Trial by Fire and Water: The Medieval Judicial Ordeal

In trial by ordeal the accused was subjected to some harsh test--holding hot iron, being cast into a pool of water--with guilt or innocence decided according to the outcome. To us a strange and alien custom, trial by ordeal has been an important legal procedure in many regions and periods. Bartlett examines the workings of trial by ordeal from its first appearance in the barbarian law codes, tracing its use by Christian societies to its last days as a test of witchcraft in Europe and America. He discusses recent theories about the operation and decline of the practice, shedding new light on both the ordeal as a working institution and the pressure for its abolition.
ASIN: 0198227353
VSKU: BVV.0198227353.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Bartlett, Robert
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Former library book with the usual stamps, stickers and labels. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.