Baring-Gould’s sources: All Latin Mart) rologies. Roman Martyrology. Authority ^-The Acts, not however in their original form, but written about A.D. 640. " N< que nos c redim us ea esse prirase notae atque ex Proconsuls ribus Actis desumpta,” says Henschenius, the Bollandist; “sed diu post exornata rhetorico stylo, et circumstantiis sermonum ultro citroque habitorum, fortassis etiam variarum pcenarum. scripta tamen putamus diu ante corporum translationem.”J ||HESE illustrious martyrs were Roman citizens, and lived as pagans till they were converted to the true faith. In the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian they were brought before the emperor, who endeavoured to persuade them to sacrifice. They were sent to Numentura, to the governor Promotus, to be tried. He invited them to offer incense to the gods, “ Let your emperors adore wood and stone,” answered the intrepid martyrs. “ You call these emperors the lords of the earth; we regard them as sacrilegious and impious.” The martyrs were separated, and Primus was sent to prison. Promotus retained Felician and endeavoured to break his constancy by promises. “ I am four-score years (June 9, old,” said Felician, “and thirty of these years have I spent in the service of Christ, and I am ready to die for Him.” The magistrate ordered his hands and feet to be transfixed with nails like the God whom he adored, but his resolution remained unshaken.

Primus was next brought out of prison, and when he stood before the magistrate, he was told that his brother had obeyed the emperors and had sacrificed. But Primus answered boldly,1 “In vain do you attempt to deceive me. I know that my brother has not renounced his Lord and God, to adore vain idols.”

Promotus seeing that his artifice was useless, ordered the martyr to be beaten, and his sides burned with torches. As he suffered, Primus chanted the words of the Psalmist, “Thouf O God, hast proved us, Thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried; Thou broughtest us into the snare, and laidest trouble upon our loins; Thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and water, and Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” (Ps. lxv., A. v. lxvi. 9-1 1.) The judge, more angry than before, sent for Felician, that he might witness the last agonies to which he was about to subject his brother. When he was brought in, Promotus ordered molten lead to be poured down the throat of Primus. As the liquid metal was brought to him, he looked at the judge, and pointing to his brother said, “ This is he whom thou didst say had renounced his faith; but God will give us grace to die together in the same confession, that we may rejoicing enter into life together.”

The magistrate at length, weary of torturing the brothers, 1 The Acts s ay that he had already been informed by an angel that his brother had remained constant. But the Bollandlsts say. “ These appearances of angels are excessively common in Acts written long after the events recorded; norcan it be doubted bat that they, along with the words used on either side, have q^n composed out of his own imagination by the author.” Jane 9.] S'. Pelagia.

bade that their heads should be struck off Their bodies were laid in the catacomb on the Numentine Way, and are now in the church of S. Stephen at Rome.