The first of these in the middle of the second century was drawn up, as far as Eleutherius, A.D. 177-90 by Hegesippus, a Hebrew Christian. Eusebius is our authority for this. This list, however, has not come down to us. It is, however, probable that it was the basis, as far as it went, of the list drawn up by Irenæus circa A.D. 180-90. This is the earliest catalogue of the Roman Bishops which we possess. Irenæus, after stating that the Roman Church was founded by the Apostles Peter and Paul, adds that they entrusted the office of the Episcopate to Linus.
In the Armenian version of the Chronicles of Eusebius, the only version in which we possess this Eusebian Chronicle, Peter appears at the head of the list of Roman Bishops, and twenty years is given as the duration of his government of the Church. Linus is stated to have been his successor. In the list of S. Jerome a similar order is preserved—with the slight difference of twenty-five years instead of twenty as the duration of S. Peter's rule. The deduction which naturally follows these entries in the two lists has been already suggested. The Liberian Catalogue, compiled circa A.D. 354, places S. Peter at the head of the Roman Bishops—giving twenty-five years as the duration of his government. Linus follows here.
The Liberian Catalogue was the basis of the great historical work now generally known as the "Liber Pontificalis," which in its notices of the early Popes embodies the whole of the Liberian Catalogue—only giving fresh details. The "Liber Pontificalis" in its first portion in its present form is traced back to the earlier years of the sixth century.
The traditional notices of the early presence of S. Peter in Rome are many and various. Taken by themselves they are, no doubt, not convincing—some of them ranking as purely legendary—though we recognize even in these "purely legendary" notices an historical foundation; but taken together they constitute an argument of no little weight.
Among the "purely legendary" we have touched upon the memories which hang round the house of Pudens, and the church which in very early times arose on its site.[1] Of far
- ↑ On these memories which belong to the house of Pudens and his family see pp. 262-270.
