Final answer:
A person thrown into a lake for trial refers to the medieval practice of 'trial by water' to determine guilt or innocence. Other ordeals included trial by fire and trial by combat, and there were many other types of medieval punishments and tortures.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person is thrown into a lake as part of a trial, it usually refers to the historical practice known as trial by water. This practice was one of the judicial methods used in the medieval period to determine guilt or innocence. Trial by fire was another form of ordeal where the accused was made to hold or walk over hot items. Trial by combat was a method where the accused fought in a duel to determine their innocence or guilt. These trials were based on the belief that divine intervention would reveal the truth of the accused's innocence or guilt. Other types of medieval punishments and tortures also existed, which were often cruel and inhumane.