What is a trial by ordeal?

Answer 1

As a last resort, and extremely rarely, a medieval trial might be decided by Combat or by Ordeal. In the case of combat, the parties could each appoint a Champion to fight for them. The idea was that, in the combat, God would favour the right. Similarly with the ordeal. A common ordeal was to pick an object, with a bare hand, out of boiling water. Again, the theological basis of the ordeal was that God would give courage to the party in the right - maybe even a miracle. Psychologically, of course, it could work too - as the party in the wrong would be less likely to brave the pain. The reason, however, why such trials are rare is that they were only needed in cases which a Judge could not decide; and in cases so marginal, the difference between right and wrong, even in the minds of the parties, is by definition unclear.

Answer 2

There were many different ways, but the most commonly used was:

• Trial by Fire- The accused had to hold a red hot iron bar for three metres, and the suspects hand would be bandaged up for three days. If it wasn't healed then they were guilty.
• Trial by Cake- The person would have to swear on a piece of cake (or bread) that they were innocent, and then eat it. If they choked they were guilty.
• Trial by Pot- A pot of water was heated till it boiled and three stone were dropped in. You had to collect the stones without being burned.