Very rarely acquittal by compurgation, that is by oath of the accused supported by the oaths of a number of persons that they believed he was telling the truth, was allowed.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Age of the Reformation] Reference

"compurgation" cease wholly till Queen Mary's reign.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Short History of Scotland] Reference

Accused persons cleared themselves by compurgation, or underwent penalties.    From Wordnik.com.  [Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ripon A Short History of the Church and a Description of Its Fabric] Reference

For civil suits there was a provision against 'wager of battle,' and the accused again cleared themselves by compurgation.    From Wordnik.com.  [Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ripon A Short History of the Church and a Description of Its Fabric] Reference

And this he did by the transcription of both the debts of Onesimus unto himself; for the crime was of that nature as might be taken away by compurgation, being not capital.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Doctrine of Justification by Faith] Reference

He was then attached either by pledges or by imprisonment; and the Justices held a very strict and careful inquisition into the case, as the result of which the accused might be wholly absolved, or he might be compelled to resort to compurgation.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Customs of Old England] Reference

For details of procedure we may glance at the very full accounts preserved in the records of the City of London, where there were in operation three sorts or forms of compurgation, by which persons appealed, impleaded, and accused might obtain acquittal.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Customs of Old England] Reference

But experience having shown that this method of trial was tumultuary and uncertain, they corrected it by the idea of compurgation.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 07 (of 12)] Reference

+ The Arabs, in their efforts to supersede blood revenge, tried compurgation, tribunals, payments in composition, banishment, and arbitration.    From Wordnik.com.  [Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals] Reference

Sometimes the court decided offhand, sometimes compurgation was allowed immediately or on the next day, sometimes juries were formed and gave decisions.    From Wordnik.com.  [An Introduction to the Industrial and Social History of England] Reference

On the other hand, fines were to be assessed according to local custom; compurgation was retained for unimportant cases and inheritances were to remain divisible among all heirs male.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06 (From Barbarossa to Dante)] Reference

Though connected with the White-Cap affair by which Alfred lost his eyesight and his life, he proved an alibi, or spasmodic paresis, or something, and, having stood a compurgation and "ordeal" trial, was released.    From Wordnik.com.  [Comic History of England] Reference

` ` Mr. Morris was kindly afeared of committing a stranger into collision wi the judicial forms of the country; but as I understand my evidence is necessary to the compurgation of one honest gentleman here, Mr. Francis Osbaldistone, wha has been most unjustly suspected, I will dispense with the precaution.    From Wordnik.com.  [Rob Roy] Reference

A voluntary process of compurgation -- that is, by the sworn testimony of reputable friends.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Customs of Old England] Reference

“Ah! I conceive — I conceive,” replied Mr. Campbell; — “Mr. Morris was kindly afeared of committing a stranger into collision wi’ the judicial forms of the country; but as I understand my evidence is necessary to the compurgation of one honest gentleman here, Mr. Francis Osbaldistone, wha has been most unjustly suspected, I will dispense with the precaution.    From Wordnik.com.  [Rob Roy] Reference

117; surrenders to Æthelflæd, 118; condition under its earls, 297; regains right of compurgation, 313-315; stormed by Charles I., vi.    From Wordnik.com.  [History of the English People, Index] Reference

"Ah! I conceive -- I conceive," replied Mr. Campbell; -- "Mr. Morris was kindly afeared of committing a stranger into collision wi 'the judicial forms of the country; but as I understand my evidence is necessary to the compurgation of one honest gentleman here, Mr. Francis Osbaldistone, wha has been most unjustly suspected, I will dispense with the precaution.    From Wordnik.com.  [Rob Roy — Volume 01] Reference

By oath and compurgation from the charge.    From Wordnik.com.  [Queen Mary and Harold] Reference

Another ordeal was expurgation or compurgation.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Humbugs of the World An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages] Reference