ON ST. PRIMITIVUS, MARTYR,
AT ROME.
From the Hieronymian codices.
CommentaryPrimitivus, Martyr, at Rome (S.)
J. B. S.
That the little tablets of the Hieronymian codices on this day ought to be recognized as dislocated, has already been said in more than one place: here treatment is made of St. Primitivus the martyr, in the Blume and Lucca ones badly joined to the Martyrs of Milan, Nabor and Felix; worse, banished by the Corbie one into Sicily, with some companion Julius, who, whence they came there I know not: In Sicily, the birthday of Nabor, Felix, Primitivus, Julius. Those various transpositions of the codices, whether major or minor, being omitted, the most ancient Epternach copy distinguished the matter more clearly; rightly ascribing Nabor and Felix to Milan: At Milan, of Nabor and Felix. Then indeed: At Rome, of Primitivus; for which the Blume one wrongly reads Privitivus. The authority of the purer codex alone sufficiently vindicates the name and location; nor need one recur to the supplements of Bede or Usuard, in which either the same or a greater confusion of the whole little tablet will be found.