decay, godlynes to be destitute of a Patron, and not onely to wax colde, but also to be in daunger euery where, and chiefely in the house of great men. Haukes with hys godlynes chaungynge the place, forsaking the houses of noble men, departed home to his owne house, where more freelye he mighte geue hym selfe to God, and vse his owne conscience. But what Paradise in this world shall a man fynde so secrete for him selfe, whether that olde wicked  

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I.e., the Devil.