Legal Definitions - ordels

Definition: Ordel is a term used in historical English law. It refers to the right to conduct trials by ordeal within a specific jurisdiction.

Example: In medieval England, the ordeals were used to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused person. For example, a person might be asked to hold a red-hot iron or walk on hot coals. If they were not burned, it was believed that God had intervened and declared them innocent.

Explanation: Ordeals were a common method of trial in medieval England. The right to conduct these trials was granted to certain individuals or groups within a specific jurisdiction. The example illustrates how ordeals were used to determine guilt or innocence and how they were believed to be a divine intervention.