III.

THE ORDEAL.

## CHAPTER I.

UNIVERSAL INVOCATION OF THE JUDGMENT OF GOD.

Tendency of the human mind to cast its doubts on God 249 China an exception 251 The Ordeal in Japan 253 in Africa 254 in the Indian and Pacific Archipelagoes 257 among pre-Aryan Indian Tribes 258 Traces of the Ordeal in Egypt 259 Among Semitic Races—The Assyrians, Hebrews, Moslem 260 Among Aryans—Mazdeism 265 Hinduism—Buddhism 267 Hellenes and Italiotes 269 Celts, Teutons, Slavs 272 The Ordeal in the Barbarian occupation of Europe 275 Adopted by the Church 276

## CHAPTER II.

ORDEAL OF BOILING WATER.

Details of its administration 278 Miracles reversing the ordinary process 285

## CHAPTER III.

ORDEAL OF RED-HOT IRON.

Various forms of its administration 286 Examples of its use 291 Miracles reversing the ordinary process 301

## CHAPTER IV.

ORDEAL OF FIRE.

Its prototypes 303 Examples of its use 305 Used to test relics 314

## CHAPTER V.

ORDEAL OF COLD WATER.

Mode of administration 318 Supposed origin in ninth century 320 Received in general use 322 Prolonged employment in witchcraft cases 325 Occasionally used in nineteenth century 332

## CHAPTER VI.

ORDEAL OF THE BALANCE.

Modes of administration 334

## CHAPTER VII.

ORDEAL OF THE CROSS.

It is one of endurance 336 Its limited use and disappearance 338

## CHAPTER VIII.

THE CORSNÆD.

Formula of employment 339 Examples of its use 341

## CHAPTER IX.

THE EUCHARIST AS AN ORDEAL.

Superstitions connected with the Eucharist 344 Examples of its use as an ordeal 347 Still used in the seventeenth century 351

## CHAPTER X.

ORDEAL OF THE LOT.

Various modes of its administration 352 Appeals to chance—Ordeal of Bible and key 356 Sieve-driving 358

## CHAPTER XI.

BIER-RIGHT.

Doubtful origin 359 Examples of its use 361 It lingers to the present day 367 Attempts to explain it 368 Weight ascribed to it 369

## CHAPTER XII.

OATHS AS ORDEALS.

Superstitions connected with the oath 371 Risks of perjury in oaths on relics 372

## CHAPTER XIII.

POISON ORDEALS.

Used in India, not in Europe 375

## CHAPTER XIV.

IRREGULAR ORDEALS.

Iron bands on murderers 377 Examples of miraculous interposition 379

## CHAPTER XV.

CONDITIONS OF THE ORDEAL.

It is a regular judicial procedure 383 Compounding for ordeals 383 Ordeal for defeated accuser 385 Absence of testimony usually a prerequisite 386 Usually a means of defence 389 Used in failure of compurgation 390 Sometimes regarded as a punishment 391 Its use in extorting confessions 394 Practically amounts to torture 395 Influence of imagination 396 Champions in ordeals 398

## CHAPTER XVI.

CONFIDENCE REPOSED IN THE ORDEAL.

Conflicting views as to its efficacy 399 Explanations of its unjust results 401 Regulations to enforce its impartial administration 404 Usually results in acquittal 406 Use of magic arts 407

## CHAPTER XVII.

THE CHURCH AND THE ORDEAL.

Complex relations of the Church to the ordeal 408 Occasional opposition of the papacy 409 But it is sustained by the clergy 409 Its use in trials of heretics 410 Impressiveness of its ritual 413 Reasons of papal opposition 414 Advantages derived from it by the clergy 415 The popes at length accomplish its abolition 417

## CHAPTER XVIII.

REPRESSIVE SECULAR LEGISLATION.

Forbidden in England in 1219 420 Gradually falls into desuetude 422 Persistence of superstition 427