[1114] Del Rio Disquis. Magic. L. IV. c. iv. q. 3.—P. Kluntz Dissert, de Probat. per S. Eucharist. Ulmæ, 1677.
[1115] Ayeen Akbery, II. 498. This form of ordeal is allowed for all the four castes.
[1116] Ali Ibrahim Khan (As. Researches I. 392).
[1117] “Sors enim non aliquid mali est, sed res est in dubitatione humana divinam indicans voluntatem.”—S. Augustini Enarrat. in Psal. XXX. Serm. ii. §13.—Gratian. c. I. Caus. XXVI. q. ii.—Gratian, however, gives an ample array of other authorities condemning it.
[1118] Ad ignem seu ad sortem se excusare studeat.—Tit. XXXI. § 5.
[1119] Pact. Childeberti et Chlotarii, ann. 593, § 5: “Et si dubietas est, ad sortem ponatur.” Also § 8: “Si litus de quo inculpatur ad sortem ambulaverit.” As in § 4 of the same document the æneum or hot-water ordeal is provided for freemen, it is possible that the lot was reserved for slaves. This, however, is not observed in the Decret. Chlotarii, ann. 595, § 6, where the expression, “Si de suspicione inculpatur, ad sortem veniat,” is general in its application, without reservation as to station.
[1120] Ecgberti Excerpt. cap. lxxxiv. (Thorpe, II. 108).
[1121] Conc. Calchuth. can. 19 (Spelman. Concil. Brit. I. 300).
[1122] Leon. PP. IV. Epist. VIII. c. 4 (Gratian, c. 7. Caus. XXVI. q. v.).
[1123] L. Frision. Tit. XIV. §§ 1, 2. This may not improbably be derived from the mode of divination practised among the ancient Germans, as described by Tacitus, De Moribus German, cap. x.