Legal Definitions - cold-water ordeal

A cold-water ordeal was a historical method of trial, predominantly used in medieval Europe, where an accused person's guilt or innocence was determined by submerging them in cold water. This practice was a form of "trial by ordeal," meaning it relied on the belief that divine intervention, rather than evidence or testimony, would reveal the truth. It was thought that if the accused sank, they were innocent, as the pure water was believed to accept them. Conversely, if they floated, they were deemed guilty, as the water was thought to reject them. This method often resulted in severe injury or death, regardless of actual guilt or innocence.

• Example 1: Accusation of Theft in a Medieval Village
  Imagine a medieval village where a miller's grain supply has been mysteriously depleted. Suspicion falls upon a local farmer known for his desperate circumstances. Lacking direct evidence, the village elders decide to subject the farmer to a cold-water ordeal. He is bound and lowered into a nearby icy river. If he sinks, he will be declared innocent; if he floats, he will be judged guilty of theft.

  Explanation: This example illustrates the cold-water ordeal as a substitute for evidence-based investigation in a criminal accusation. The outcome, believed to be divinely ordained, would determine the farmer's fate regarding the alleged theft, rather than any proof of his actions.

• Example 2: Witchcraft Accusation During a Period of Plague
  During a devastating plague, a community in the 14th century experiences widespread illness and death. An elderly woman, known for her herbal remedies and reclusive nature, is accused of witchcraft and causing the affliction. To ascertain her guilt, she is subjected to a cold-water ordeal. She is tied with ropes and thrown into a deep pond. The villagers watch, believing that if the water accepts her (she sinks), she is innocent, but if it rejects her (she floats), she is a witch.

  Explanation: This scenario demonstrates the cold-water ordeal's application in cases involving superstitious beliefs and serious accusations like witchcraft. It highlights how communities relied on such trials to explain misfortunes and assign blame, with the physical outcome of the ordeal serving as the ultimate "proof" of guilt or innocence.