San Romano walked on, surrounded by the mob, who heaped on him insults 'harder to bear than death.' Just beyond the suburbs of the town he came to a wooden cross. The crowd stopped and the inquisitors wished to compel him to adore it. 'It is not wood,' he replied, 'which Christians adore, but God. He is present in my heart and I adore him there with all reverence. Pass on; go straight to the place of my destination.' At these words the people uttered loud cries, and loaded him with insults, considering his refusal to be a crime. 'The cross,' said some of them, 'the cross would not allow a heretic to adore it.' Then fancying that there was some divinity in the wood, the crowd pressed round it; some drew their swords, and clove the cross into a thousand pieces.[193] Most happy did any one think himself who could secure the smallest fragment, for the wood was to heal them of every disease. [Sidenote: DEATH OF SAN ROMANO.] San Romano was accompanied by a numerous escort. He was surrounded by archers of the Imperial Guard. Some great personages belonging to both parties had desired to be witnesses of the last moments of this man, whose convictions were so deep. Amongst them was the English envoy. San Romano was placed in the midst of a great heap of wood, which was forthwith set on fire in several places. When he began to feel the fire he raised his head,[194] looking up to heaven, which was about to receive him. But the inquisitors imagined that he was calling them and would yield to their entreaties. 'Draw away the wood,' they said, 'he wants to retract his doctrine.' The burning pieces were removed, and San Romano was set as it were at liberty, without having taken any harm from the fire. Turning then a look of indignation upon the inquisitors, he said: 'What malice urges you to this? Why envy me my happiness? Why snatch me from the true glory which awaits me?'[195] The inquisitors then, confused and irritated, ordered him to be again cast into the fire, which had by this time risen to great violence, and instantly consumed him. The sermon at this _auto-da-fé_ had been preached by Carranza,[196] but it does not appear that he had convinced all his hearers. Some of the archers of the Imperial Guard carefully collected the ashes of the disciple of the Gospel. The English ambassador avowed that he recognized in him 'a true martyr of Jesus Christ.'[197] In consequence of this saying he was obliged to absent himself from court for several months. The archers who had gathered up the ashes were sent to prison. Meanwhile the inquisitors declared everywhere that San Romano was damned, that none was permitted to pray for him, and that whosoever should dare to hope for his salvation would be considered a heretic. This martyrdom took place about the year 1542.[198]