ON SAINT CRISPOLUS, MARTYR IN SPAIN.
DISQUISITION.
On his distinction from another synonymous one, who suffered at Rome.
Crispolus, Martyr in Spain (S.)
G. H.
He is constantly attributed to Spain: Three ancient apographs of the aforesaid Hieronymian Martyrology, the Corbie printed at Paris, the Lucensian also printed at Lucca, and the Blumian, have these things on this June X: In Spain of Crispolus. In the most ancient Epternach; likewise the Mss. of Richenovia and Rhinovia,
In Spain of Crispolus. And these in the said ancient Martyrologies. Others are venerated besides this Martyr on the following day XI June; Crispolus and his companion Restitutus, to whom Restitutus is wrongly added, and they are said to have suffered at Rome, in the same and other older Mss.; but these on this day translated from others, I know not what confusion of places they have brought. The first of them was Rabanus, with these words: In Spain of Crispolus, Restitutus. The author of the Martyrology has followed, thrust forth under the name of Bede, with the same words: In Spain of Chrispulus, Restitutus. But to this pseudo-Bede's authority Baronius attributing too much, inscribed the same two in the Roman Martyrology, with these words: In Spain of the holy Martyrs Crispulus and Restitutus. together with another Crispolus who suffered at Rome on June 11, And in his Notes adds: Bede likewise treats of these on this day. But Ado on the following day. But in the Appendix of Ado, in Mosander and Rosweyde, on XI June, it reads thus: The birthday of SS. Basilla and Basilissa, and of SS. Crispolus and Restitutus, without any mention of Spain: and these are Roman Martyrs. The foundation therefore for ascribing both to Spain is in Rabanus; truly through the bare oscitation (as we judge) of the copyists. For in the Trier Ms. of S. Maximinus, in which generally the Martyrology of Rabanus is described, it is had thus on this X June: At Rome of Crispolus, Restitutus. And in a similar way easily in twelve ancient Mss. on the following day they are attributed to Rome: which we follow, but without any prejudice to those thinking otherwise.
[2] These things being established we are compelled to correct what we said on April XII among the Passed Over, and these are they: SS. Crispulus and Restitutus, not in Spain; suffered under Nero in the Tudensian tract at Aquae-Celanae, are referred in the Martyrology of Piacenza, in Prudentius Sandoval in the Tudensian History fol. 17, and from him in Tamayus Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology: whom against this, with Sandovallio, we judge to be rather the same, who are venerated in the Roman Martyrology on X June. Thus we then: but now, the whole matter discussed, we give to the Spanish only Crispolus, and from this we distinguish Crispolus and Restitutus who suffered at Rome on XI June, as we shall show at this day. But that we should believe two others, where meanwhile recently invented Acts of both. also called by the names of Crispulus and Restitutus, suffered under Nero, in the Tudensian tract on the day XII April; we are not moved by the Placentine Martyrology alone, which we have seen only in Sandovallius. For the words, cited by Sandovallius, as if proper to Bede, are these: In Spain holy Crispulus and Restitutus suffered under Nero. But the genuine Martyrology of Bede, edited by us before the second Volume of March, is vacant (as we have already said) on the day X June, and in the other supposed under the name of Bede, these things as we have said above, are only had: In Spain of Chrispulus, Restitutus. Meanwhile Tamayus Salazar, on this day, is not content with the single Crispulus: but adds to him Restitutus, and deduces the Acts of martyrdom from Dexter, and cites others, more recent than the fabricator of Dexter, who all confirm their statements by the authority of Bede, already above rejected. What long disputations Tamayus there weaves, the reader will find in himself, and as he is affected will determine concerning these; we have no leisure to fight with the shades of that Pseudo-Dexter: among whom Georgius Cardosus, in the Hagiology of Lusitania having followed Dexter, ought also to be reckoned.
ON SAINT ZACHARIAS,
MARTYR AT NICOMEDIA.
Notice from ancient Martyrologies.
Zacharias, Martyr at Nicomedia (S.)
G. H.
We proceed with the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, in which these things are read: At Nicomedia the birthday of S. Zacharias, and indeed a Martyr, as is added in the Corbie apograph. In the Blumian is written the name of Macharias, as in the Liege Ms. of S. Lambert. But Zacharias is retained in the older other Mss. of Richenovia, Cassino, Altempsianum, Barberini, and another which Holstenius published of the Queen of Sweden; likewise in Rabanus, Usuardus, Notker and other later ones, with today's Roman Martyrology: from which we are secure concerning the ancient veneration. Would that the Acts of martyrdom also were extant!