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.