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What is ordeal by fire?

Updated: 10/25/2022
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12y ago

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Trial by Ordeal was a common method of establishing guilt or innocence in Church court cases under Canon Law and in certain cases under the king's law. The particular Ordeal is not always recorded in the documents relating to trials (only whether the accused failed or passed) so we can not know which particular ordeals were used most frequently.

The idea of any Trial by Ordeal was that God should be the judge, jury and witness; the ordeal was intended to allow God to intervene (or not) as He wished, thus indicating guilt or innocence.

In one version of ordeal by fire, the accused person was blindfolded in a room with a stone floor. Red-hot scraps of iron (sometimes ploughshares) were then scattered about the floor and the accused had to cross the room without burning his/her feet. If he/she were innocent, God would direct his/her feet safely across - if not, the smell of burning flesh.

In another version the accused had to grasp in one hand a piece of iron heated to red-hot. If the burns healed cleanly, the verdict would be "innocent". If there were any infection, then it was "guilty".

The odds were always stacked heavily against anyone being declared innocent, whether in ordeal by fire or ordeal by water. The safest course was always to admit guilt from the outset and plead for mercy.

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Trials by ordeal in the middle ages?

ORDEAL BY COMBAT Ordeal by combat could only be undertaken by nobles who could pay someone to fight for them. The nobles would fight with their accuser and the winner was innocent. Whoever lost was guilty or dead. ORDEAL BY FIRE Ordeal by fire had the accused holding a piece of red hot iron and walking a few paces. Another form of this involved the accused dropping a stone into a cauldron full of boiling water and getting it out with their hands. Hands were then bandaged and left for three days. After this the bandages were removed and if the wound was healed you were innocent. If not you were guilty. ORDEAL BY WATER Ordeal by water had the accused tied up and thrown into a stream or lake that was previously blessed by a priest. If they floated it was said the 'holy' waters had rejected them because they were guilty. If they sank and drowned then they were proclaimed innocent.- YOU DIED EITHER WAY :P


In a Medieval court how did someone prove their innocence?

There are many ways,1. Ordeal by combat: The accused has to fight to prove his innocent2. Ordeal by fire: Taking a red hot iron in your hand, and bandage the wound. 3 days later, if the wound was kinda healed, it is said to be innocent3. Ordeal by water: The accused (usually witches) is tied onto a pole and thrown in the river. If they drown, they are innocent.


Three methods of determining innocence or guilt in Germanic law were?

I. Ordeal by Hot WaterII. Ordeal by Cold WaterIII. Ordeal by Hot Iron.


What is a sentence using the word ordeal?

"The accident became a horrific ordeal as they tried to free the trapped driver.""Translating poetry from German to English can be an ordeal."I had to go through a painful ordeal when a friend of mine had passed away.


How do you use the word ordeal in a sentence?

Labor and delivery is qute an ordeal, but all worthwhile for a healthy, beautiful baby.I had such an ordeal today at the supermarket.Definition: A severe or trying experience.

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hero factory ordeal of fire codes are for unlocking the creep crawler games on the hero pad


What are the two ordeals for crime and punishments?

There are three but i only know two are those two are ordeal by fire and ordeal by water.


What are the release dates for Armstrong Circle Theatre - 1950 Ordeal by Fire 13-11?

Armstrong Circle Theatre - 1950 Ordeal by Fire 13-11 was released on: USA: 13 February 1963


What are the release dates for Hero Factory - 2010 Ordeal of Fire 2-1?

Hero Factory - 2010 Ordeal of Fire 2-1 was released on: USA: April 2011 USA: 10 April 2011


What is the origin of the term trial by fire?

The term trial by fire originated from the ancient judicial practice of trial by ordeal. An ordeal was something unpleasant or dangerous that an accused person was subjected to in order to prove innocence. Fire was one of the ordeals used at the time. Many of these trials led to death.


What has the author WS Noble written?

W.S Noble has written: 'Ordeal by fire' -- subject(s): Forest fires, Fire, 1939


What is a baptism of fire?

A baptism of fire is a first experience of a severe ordeal - originally used to refer to a first experience of military combat.


What is a baptism by fire?

A baptism by fire is a first experience of a severe ordeal - originally used to refer to a first experience of military combat.


Trials by ordeal in the middle ages?

ORDEAL BY COMBAT Ordeal by combat could only be undertaken by nobles who could pay someone to fight for them. The nobles would fight with their accuser and the winner was innocent. Whoever lost was guilty or dead. ORDEAL BY FIRE Ordeal by fire had the accused holding a piece of red hot iron and walking a few paces. Another form of this involved the accused dropping a stone into a cauldron full of boiling water and getting it out with their hands. Hands were then bandaged and left for three days. After this the bandages were removed and if the wound was healed you were innocent. If not you were guilty. ORDEAL BY WATER Ordeal by water had the accused tied up and thrown into a stream or lake that was previously blessed by a priest. If they floated it was said the 'holy' waters had rejected them because they were guilty. If they sank and drowned then they were proclaimed innocent.- YOU DIED EITHER WAY :P


How do you put the word ordeal in a sentence?

That was quite an ordeal!


Ordeal Full sentence in this word?

ORDEAL I had an ordeal because someone died in my family. My teacher is having a big ordeal in her family because 2 of her family members died.


When was Ordeal by Golf created?

Ordeal by Golf was created in 1924.