The Pope ratified his sentence of death on January 20, 1600; this was publicly promulgated on February 8, and carried into effect on the subsequent 17th.

Where Bruno was imprisoned between January 1593, and February 1598 is not known.] We find it hard to understand why Bruno's prosecution occupied the Holy Office through this space of time.

But conjectures on the subject are now useless.

Equally futile is it to speculate whether Bruno offered to conform in life and doctrine to the Church at Rome as he had done at Venice.

The temptation to do so must have been great.