Were an ancient levy, or tax, of a penny on each house throughout
England, paid to the Pope. It was called _Peter-pence_ because
collected on the day of _St. Peter ad vincula_. By the Saxons it
was called _Rome-feoh_--_i.e._ the fee of Rome; and also _Rome-scot_,
and _Rome-pennying_, because collected and sent to Rome;--and lastly,
it was called _Hearth-money_, because every dwelling-house was liable
to it, provided there were thirty-pence _vivæ pecuniæ_ belonging to
it;--nay, and every religious house, the Abbey of St. Alban's alone
excepted.
This Peter-pence was at first given as a pension, or alms, by Ina, king
of the West Saxons, in the year 727, being then in pilgrimage at Rome;
and the like was done by Offa, king of the Mercians, throughout his
dominions, in 794; and afterwards by Ethelwulph, through the whole
kingdom, in the year 855.
It was not intended as a tribute to the Pope, but chiefly for the
support of the English school, or college, at Rome. The popes, however,
shared it with the college, and at length found means, to appropriate
it to themselves.
At first it was only an occasional contribution; but it became at last a
standing tax, being established by the laws of King Canute, Edward the
Confessor, the Conqueror, &c. The bishops, who were charged with the
collecting it, employed the rural deans and archdeacons therein.
Edward III. first forbade the payment; but it soon after returned, and
continued till the time of Henry VIII., when Polydore Virgil resided
here as the Pope's receiver general. It was abolished under that prince,
and restored again under Philip and Mary; but it was finally prohibited
under Queen Elizabeth.