Trial by ordeal

In the Middle Ages punishments were severe, even for minor crime. Many of the ways in which lawbreakers were dealt with back then would be considered barbaric by today’s standards. Methods used to decide if a person was guilty or not guilty of committing an offence would also be considered cruel (and very unreliable) nowadays.

In Medieval times a series of tests were commonly used to determine the guilt of someone accused of committing crime.

Trial by ordeal

Trial by ordeal involved having to carry out dangerous and painful tasks. The outcome would “prove” the person’s innocence or guilt.

These included trial by fire, in which the accused had to carry a hot iron in his hands for nine paces or walk barefoot through hot coals. The affected limbs would then be bandaged for three days.

If the suspect escaped unhurt or his blisters healed within that time he was deemed to be innocent. Otherwise the suspect would be declared guilty and hanged.

Other tests included swallowing poison or immersing limbs in boiling water.

Trial by water was largely reserved for alleged witches. Suspects were thrown into cold water to see if they floated or drowned. If they floated they were declared guilty and hanged.


The ducking stool was used to decide if people were guilty of witchcraft. If they floated they
were declared to be witches and would be hanged. If they drowned they would be
declared not guilty of witchcraft - but by then it was usually too late to save them anyway!

Trial by battle

Trial by battle, also known as ordeal by combat, was introduced to England by the Normans after the 1066 invasion. It was mainly reserved for noblemen accused of wrongdoing.

The accused would have to combat their accuser or pay for a champion to battle on his behalf.

Whoever won would be declared in the right because it was believed that God would only protect the innocent.

The loser was often dead by the end of the fight.

Trial by jury

After Henry II came into power in 1154, he set about making radical changes. He replaced trial by ordeal and battle with trial by jury.

In 1214 the Pope repudiated ordeals and forbade English priests from taking part in such practises.

Sources

  • A Dictionary of World History, Oxford University Press, 2000.

 

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