History of Torture: Early Christian Trials
Originally,
legal trials an "impartial" acted a arbiter, while the accuser
and accused swore they were telling the truth. The belief at the time
was if
someone committed perjury, God would strike that person down. Needless
to say God never struck and this method of trial soon was replaced
by 'trial
by ordeal'. There were two types of trial by ordeal, the first being
where the accuser and accused were 'judged' together. This might mean
they both
would stand before a cross, their arms outstretched, and whoever could
keep his arms up the longest was the one telling the truth. The second
type of
ordeal was where only the accused was judged. This might mean something
as mild as a piece of consecrated bread was placed on his tongue and
if it
could not be swallowed he was considered guilty. This might also be
something as severe as subjecting a limb to a red hot iron or boiling
water with the
belief that if they did not succumb to injury God was protecting him
and therefore he was not guilty. In 1215 Pope Innocent III declared
trial by ordeal banned.