_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.