Judgement of God, was a term anciently applied to all extraordinary trials of secret crimes; as those by arms, and single combat; and the ordeals, or those by fire, or red-hot ploughshares, by plunging the arm in boiling water, or the whole body in cold water; in hopes God would work a miracle, rather than suffer truth and innocence to perish. Si super defendere non positis, judicio Dei seil. aqua vel ferro, fieret de eo jufitia.—These customs were a long time kept up even among Christians; and they are still in use in some nations. See BATTEL, ORDEAL, &c.—Trials of this sort were usually held in churches in presence of the bishops, priests, and secular judges; after three days fasting, confession, communion, and many adjurations and ceremonies described at large by Du Cange.