In the Middle Ages, a test of guilt or
innocence by which God's judgement of the
case was supposedly revealed through the
accused's exposure to fire, water, or blessed
bread. The practice originated with the
Franks in the 8th century, and survived until
the 13th century. In the ordeal by cold
water, the accused would be bound and thrown
into the water. If he or she sank, it would
prove innocence, but if they remained alive,
it would show guilt. If the accused ate
blessed bread, the theory was that the guilty
would not be able to swallow it.