Legal Definitions - peter-pence

Definition: Peter-pence was a tax that was collected on St. Peter's Day from each house in England and paid to the Pope. It was also known as hearth money.

Example: In medieval England, every household had to pay a small amount of money to the Pope on St. Peter's Day. This tax was called peter-pence.

Explanation: The example illustrates how peter-pence was a tax that was collected from each household in England on a specific day. The tax was paid to the Pope and was a way for the English to show their loyalty to the Catholic Church.