Execution of St. John Fisher

While Bishop Fisher was in prison, he was appointed cardinal by Paul III, which when Henry VIII heard, he at once had him condemned to death. It is related of this holy Bishop, that when he was about to be taken to the place of execution, he dressed himself in the best clothes he could procure, as that was, he said, the day of marriage, and as, on account of his age and his sufferings in prison, he was so weak, that he was obliged to lean on a staff, when he came in sight of the scaffold he cast it away and cried out: “Now, my feet, do your duty, you have now but a little way to carry me.” Now when he mounted the scaffold he entoned the Te Deum, and thanked the Almighty for permitting him to die for the faith, he laid his head on the block. His head was exposed on London Bridge, and it is said,  appeared quite florid, and more like the head of the living than a dead person, so it was ordered to be taken down again.