Ordeal

Primitive form of trial by appeal to divine intervention; known among ancient nations; often resorted to in Europe through the Middle Ages. There were various forms: trial by battle, still surviving in the duel; by fire, or boiling water or oil, immunity being a proof of innocence; by cold water, innocence shown by the sinking of the accused; by bread, the guilty being supposed unable to swallow a piece over which certain adjurations adjurations had been said; by the bier, blood flowing from a murdered body when touched by by the murderer; and others. The ordeal was sometimes used by church officers, but from the 6th century was disapproved by the popes. Trial by battle was not actually abolished in England till 1819.