Trial by ordeal was a method of determining guilt or innocence in medieval Europe and other parts of the world. There were several different types of trial by ordeal, including:
1. Trial by fire: The accused would have to hold a hot iron or walk barefoot over burning coals. If their wounds healed quickly, they were considered innocent.
2. Trial by water: The accused would be bound and thrown into a body of water. If they floated, they were considered guilty, but if they sank, they were innocent.
3. Trial by combat: The accused would fight their accuser in a physical battle. The winner was considered to be in the right.
4. Trial by ingestion: The accused would have to ingest a poisonous substance and then be monitored to see if they survived. If they survived, they were considered innocent.
5. Trial by ordeal of boiling water: The accused would have to retrieve a stone from a pot of boiling water. If their hand healed quickly, they were considered innocent.
These methods were believed to be guided by a higher power, with the idea being that the innocent would be protected from harm. However, trial by ordeal was eventually phased out in favor of more reliable methods of justice.