An ancient levy or tax of a penny on each house throughout Eng-Iand, paid to the pope. It was called “Peter-pence,” because collected on the day of St. Peter, ad vincula; by tbe Saxons it was called “Rome-feoh,” “Rome-scot,” and “Rome-pennying,” because collected and sent to Rome; and, lastly, it was called “hearth money,” because every dwelllng-house was liable to lt, and every religious house, the abbey of St Albans alone excepted, whar-ton
Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
