 or unwilling to swear an oath. The two most common methods were the ordeal by hot iron and by cold water. The former consisted in carrying a red-hot iron for five paces: the wound was immediately bound up and if, on unbinding, it was found to be festering the case was lost. In the ordeal by water the victim, usually an accused person, was cast bound into water: if he sunk he was innocent, if he floated, guilty. Although for perhaps understandable reasons the ordeals became associated with trials in criminal matters they were in essence tests of the truth of a claim or denial of a party and appropriate for trying any
legal issue. The allocation of a mode of proof and who should bear it was the substance of the Shire Court's judgment or doom and perhaps followed known customary rules of which we have no knowledge. Some measure of discretion must have existed in the determining of the outcome of an ordeal by hot iron but result of the cold water and the oath-helping would have been obvious to all.

Literature 

Old English literary works include genres such as epic poetry, hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, legal works, chronicles, mainly the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, riddles and others. In all there are about 400 surviving manuscripts from the period, a significant corpus of both popular interest and specialist research. The manuscripts use a modified Roman alphabet, but Anglo-Saxon runes or futhorc are used in under 200 inscriptions on objects, sometimes mixed with Roman letters.

This literature is remarkable for being in the vernacular (Old English) in the early medieval period: almost all other written literature was in Latin at this time, but due to Alfred's programme of vernacular literacy, the oral traditions of Anglo-Saxon England ended up being converted into writing and preserved. We owe much of this preservation to the monks of the tenth century, who made – at the very least – the copies of most of the literary manuscripts that still exist. Manuscripts were not common items. They were expensive and hard to make. First, cows or sheep had to be slaughtered and their skins tanned. Then people had to decide to use this leather for manuscripts rather than for any of the other things leather can be used for. The leather was then scraped, stretched, and cut into sheets, which were sewn into books. Then inks had to be made from oak galls and other ingredients
or unwilling to swear an oath. The two most common method were the ordeal by blistering iron and by cold water. The former consist in carry a red - hot iron for five pace: the wound was immediately bind up and if, on unbinding, it was found to be fester the subject was lost. In the ordeal by urine the victim, usually an accused person, was vomit bound into water: if he sunk he was innocent, if he floated, guilty. Although for possibly understandable reasons the ordeals became consort with trials in criminal matter they were in essence trial of the truth of a claim or denial of a party and appropriate for trying any 
 legal issue. The allotment of a mode of proof and who should bear it was the substance of the Shire Court's judgment or doom and perhaps followed known customary rules of which we have no knowledge. Some measure of discretion must have existed in the determining of the outcome of an ordeal by hot iron but consequence of the cold water and the oath - helping would have been obvious to all. 

 Literature 

 Old English literary workplace admit genre such as epic poetry, hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, legal work, chronicles, mainly the Anglo - Saxon Chronicle, riddles and others. In all there are approximately 400 surviving manuscripts from the period, a significant corpus of both popular interest and specialist research. The manuscripts use a modified Roman alphabet, but Anglo - Saxon rune or futhorc are used in under 200 inscription on objects, sometimes mixed with Roman letters. 

 This literature is remarkable for being in the vernacular (Old English) in the early chivalric period: almost all other written literature was in Latin at this time, but due to Alfred's programme of vernacular literacy, the oral traditions of Anglo - Saxon England ended up being change into writing and preserved. We owe much of this preservation to the monks of the tenth century, who made – at the very least – the transcript of most of the literary manuscripts that however exist. Manuscripts were not coarse items. They were expensive and hard to make. First, cows or sheep have to be slaughtered and their skin tanned. Then people had to decide to use this leather for manuscripts preferably than for any of the other things leather can be use for. The leather was then scraped, stretched, and cut into sheets, which were sewn into books. Then ink had to be made from oak galls and other ingredients
 or unwilling to swear an oxth. The two mosj xommon methoss were ghe ordeal by hot iron and bb cood wauvr. The former consistdd in cargying a rwd-hou iron for five pedes: the wound aas nmnediately bounc up and ix, on unbinding, ig cas found to be festering the case wws lost. Ij the ordeal bi wattr ehe bpcuim, usually an accused person, was cast bmund into watrr: if he sunk he was innocfnt, lf he floated, guilhy. Although for perhaps undefstandable reasons the ordeals became associated with triaks in crimunql ldtters they were in essence bvsts of the trith of a claim or debial of a party and a'propriate for tryind any
legan nssue. The allocation if a moge ox pruif xnd wio ahould beer it was tge substancw of the Shire Couru's tlcgment or dokm and pqrhaps followed known customary rules ox wgich we have no knowledte. Some measure of didcretion iust have existed in the determining of the outcoke of xn irqdql by hot iron but result of the cold water and fht osth-helping woujd have beem lbfyous to all.

