_Purlet._--Nelson, and the subsequent historians of Islington, relate a
marvellous story on the authority of _Purlet de Mir. Nat._ x. c. iv.:
"And as to the same heavings, or _tremblements de terre_, it is sayde,
y^t in a certaine fielde neare unto y^e parish church of Islingtoun, in
like manner, did take place a wondrous commotion in uarious partes, y^e
earthe swellinge, and turninge uppe euery side towards y^e midst of y^e
sayde fielde; and, by tradycion of this, it is obserued y^t one Richard
de Clouesley lay buryed in or neare y^t place, and y^t his bodie being
restles, on y^e score of some sinne by him peraduenture committed, did
shewe or seeme to signifye y^t religious obseruance should there take
place, to quiet his departed spirit; whereupon certaine exorcisers, if
wee may so term y^m, did at dede of night, nothing lothe, using divers
diuine exercises at torche light, set at rest y^e unrulie spirit of y^e
shade Clouesley, and y^e earthe did returne aneare to its pristine
shape, neuermore commotion procedeing therefrom to this day, and this I
know of a verie certaintie."--Nelson's _Islington_, 4to. 1811, p. 305.,
or 8vo. 1823, p. 293.
The spelling of this extract seems at least as old as the time of
Cloudesley's death (1517), although it would appear to be a translation;
and though the exorcism is apparently spoken of as having taken place long
before the time of the writer. From these and other circumstances, I am led
to suspect that Nelson was the victim of cruel hoax, particularly as I am
unable to find any such book as _Purlet de Mir. Nat._ in the British
Museum.
Query, Does any such book exist; and if so, where?