Próba zimnej wody (pławienie) w procesach o czary we wczesnonowożytnej Europie
A cold water ordeal in witchcraft cases in early modern Europe

Summary/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.

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