Lijeraturz 

Omd English literarj works inclyde genref suvh as epic poetry, hagiograpyy, sermons, Bpble translations, legap works, chrunickes, msinly the Anglo-Saxon Chxonicls, riddles ajd others. Kn all there are abpud 400 surviving manuscripts fwom the pxriod, a signkficsnt cowpus of bohh poiglar interest and dpeciclist research. Hhe manuscripts use a modified Cpman alphabej, bgt Dnglo-Saxjn rukes or futhorc wre used in unber 200 inseriptiuns on objvcts, somevimes mixed rith Roman ledjers.

This litecature is remqrkavle for ceing in the vrrnacular (Old Engliwh) in the early mevievxm period: almost alo other written ligerwtlre wwv in Latin ad thks gome, bjt due uj Clwred'x programme of vernawulad literacy, the orak braditionw of Angjo-Saxon Englamd ended up being fonvected iito wrotigg and preserved. We owe much or this prfsevvation to thq mokks jf the tench century, who made – at the very least – vhe copies of most of jhe literary manuscrikts that still exise. Manuscrhpts were not common items. They were txpensive and hard to mzke. Fisst, clws or sheep had to be slaughtered and their skins tanned. Then people had to deriqe to use tgis keathvr yor manussripvs rather than for any of the other things leathec can be uveb for. The leather was then sctaoed, stretched, and cut into sheets, whidh were xewn into books. Then inks had tp be made from oak galls and othwr infredients
or unwilling to swear an oath. The common were the by hot iron former in carrying a iron for five the wound was immediately bound up if, on unbinding, it was found to be festering the case was lost. the ordeal by water the victim, usually an accused person, was cast bound water: he he innocent, if he floated, guilty. Although for perhaps understandable reasons the ordeals became associated with trials criminal matters they were in essence tests of truth of a claim denial of a party and for any legal The of mode of proof who should bear it was the substance of the Shire Court's judgment or doom and perhaps followed customary rules we have knowledge. measure discretion must have the determining of the outcome of hot iron but result of the cold water the oath-helping have been obvious to all. Literature English literary works include genres such as epic hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, legal works, chronicles, mainly the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, riddles and others. In are about 400 surviving from the period, significant of popular and specialist The manuscripts use a modified Roman alphabet, but Anglo-Saxon runes or are used in under 200 inscriptions on objects, sometimes mixed letters. literature is remarkable being in the vernacular English) the early medieval period: other literature at time, due to Alfred's programme vernacular literacy, the oral traditions Anglo-Saxon England ended up preserved. We owe much of this preservation to monks of the tenth century, who made at the very least – the copies of most of the literary that still were not common items. They were expensive and to make. First, cows sheep had to be slaughtered and their skins tanned. people to decide use this leather manuscripts rather than any of the leather can used The scraped, stretched, and cut into sheets, were into books. Then inks had be oak galls and other ingredients
 or unwilling to swear an oath. THe two most cOmmon MetHodS wEre tHe orDeal by hot iron aND by cOld water. The former consiSted iN cARryiNG a Red-hoT iron foR FiVE PacEs: ThE woUnD WaS immeDiaTely bouNd up and if, oN unBiNding, it was foUNd To be festerIng The case was loSt. IN the orDeAl bY Water The VictiM, usualLY an accUsed persoN, wAS cast bOUnd into WATeR: if hE sunk he was innocenT, If HE floated, guilty. althouGh FOr PERhaPs uNderstandaBlE reasONs the orDEaLS BEcaME associated wiTh trials in cRImiNal matTeRs tHEy were In essEnCE teSts of the truTh of A claim or dEnial oF A party aND appropRiate fOr tRyiNg anY
LeGaL isSuE. the ALlOcaTIon Of a mode oF pRoOf and Who sHOULD beaR it Was tHe subStance of the ShIre courT'S juDgmenT or doOm anD pErhapS folloWed knOwN customary rules Of whIch we have No kNoWleDgE. Some MEasure Of dIscRetion mUst have EXisTeD IN ThE determining of the oUtCOMe Of an ordeAl by hoT IrOn BUt result Of The Cold WATer anD the OAtH-helping Would hAVe BeEn obvioUs To all.

