Lookingback Punishmentinfeudaltimes

LOOKINGBACK—PUNISHMENTINFEUDALTIMES

InmedievalEurope,peoplewereveryreligious. Theyassumedthat Godwould protectthemfrom harm.Whenalegalcasewashardtodecide,the judgewould sometimesorderanewtrialtobe “decided”byGod.

•Inatrialbyfire,theaccusedhadtoholda red-hot iron.Thehandwasthenwrapped inclothanduncovered afterthreedays.If

theburnhadhealedcleanly,theaccusedwas judgedinnocent. However, ifthehandwas infected,theaccusedwasjudgedguilty.

•Inatrialbywater,theaccusedmightbe thrownintoapondorlakewithhisorher handsbound.Anaccusedpersonwhofloated onthewater waspronouncedguiltybecause water wasconsidered asymbolofpuritythat hadrejectedtheaccused.Iftheaccusedsank, theverdictwasinnocent, buttheaccusedoften drownedbeforebeingrescued.

•Trialbycombat wasanother method usedto renderaverdictorsettledisputes.Noblesoften foughtthistypeof “trial”intheformofaduel. Itwasbelievedthat Godwould helpdetermine whowasintheright.Inacriminalcase,ifthe accusedwaskilled,theverdictwasguilty.

•Another customusedtoestablishguiltor innocencewascompurgation.Elevenpersons

would swearanoath that theaccusedwas innocent. Ifthecourtwassatisfiedwiththe

11compurgators,theaccusedwould bereleased.However, iftheaccuserproduced

11witnessesofhigherrankwhosworethat theaccusedwasguilty,theverdictwould beguilty.

Trialbyfire,trialbywater,andtrialby combatdisappearedfromthelegalsystem centuriesago.However, theideabehind compurgationsurvivesinthe12-memberjurythat decidestheinnocenceorguiltofsomeaccused persons.Atmanytrialstoday,theaccusedalso presentscharacterwitnesseswhotestifythat

theaccusedisapersonofgoodcharacter(and therefore shouldbebelieved).

1. Comparetrialbyfirewithtrialbycombat.

2. Generally,thewealthyandpowerful settledcasesthrough trialbycombat.Whydoyou thinktheywould bemorelikelytousethis trialmethod?

3. Explainhowthemedievalsystemof compurgationdeterminedguiltorinnocence.

4. Whatpartofmodern-daycriminaltrials couldbecomparedtocompurgation?

5. What are some of the limitations/flaws of these trial systems in their attempts to prove guilt or innocence?