Legal Definitions - heordpenny

Heordpenny is an archaic term referring to an annual payment made by households in various European countries to the Holy See (the Pope). It is an alternative name for what is more commonly known as Peter's Pence or Rome-scot.

Historically, the heordpenny originated in England, traditionally attributed to King Offa of Mercia in the 8th century. It began as a voluntary offering but later evolved into a compulsory tax collected from every household, typically around St. Peter's Day (June 29th). This payment served as a significant source of income for the papacy for centuries, though its collection and enforcement varied across different regions and periods, eventually being abolished or transformed in many places.

• Example 1: Medieval Household Obligation

  Imagine a farming family living in a small English village in the year 1150. Each summer, the local parish priest or a designated collector would visit their home to collect the annual heordpenny. This small sum, often a single silver penny, was a recognized obligation to the Pope in Rome, distinct from the tithes paid to their local church. Failure to pay could result in ecclesiastical penalties.

  This example illustrates the heordpenny as a direct, annual financial contribution expected from individual households, demonstrating its nature as a papal tax during the medieval period.

• Example 2: Ecclesiastical Administration

  A historian studying 13th-century church records might find detailed accounts from a diocese outlining the collection of various dues. Among these entries, there would be specific notations for the "heordpenny" received from each deanery or parish. These records would often specify the amounts collected and sometimes even list households that were delinquent in their payments, highlighting its importance as a regular income stream for the papacy.

  This example shows the heordpenny as an item of administrative and financial significance within the historical church structure, reinforcing its status as a systematic payment to the Holy See.

• Example 3: Political and Religious Reform

  During the English Reformation in the 16th century, King Henry VIII's government enacted a series of statutes aimed at severing financial ties with Rome. While the Act in Restraint of Annates (1534) primarily targeted first fruits, the broader legislative changes effectively ended all payments to the Pope from England, including the long-standing collection of the heordpenny. This marked a significant shift in the relationship between the English Crown and the papacy.

  This example demonstrates how the heordpenny, as a papal due, was subject to major political and religious reforms, illustrating its historical context as a payment that could be legally abolished by national authorities.