Peter's Pence
a tax of a penny on each house throughout England, which commenced in Saxon times as an occasional voluntary contribution, but was finally established as a legal tax under Canute, Edward the Confessor, and William the Conqueror. From being sent to Rome it was called by the Saxons rome-feoh, rome-scot and rome-pennying. The name Peter's pence arose from its being collected on St. Peter's Day.
From being levied on every private and every religious house, the Abbey of St.
Albans only excepted, it was called also hearth money. At first it was used chiefly for the support of an English college at Rome, then the Pope shared the gift with the college, and finally appropriated the whole. Edward III. forbade its being paid; but it was soon restored. An act of Henry VIII., passed in 1534, swept it away. A voluntary contribution was raised among Catholics, and sent to the Pope for his private use.