Question

Which of the early forms of judicial proceedings involved a determination of guilt based on the ability of the accused to withstand placing his hand in boiling water or holding a hot iron?

Answer 1

Answer: Trial by ordeal

Explanation: Trial by ordeal was an ancient judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused was determined by having them undergo a painful and most times dangerous experience. The test was usually one of life or death and innocence was only ascertained if the accused survive the ordeal. Sometimes, escaping injury or injuries that healed were proof of innocence.

Some of the different types of ordeal include:

I. ordeal by hot water, where the accused would reach into a pot of boiling water to retrieve an object.

II. ordeal by hot iron where the accused person would carry a burning iron several paces without being burned.

III. ordeal by cold water where the accused was dunked into a pool of water and sinking was a sign of innocence.

IV. ordeal by the sacrament is a special type of ordeal for the clergy whereby an accused priest would be required to take the wafer of communion, if guilty he would choke on the wafer.

Answer 2

Answer:

Ordeal

Explanation:

Ordeal by boiling water: Here there is a boiling pot of black water and a stone is thrown and the water is stirred. The accused sticks there arm in and brings out the stone.

Ordeal by hot rod: Here the accused has to hold a scolding hot rod and holds it for around 5 seconds.

Ordeal by hot coals: Here the accused walks across a hot coal barefooted.