This Maximus, that saugh this thyng bityde,
With pitous teeris tolde it anonright,
That he hir soules saugh to hevene glyde
With aungels ful of cleernesse and of light,
And with his word converted many a wight;
For which Almachius dide hym so bete
With whippe of leed til he his lif gan lete.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Second Nun’s Tale. Maximus told how he saw the souls of the martyred Valerian and Tiburtius ascent to heaven. Many people were converted to Christianity by his words. But the prefect Almachius had him beaten to death with whips tipped with lead, so Maximus became a martyr also.