jan 1, 1208 - hot iron trial

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The hot iron trial was introduced by Anglo-Saxons , it is administrated by priests in large churches. It tended to be used by the powers that be when there were no witnesses to a crime

Of the 308 cases of hot iron ordeal recorded in the register between 1208 and 1235, 100 were called off with the iron bar left unused.

In the remaining 208 cases, when the defendants actually underwent the ordeal, they were found to be guilty in 78 cases – so just 38% of the time – while the remaining 130 people's hand healed miraculously.

Some people say that the priest rigged the system.

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