The sergeantz of the toun of Rome hem soghte,
And hem biforn Almache, the prefect, broghte,
Which hem apposed, and knew al hire entente,
And to the ymage of Juppiter hem sente,
And seyde, "Whoso wol nat sacrifise,
Swape of his heed; this my sentence heer."
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Second Nun’s Tale. The sergeants of the town of Rome seek Valerian and his brother Tiburtius and bring them before the prefect Almachius. He has them sent to the image of Jupiter and commands those who will not sacrifice there to be beheaded.