Story referred to by Jeremy Taylor (Vol. iv., p. 326.).
—Unless the Legenda Aurea be prior in date to the twelfth century, I can refer your correspondent to a still earlier authority for the tale in question—Wace (Life of St. Nicholas), in whose pages it appears more at length, but substantially the same.
According to (I presume) the earlier historian, the case was brought within the jurisdiction of St. Nicholas by the "ieueu" receiving an image of the saint in pledge, and the debtor taking his expurgatory oath thereon.
The story is told of a saint who lived in the fourth century, and we may, at all events, consider it as being much older than Wace himself.
F. I.
Share of Presbyters in Ordination (Vol. iv., p. 273.).
—As a contribution towards answering MR. GATTY'S question, I send the following extract from Hooker:
"Here it will perhaps be objected, that the power of ordination itself was not everywhere peculiar and proper unto bishops, as may be seen by a council of Carthage, which showeth their church's order to have been, that presbyters should, together with the bishop, lay hands upon the ordained. But doth it therefore follow that the power of ordination was not principally and originally in the bishop?... With us, even at this day, presbyters are licensed to do as much as that council speaketh of, if any be present."—Eccl. Pol. b. vii, c. vi. 5. vol. iii. pp. 207-8. ed. Keble, 1836.
J. C. R.