A criminal whose guilt had been established by the hot iron, hot ploughshare, boiling kettle, or other logical proof, was stripped and bound to the stake:--he was then flayed, from the neck to the navel, while swarms of bees were let loose to fasten upon his bleeding flesh and torture him to a death of exquisite agony.
Nevertheless heresy increased in the face of oppression The Scriptures, translated by Waldo into French, were rendered into Netherland rhyme, and the converts to the Vaudois doctrine increased in numbers and boldness.
At the same time the power and luxury of the clergy was waxing daily.

The bishops of Utrecht, no longer the defenders of the people against arbitrary power, conducted themselves like little popes.

Yielding in dignity neither to king nor kaiser, they exacted homage from the most powerful princes of the Netherlands.

The clerical order became the most privileged of all.

The accused priest refused to acknowledge the temporal tribunals.