with others he was arraigned before the inquisition at venice; his trial was held between may 24 and june 20, 1548. on the latter day, in st. mark's basilica, spiera made solemn abjuration of his "errors", and subscribed the abjuration, which he then repeated on the following sunday in cittadella, after mass in the cathedral. on returning home, so he related it himself, "the spirit", or the voice of his conscience, began to reproach him for having denied the truth. over time, he felt more and more hopeless, which feeling so affected him physically that he was taken to padua to be treated by physicians. the treatment was in vain, and the conflict, which pier paolo vergerio and others witnessed, ended in his death, shortly after his return to his home.