ORD 
ORDAVAR, a town of Perfian Armenia; 50 miles 
3s. a Ai Naefivan 
DEAL, Orpatium, a form of trial, that is, of difco- 
eur innocence or guilt ; prattifed in England in the time 
of Edward the aa effor : and fince, as low as king John 
and Lig Henry 
The word, in tee original Saxon, ee a great judgment, 
formed of or, great, and deal, or dele, judgmen 
It was called igh Sire ee or judiciem Dei, in oppo- 
{ition to Lelfum or combat, the other form of purgation: and 
alfo to the enue Saaien which was by the oath of 
the party. 
The ordeal was of bie kinds; viz. that of fire, that 
of red-hot iron, that of cold water, that of Lag a 
that of hallowed cheefe, that of boiling w fa 
crofs, and that of dice laid on relics, covered with a : woolten 
cloth. There were eats maffes for cae specs of 
ordeal. See Corsnep, and fap ie of the C 
The more popular kinds of ordeal were thofe of red-hot 
iron and water: the rl for freemen and people of fafhion ; 
the fecond for peafant 
Fire-ordeal was performed either Ah taking up in the 
‘hand, unhurt, a piece of red-hot iron, of one, two, or 
three pounds w eight ; or elfe by elke. barefoot and 
blindfold, over nine red-hot plough-fhares, laid lengthwife, 
at unequal diftances ; and if the party efcaped without in- 
jury, he was adjudged innocent ; but if it happened other- 
wile, as without collufion it generally did, he was then con- 
demned as guilty. ormer was condu@ed in = 
manner : a ball of iron was prepared, of one, two, or thre 
pounds eng according te the nature of the acculatiea, 
When all the prayers and other religious ceremonies were 
finifhed, this ball was put into a fire, Pa ed-hot ; 
was taken out. 
oly 
t 
into a bag, and fealed up for three days; at the expiration 
of which it was examined, in the prefence of twelve perfons 
of each part f any marks of burning ; Lana upon it, 
the accufed was found guilty; if none, he w eclared 
innocent Glofs. Ferrum Canden 
It is a popular ftory in our hiftories, t Emma, mothe 
of Edward the Confeffor, being accufed of too much fami- 
bi nchefter, demanded the 
i er, dema 
ir affed barefooted and hood- 
winked over nine red-hot plough-fhares, without touching 
are of them. 
Water-ordeal was performed either by plunging the bare 
arm up to the elbow in boiling water, and efcaping u 
r by cafting the perfon fufpected into a ines or pon 
cold water, and if he floated therein, without any aétion 
of 
{wimming, it was deemed an evidence of his guilt but if He 
funk he was acquitted. 
The preparations by faftings, prayers, and other religious 
exercifes, were the fame for both thefe ordeals. In the hot- 
to communicate, he. —- adjured, in the molt a 
words, to confefs if he was guilty. Fire was then kindled 
under a pot filled with water; and while the water was 
aaa the prieft faid many prayers compofed for that 
purpole. As foon as the water began to boil, a ftone was 
fufpended in it by a ftring, at the depth of one, two, or 
tr Se to the nature of the accufation, 
unhurt; 1 
nd of pe& 
wful form of tk 
ORD 
the friends of the profecutor. If any mark 
then appeared upon the arm, the prifoner was found guilty : 
if no fuch marks c be fag iig he was ac 
aven or 
fo 
inftantly are out, before es could receive any injury. 
.t 3. ne’s Leg. Saxon I. 
Thi aged was Piss very uncertain “teft of guilt 
or paeesaces 3 but the great folemnity with which it was 
adminiftered, might fometimes ftrike terror into the minds 
: In thi 
ealy to trace out t the craditional relics of this water- 
ratifed in many 
them into a pool of 
sen and drowning them to prove their innocence. This 
3T purgation 
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