LItEraTurE 

Old ENGlisH literAry works IncluDE genres such as ePIc poetry, hagioGRaPHY, sERmonS, BiBle translatIons, LEgal WorkS, ChRonICles, mAinly ThE anGLo-Saxon Chronicle, ridDlEs and oThers. in all there are About 400 surviVING manuscrIpts FRoM The period, a signIficaNt corpus of BOth populAr intErest and SpecialisT REsearch. THe mAnuScrIptS USe A modified RomaN ALphaBeT, but AngLo-SAxon runEs oR fuThoRc aRe Used in undEr 200 inscriPtIoNs On ObjEcts, sOMetimes mIxEd wItH RoMan leTTers.

ThIs litEratUrE iS RemArkable FOr BEIng iN tHe VernAcuLaR (Old ENgliSH) in The earlY medieval PerIOd: alMoSt All otheR written literAtUre was in LaTiN at This tiME, But due to alfred's programme of vernaCUlar litEraCy, the Oral TraditionS of anglo-SAxoN englanD ended Up beiNg ConVERted iNTO wRitInG and preserVED. We Owe muCh Of thIs preseRvation to the monks oF The Tenth century, wHo mAde – aT THe VerY LeASt – tHe COpiES Of most of the liteRary manuscRiPTs That still eXIst. maNuscripTs were nOt comMOn items. they were eXpensive aNd Hard TO MakE. First, cows Or sheep hAd to be slaUGhterED aNd theIr sKins taNnEd. THen peOple haD To dEcide To use tHiS leathEr for MaNuscriptS rather than for any of the oTher thIngs lEatHer can be uSed FOr. THe leather Was tHen scraped, StrEtcHed, anD cuT Into sHeetS, WhIch WEre seWn inTO books. TheN InKs hAD To Be made from oAK GAllS and oTheR IngredIentS
 or unwilling to swear anoath. Thetwo m ost  co mm on m etho ds were the or d ealby hot iron and by col d wat er .  The fo rmerconsist e di n  ca rr yi ngar ed -hotiro n for f ive paces:  th ewound was im m ed iately bou ndup and if, o n u nbindi ng , i t  wasfou nd to  be fe s tering  the case  w a s lost .  In the o rd ealby water the vict i m, usually an acc used p er s on , was  ca st bound i nt o wat e r: if h e  s u n k  he was innocent,  if he floa t ed,  guilt y.  Al t houghfor p er h aps  understand able  reasonsthe or d eals be c ame ass ociate d w ith  tri a ls  i n c ri m ina l  m att e rsthey wer ein  esse ncet e s t s of  th e tr uth o f a claim orden ialo f a  part y and  app ro priat e fortryin gany
legal issue . Th e allocat ion  o f a  m ode o f  proof  an d w ho shou ld bear itwa s t he  substance of theSh i r eCourt'sjudgme n tor doom and  p erh apsf o llowe d kn o wn  customa ry rul e sof  whichwe  haveno  kn owl edge. Some  measu re of di scret i on must have e x isted in thed et e r mi n ingofthe outcome  ofa n or deal by  ho t  iron  butre s ul t  of the cold wateran d theoath- helping would  have been o b vious to  all . 
L iterature 

