Peter's pence

An ancient levy or tax of a penny oil each house' throughout England paid to the pope. It was called Peter’s Pence because collected on the day of St. Peter, ad vincula; by the Saxons it was called Romc-feoh, Rome-scot, and Rome-penny ing, because collected and sent to Rome; and lastly, it was called hearth money, because every dwelling-house was liable to it, and every religious house, the abbey of St. Albans alone excepted. It had its origin with the Mercian king Offa, who by a liberal tribute to Rome procured a new bishopric for Lichfield. It goes back to the tenth century. Stubbs, Const. Hist, of England. I PETIT (sometimes corrupted Into petty). A French word signifying little, small. It is frequently used: as, petit larceny, petit jury, petit treason ( q. v.).

A tax of a peony on formerly paid the Pope.