| 释义 |
ˈPeter-ˌpenny, Peter's penny
Usu. in pl. ˈPeter-ˌpence, Peter's pence.
[f. Peter n.1 (in reference to the claim of the see of Rome to the patrimony of St. Peter) + penny.]
1. Hist. An annual tax or tribute of a penny from each householder having land of a certain value, paid before the Reformation to the papal see at Rome; also, a similar tribute paid by several northern lands.
The institution of Peter's pence has been attributed to Ine king of Wessex, 688–728, and to Offa king of Mercia, 755–94. It is mentioned as due by ancient law in a (Latin) letter of Canute in 1031. It was discontinued by statute in 1534.
c1205Lay. 31964 Inne wes þe uormeste mon Þe Peteres peni bigon. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10139 Fram rome he broȝte and heste þat me here nome Petres peni of ech hous þat smoke out of come. [Cf. 9720 Peires panes þat me gadereþ manion.] c1380Antecrist in Todd Three Treat. Wyclif. (1851) 147 Antecrist makiþ hise [priests] knowen..bi peterpens gederynge. a1491J. Rous Hist. Reg. Angl. (1716) 72 Denarius Petri, Anglice Petir pens, vel Romscot. 1535Coverdale Bible Ded., I passe ouer his pestilent pykynge of Peter pens out of youre realme. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lxvi. (1739) 148 The Roman Tribute of Peter-pence was allowed by the Conqueror's Law to the Bishops Court. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 183 Every one who shall have thirty pence of current money in his house, of his own property..shall pay a Peter-penny. 1747Carte Hist. Eng. I. 274 Being paid at the rate of a penny by every family that had thirty pence annual rent in land, every year on the first of August, the feast of St. Peter ad vincula, [it] was thence called Peter-pence. 1882Encycl. Brit. XIV. 668/1 Linköping..it was at a council held in this town in 1153 that the payment of Peter's pence was agreed to at the instigation of Nicholas Breakspeare.
2. Applied to the voluntary contributions of Roman Catholic peoples to the papal treasury since 1860.
1884Times (weekly ed.) 26 Sept. 12/1 The more ignorant believers who were asked to contribute to Peter's Pence. 1902Encycl. Brit. XXV. 483/2 He [Antonelli, 1870] obtained from the Italians payment of the Peter's pence (5,000,000 lire) remaining in the papal exchequer. |