The answer made by a prisoner, when arraigned, in answer to the question, “How will you be tried?” In the ancient practice he had the choice (as appears by the question) whether to submit to the trial by ordeal (by God) or to be tried by a Jury, (by the country;) and U is probable that the original form of the answer was, “By God or my country,” whereby the prisoner averred his innocence by declining neither of the modes of trial.