Ordeal, trial by

In trial by ordeal, proof of guilt or innocence was determined by God, the accused being tested by an ordeal which proved innocence if no mark was caused by the trial itself. In the laws of Athelstan anyone undergoing this trial had to be blessed by a priest and live on bread, water and vegetables for three days. One trial involved the accused walking blindfold over red-hot ploughshares. God, it was believed, would guide the steps of the innocent; the guilty would burn their feet. Something equally unpleasant was done with boiling water. After this, the wounds were bandaged. If after three days the wounds appeared to be healing, innocence was proved; otherwise guilt was evident. Dunking displayed a paradox: water being the medium of baptism, it was considered sensitive both to guilt and to innocence. Thus if the water 'accepted' the accused, whose hands and feet were bound, they were innocent; the guilty were 'rejected' by water and floated. The length of rope or depth of sinking was set at 1% ells, or some 5% feet. During the *Angevin period, eight out of ten ordeals were of 'cold water', which were taken by the unfree, i.e. serfs, villeins etc. (Hot iron was taken by free men and women.) Pipe Roll records show that of the cold water ordeals, two out of three passed and were shown to be innocent. A priest was required to be present on these occasions; but the Lateran Council of 1215 condemned the practice and instructed priests to take no part. -

Cf. Battle, trial by