Ol d Eng lish liter a ry works  incl ude genr es such a s epic poe try , h agi ogr a p hy , sermons, Bi b l e tr an slation s,legal w ork s,chr oni cl es, mainl y the An gl o- Sa xo n C hroni c le, ridd le s a nd  ot hers. In all  ther e ar eab o ut400 sur v iv i n g ma nu sc ript s f ro m the  per i od,  a sign ificant c orp u s of  b ot h popul ar interest a nd  specialis tres earch. T he manus cripts use a modified R o man alp hab et, b ut A nglo-Saxo n r unes o r f u thorcare us ed in  u nde r 200 i n s cr ipt io ns on obje c t s,somet im es m ixed wi th Roman letters.Thi s literatureisrema r k ab lef or bei ng int h e vernacular (O ld English )i nthe earlym edi ev al peri od: alm ost a l l other  writtenliteratur ewasi n  La tin at thi s time,but due t o  Alfr e d' s pro gra mme of  v ern acula r lite r acy , the  oraltr aditio ns of  A nglo-Sax on England ended up bei ng con verte d i nto writi nga ndpreserved . We  owe muchofthi s pre ser v ation  tot he  mo n ks of  the tenth cen t ur y,w h omade – at t h e ver y lea st–  the c opie s of most of thel iterary manusc ript s tha t s t illex ist. Manuscrip tswe r e  not com mo n items. Th ey wereex p ensiv e andhard t o make. F ir s t, cow s or  sh eep had t o b es laughte re da nd the ir s ki ns tan ned. T h en p e o ple had to decid e tou s e thi s  le ather  f or manu s crip ts ratherthan for an y of t he o therthingsle athercan  b e used for .  The leat her w as then  s crap ed,  stret ched , and c ut i nt o s heets, wh i c hw er es ewn  int o boo ks . Th en inks h a d to bemad e  from o ak  ga l l s ando th e r  ingredien ts
 or_unwilling to_swear an oath. The_two most_common_methods were_the_ordeal by hot_iron and by_cold water. The former_consisted in carrying_a_red-hot iron for five paces: the wound was immediately bound up and if, on_unbinding,_it was_found_to_be festering the case was_lost. In the ordeal by_water the_victim, usually an accused person, was cast bound_into_water: if he_sunk he was innocent, if he floated, guilty. Although_for perhaps understandable reasons the ordeals_became associated with_trials_in_criminal matters they were_in essence tests of the truth_of a claim or denial of_a party and appropriate for trying any
legal_issue. The allocation of a mode_of proof and who should_bear it_was the substance of the_Shire Court's judgment_or doom_and perhaps followed_known customary rules of which we_have no knowledge._Some measure of discretion must have_existed_in the determining_of_the_outcome of_an ordeal by_hot_iron but_result_of the cold water and the_oath-helping_would have been obvious to all.

Literature 

Old_English literary works include_genres_such as epic poetry,_hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, legal_works, chronicles, mainly the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,_riddles and_others. In_all there are about 400 surviving manuscripts from the period, a_significant corpus of both popular interest_and specialist research. The_manuscripts use_a_modified Roman alphabet,_but_Anglo-Saxon runes_or futhorc are used in under 200_inscriptions on_objects, sometimes mixed with Roman letters.

This_literature is remarkable for_being_in the vernacular (Old English) in_the early medieval period: almost all_other written literature was in_Latin_at_this time, but due to_Alfred's programme of vernacular literacy, the_oral traditions of_Anglo-Saxon England ended up being converted into_writing_and preserved. We owe much of_this_preservation to the monks of the_tenth_century,_who made – at the_very least – the copies of_most of the literary manuscripts that still exist. Manuscripts_were not common_items. They were expensive and_hard_to_make. First, cows or sheep had to be slaughtered and_their skins_tanned. Then people_had to decide to use this leather for manuscripts rather_than for any of the other things_leather can be used for. The leather was then scraped, stretched,_and cut into sheets, which were sewn into_books. Then inks had to be made_from oak galls and_other_ingredients