The tests had been phased out with the coming of Common Law, but The Church took Robert the Newcomer’s case and prepared a trial by cold water. Some argued that he was freeman so trial by fire would have been more appropriate, but nobody argued that a trial of God’s will was better in this case than using the King’s Justice. Not only was Robert a relative stranger to the parish, thus called “the Newcomer”, but all agreed that he had behaved in the most peculiar ways. Several witnesses claimed that he had performed black magic.

Unfortunately, the trial by water did not go as planned. Robert immediately sank out of sight, thus proving his innocence, yet when they went to retrieve him before he could drown, he could not be found. Assuming he had drowned, they dredged the water, yet no body was found. They searched for days, but came up empty handed. An appeal was sent to the archbishop who proclaimed Robert the Newcomer guilty of witchcraft and stated that Satan himself must have retrieved his servant rather than have his guilt proven by floating on the cold waters.

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