They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght,
But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
With humble herte and sad devocioun,
And losten bothe hir hevedes in the place.
Hir soules wenten to the Kyng of grace.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Second Nun’s Tale. When Valerian and Tiburtius are brought before the idol of Jupitor they refuse the prefect Almachius’s order to worship it with incense or sacrifice. The brothers simply kneel down with humble heart and Christian devotion and are martyred by beheading. Their souls join with God in heaven.