They used three ordeals to decide if someone was innocent or
guilty; by fire, by water or by combat. For the ordeal by fire the accused
person held a red hot iron bar and walked three paces. The hand was then
bandaged and left for three days. If the wound had started to get better after
the three days then they were innocent. If the wound hadn’t showed signs of
improving then they were guilty. For the ordeal by water the accused person was
tied up and thrown into water. If the person floated then they were guilty. If
the person sank they were innocent. The ordeal by combat was used by noblemen
who had been accused. The accused person would fight in combat with their
accuser. Whoever won was right. Whoever lost was usually dead at the end of the
fight. In 2015, the Pope decided that priests couldn’t help with ordeals. The
ordeals were then replaced by trial by juries.
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