Peter's pence (или penny)

They would go to the stake if that were the alternative to paying Peter's Pence to the Scarlet Woman. (B. Shaw, ‘The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism’, ch. 74) — Протестанты предпочли бы сгореть заживо на костре, чем платить лепту св. Петра в папскую казну.