ordeal by water

The "water ordeal" was a trial process used to determine guilt or innocence, based on the belief that supernatural powers would intervene. In one common form, an accused person was submerged in water. If they sank, they were considered innocent, as the water "accepted" them. If they floated, they were deemed guilty, as the water "rejected" them. Another variation involved plunging a bare arm into boiling water, with the condition of the arm after the ordeal indicating guilt or innocence. This practice was notably used during some witch trials, where floating was interpreted as a sign of witchcraft. The purpose of an ordeal was not punitive but rather to seek a judgment from a higher power.123