N00296:301
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences: wherein, an account is given of many remarkable and very memorable events, which have happened in this last age; especially in New-England. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1684
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. This way of purgation is to be accounted ⟨p. 284⟩of, like other provocations or appeals to the Judgement of God; invented by men: such as Camp-fight, Explorations by hot water, &c. In former times it hath been customary (and I suppose tis so still among the Norwegians) that the suspected party was to put his hand into scalding water, and if he received no hurt thereby then was he reputed innocent; but if otherwise, judged as guilty. Also, the trial by fire Ordeal has been used in our Nation in times of Darkness. Thus Emma the Mother of King Edward the Confessor, was led barefoot and blindfold over certain hot irons, and not happening to touch any of them, was judged innocent of the crime which some suspected her as guilty of. And Kunegund Wife to the Emperor Henry II. being accused of Adultery, to clear her self, did in a great and honourable Assembly take up seven glowing irons one after another with her bare hand, and had no harm thereby. These bloody kind of Experiments are now generally banished out of the World. It is pity the Ordeal by cold water is not exploded with the other.
3. This way of purgation is to be accounted ⟨p. 284⟩of, like other provocations or appeals to the Judgement of God; invented by men: such as Camp-fight, Explorations by hot water, &c. In former times it hath been customary (and I suppose tis so still among the Norwegians) that the suspected party was to put his hand into scalding water, and if he received no hurt thereby then was he reputed innocent; but if otherwise, judged as guilty. Also, the trial by fire Ordeal has been used in our Nation in times of Darkness. Thus Emma the Mother of King Edward the Confessor, was led barefoot and blindfold over certain hot irons, and not hapning to touch any of them, was judged innocent of the crime which some suspected her as guilty of. And Kunegund Wife to the Emperour Henry II. being accused of Adultery, to clear her self, did in a great and honourable Assembly take up seven glowing irons one after onother with her bare hand, and had no harm thereby. These bloody kind of Experiments are now generally banished out of the World. It is pity the Ordeal by cold water is not exploded with the other.