Próba zimnej wody (pławienie) w procesach o czary we wczesnonowożytnej Europie

Abstract

The paper is a resume of the state of the art about the topic of cold water ordeals applied to the witchcraft court cases in an early modern Europe . Author presents case studies to explain the ordeal in different parts of Europe . Regional differences and similarities are highlighted . Nevertheless, a main conclusion is that belief in "justice" of this ordeal was common and accepted among European society, despite a confession . This universal and widespread belief resulted in trusting the ordeal despite it was forbidden since medieval times . A result of a cold water ordeal indicated a witch or denied witchcraft accusations . Not every judge accepted the ordeal, however the sceptics were an insignificant minority . A cold water ordeal could be applied during a whole process, at different phases of a trial; it depended on local tradition in this respect .