Trial by Fire and Water: The Medieval Judicial Ordeal

Part 1: Introduction. Part 2: Early history. Part 3 The workings of the ordeal in its heyday: types of ordeal ordeal, testimony, and oath. Part 4 The end of the ordeal and social change: the functionalist case the persistence of the ordeal exemptions the case of England. Part 5 The end of the ordeal - explanations in terms of belief: critics of the ordeal clerical interests. Part 6 Trial by battle: a sketch battle and ordeal. Part 7 Aftermath: disappearance replacement recrudescence. Part 8: Further reflections Select bibliography. Index.