Trial by Ordeal - Reason Magazine

The surprising accuracy of the Dark Ages' trial by fire rituals. ... Leeson finds similar room for chicanery with the cold-water tests. The instructions for ordeal rituals were vague on the amount of time a suspect had to be submerged in water before a determination could be made on whether he floated or sunk, again giving clergy wide discretion. Interestingly, Leeson points out that lean men were more likely to sink (and thus be cleared) than women. ...