Legal Definitions - canfara

Canfara refers to a historical legal practice, specifically a form of "ordeal by fire," that was once used in England. It involved a defendant undergoing a physical trial with hot iron to determine their guilt or innocence. The prevailing belief was that divine intervention would protect the innocent from harm or miraculously heal their injuries, thereby revealing God's judgment.

• Imagine a medieval village where a farmer, Thomas, is accused of stealing a neighbor's livestock. With no eyewitnesses or definitive proof, the local lord's court might order Thomas to undergo canfara. He would be required to carry a piece of red-hot iron for a specified distance. After a few days, the wound would be inspected. If his hand showed signs of miraculous healing or minimal injury, it would be interpreted as a divine declaration of his innocence, leading to his acquittal.

• Consider a situation where a man, Robert, is suspected of a serious crime like murder, but direct evidence is scarce. In the absence of a clear confession or witnesses, the community leaders or a magistrate might compel Robert to submit to canfara. He might be made to grasp a heated iron bar. The subsequent condition of his hand, particularly whether it festered severely or healed remarkably well, would be taken as a divine verdict on his culpability, influencing the court's final judgment.