At day-break, the Priest, after sprinkling them with the holy-water, and making them drink, presented them with the Book of the Evangelists to kiss, and then crossed them. The Mass then began. From that moment, the fire was no more increased: but the Iron was left on the embers, until the last Collect. That finished, the Iron was raised, and the most profound silence was observed, in praying the Deity to manifest the truth. At this instant, the accused took the Iron into his hand, and carried it to the distance of nine feet, _juxta mensuram pedum ejus_. The Trial being ended, the hand of the accused was bound up, and the bandage sealed; and, three days after, the hand was examined, to ascertain whether it was or not _impure_, which M. Houard, thus explains: _ce qui doit, je crois, faire entendre que l’on n’étoit pas coupable, quand la main conservoit des marques de brûlure mais seulement lorsque la brûlure tomboit en supuration_. (_ubi supra._) But, if the accused elected the Trial by Water, then, the Water was placed in a Vessel, and heated to the highest degree. For inferior Crimes, the accused plunged his arm up to the wrist: for crimes of deeper dye, he plunged it up to the Elbow. In every other part of the ceremony, the two species of Trial by water and fire agreed. (LL. Inæ c. 77.) The Mirror coincides with the text of Glanville, (c. 3. s. 23.) and Lord Hale informs us, “that in all the time of King John the purgation _per ignem et aquam_, or the Trial by _Ordeal_, continued, as appears by frequent Entries upon the Rolls; but, it seems to have ended with this king, for I do not find it in use in any time after.” (Hist. Com. Law. 152.)] CHAP. II. A plea, concerning the fraudulent concealment of Treasure Trove, is usually managed, in the manner and order above stated, where a certain Accuser appears.[506] But, if a Man is accused of this crime by the public voice only, it is not usual, according to the Law of the Land, for him to purge himself by the Ordeal,[507] although by the Assise a different course may be resorted to, unless he has been first convicted, or has confessed in Court, that he has found and taken some kind of Metal in the place in question.[508] But, if upon this fact the party be convicted, the presumption being against him, he shall be obliged to purge himself by the Ordeal, that he had not found or taken any more from the place in question. In other respects, the proceedings are as before stated. [Footnote 506: Vide Bracton 119. b. Britton c. 17. s. 1. Dial. de Scacc. L. 2. s. 10. The modern French Code gives the treasure to the person who finds it, if the owner of the Estate: if not, half to him, and the other half to the owner of the Estate. (Code Napoleon.)] [Footnote 507: Yet see LL. Hen. 1. c. 63. Ed. Wilkins.]