Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: ORDELS
Definition: In the past, in English law, there was a way of deciding if someone was guilty or innocent called an "ordeal". The right to do this in a certain area was called "ordels".
Definition: Ordel is a term used in historical English law. It refers to the right to conduct trials by ordeal within a specific jurisdiction.
Example: In medieval England, the ordeals were used to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused person. For example, a person might be asked to hold a red-hot iron or walk on hot coals. If they were not burned, it was believed that God had intervened and declared them innocent.
Explanation: Ordeals were a common method of trial in medieval England. The right to conduct these trials was granted to certain individuals or groups within a specific jurisdiction. The example illustrates how ordeals were used to determine guilt or innocence and how they were believed to be a divine intervention.