Superstition and Force: Essays on the Wager of Law, the Wager of Battle, the Ordeal, TortureLea, Henry Charles
History
Superstition and Force: Essays on the Wager of Law, the Wager of Battle, the Ordeal, Torture
Lea, Henry Charles
Ordeal; Torture; Wager of battle; Wager of law
An example of a similar nature occurred in Milan in 1103, when
the Archbishop Grossolano was accused of simony by a priest named
Liutprand, who, having no proof to sustain his charge, offered the
ordeal of fire. All the money he could raise he expended in procuring
fuel, and when all was ready the partisans of the archbishop attacked
the preparations and carried off the wood. The populace, deprived of
the promised exhibition, grew turbulent, and Grossolano was obliged
not only to assent to the trial, but to join the authorities in
providing the necessary materials. In the Piazza di S. Ambrogio two
piles were accordingly built, each ten cubits long, by four cubits in
height and width, with a gangway between them of a cubit and a half.
As the undaunted priest entered the blazing mass, the flames divided
before him and closed as he passed, allowing him to emerge in safety,
although with two slight injuries, one a burn on the hand, received
while sprinkling the fire before entering, the other on the foot,
which he attributed to a kick from a horse in the crowd that awaited
his exit. The evidence was accepted as conclusive by the people, and
Grossolano was obliged to retire to Rome. Pascal II., however, received
him graciously, and the Milanese suffragans disapproved of the summary
conviction of their metropolitan, to which they were probably all
equally liable. The injuries received by Liutprand were exaggerated, a
tumult was excited in Milan, the priest was obliged to seek safety in
flight, and Grossolano was restored for a time, but the adverse party
prevailed and in spite of papal support he was forced to exile.[976]
A volunteer miracle of somewhat the same character, which is recorded
as occurring in Paris early in the thirteenth century, may be alluded
to as illustrating the belief of the period. A loose woman in the
household of a great noble was luring the youthful retainers to sin,
when the chaplain remonstrated with his master, and threatened to
depart unless she was removed. When she was taxed with her guilt she
defended herself by saying that the priest had accused her because she
had refused his importunities, and offered to prove it. Approaching him
as a penitent, she sought to seduce his virtue, finally threatening to
kill herself unless he would gratify her despairing love, until, to
prevent her suicide, he finally made an appointment with her. Secretly
announcing her triumph to the noble, she went to the place of meeting,
where she found the chaplain mounted on a bed of plank, surrounded by
straw and dry wood, to which he set fire on her appearance, and invited
her to join him. Covered by the flames, the sinless man felt nothing
but a cool, refreshing breeze, and when the pile had burnt out, he
emerged unhurt, even his garments and hair being untouched.[977]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account