The religious set to work at once to distribute amongst the poor
all the provisions and clothing that were in the convent, and
all the sacred vessels and ornaments for the altar were con-
cealed in various places, so that when at length the agents of
the government arrived, they could not find even a wooden
crucifix on which to vent their impious rage. Three times
summoned before the magistrate, Father Robert was immoveable
in rejecting the preferred honours of the court, and in declaring
his devoted attachment to the Catholic faith. * None,' he said,
• had ever sought to propagate their religious tenets by the
sword except the pagan emperors in the early ages, and
Mahomet in later times. As for himself and community they
were resolved that no violence should move them from the prin-
ciples of truth: they recognized no head of the Catholic Church
save the Vicar of Jesus Christ ; and as for the king of England,
they regarded him not even as a member of that holy Church,
but as head of the synagogue of Satan.' At these words of
the venerable father, an heretical officer drew his sword, and
with one blow severed his head from his body. The other
agents of the court were at once let loose against the unoflfend-
ing community. As the public prison was full of other victims,
the religious were dragged to confinement in private houses :
there many died of the injuries and maltreatment which they
received ; some too, were secretly murdered, whilst others were
publicly hanged in the market-place. It was on the 12th and
13th of February, 1539, that these happy fathers thus attained
their eternal crown.
