Great Britain -- History -- Norman period, 1066-1154 -- Sources; Normans -- England
After the accusation has been lawfully made, and three days have
been passed in fasting and prayer, the priest, clad in his sacred
vestments with the exception of his outer garment, shall take with a
tongs the iron placed before the altar; and, singing the hymn of the
three youths, namely, “Bless him all his works,” he shall bear it to
the fire, and shall say this prayer over the place where fire is to
carry out the judgment: “Bless, O Lord God, this place, that there may
be for us in it sanctity, chastity, virtue and victory, and piety,
humility, goodness, gentleness and plenitude of law, and obedience to
God the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.”--After this, the iron
shall be placed in the fire and shall be sprinkled with holy water;
and while it is heating, he shall celebrate mass. And when the priest
shall have taken the Eucharist, he shall adjure the man who is to be
tried ... and shall cause him to take the communion.--Then the priest
shall sprinkle holy water above the iron and shall say: “The blessing
of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost descend upon this iron
for the discerning of the right judgment of God.” And straightway the
accused shall carry the iron to a distance of nine feet. Finally, his
hand shall be covered under seal for three days, and if festering blood
be found in the track of the iron, he shall be judged guilty. But if,
however, he shall go forth uninjured, praise shall be rendered to God.
ORDINANCE OF WILLIAM I., SEPARATING THE SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL
COURTS.[3]
=Source.=--_Ancient Laws and Institutes_, p. 213.
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