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LEFT PETEB'S PENCE 208 PETITIOIT E. to Fort Bross, a distance of 23 miles. One of the best-known engagements was that of the old crater, to the E. of the city, on Griffith's farm, where a small museum of war relics is exhibited. Pop. (1910) 24,127; (1920) 31,002. PETER'S PENCE, a tax of a penny on each house throughout England, which commenced in Saxon times as an occa- sional voluntary contribution, but was finally established as a legal tax under Canute, Edward the Confessor, and Wil- liam the Conqueror. From being sent to Rome it was called by the Saxons rome-feoh, rome-scot and rome-penny- ing. The name Peter's pence arose from its being collected on St. Peter's Day. From being levied on every private and every religious house, the Abbey of St. Albans only excepted, it was called also hearth money. At first it was used chiefly for the support of an English college at Rome, then the Pope shared the gift with the college, and finally ap- Eropriated the whole. Edward III. for- ade its being paid; but it was soon re- stored. An act of Henry VIII., passed in 1534, swept it away. A voluntary contribution was raised among Catholics, and sent to the Pope for his private use. PETER THE CRTTEL, King of Castile and Leon; born in 1334; succeeded his father, Alfonso XI., in 1350. His reign was one long series of cruelties and des- potic acts. The year following his coro- nation he put to death Eleanora de Guz- man, his father's mistress. In 1353 he married, though contrary to his will, Blanche of Bourbon, one of the most ac- complished princesses of the time, whom, however, he abandoned two days after his marriage to rejoin his mistress, Maria Padilla. The queen was impris- oned and divorced. He then married the beautiful Juana de Castro, but only to abandon her after a few months. Two revolts against him were unsuccessful. In 1366, Peter fled, and was dethroned, but he was reinstated the following year by an army lent by Edward the Black Prince. Executions and confiscations helped to swell the ranks of his oppo- nents, of whom the chief was his half-brother Henry of Trastamare. In 1369 Henry gained a signal victory over Peter _ at Montiel, and the latter was slain in a sword combat with his brother in 1369. PETER THE HERMIT, a French gentleman of Amiens, in Picardy, who renounced a military life to embrace that of a pilgrim. At the end of the 11th cen- tury, a general alarm was spread that the last day was approaching; on which numbers of persons flocked to the Holy Land from all countries with a view of ending their days near the holy sepul- cher. Peter was of the number, and on his return to Europe made so pathetic a representation of the state of the Chris- tians in Palestine to Pope Urban II., that he gave Peter leave to preach up the necessity of a crusade throughout Chris- tendom. The appearance, zeal, and elo- quence of the hermit, produced a prodi- gious effect, and all ranks and ages, of both sexes, pressed eagerly into the serv- ice. With a motley army, estimated at 100,000 men, Peter passed through Hun- gary. In his absence, his followers at- tacked Solyman's army at Nicea, and all, except a few thousands, perished. Peter remained in Palestine, and was at the siege of Antioch in 1097; but on his attempting to make his escape, shortly afterward, was brought back, and com- pelled to take a new oath of fidelity and obedience to the holy cause. Two years later he was present at the siege of Jeru- salem, where he displayed great bravery, and when the place was taken, was made vicar-general. Peter, on his return to France, founded the abbey of Neufmou- stier, at Huy, in Liege, where he died in 1115. PETER WARDEIN, one of the strong- est fortresses in Austria; situated in a marshy, unhealthy locality on the right bank of the Danube; 44 miles N. W. of Belgrade; and connected with Neusatz opposite by a bridge of boats. The for- tress was held by the Turks from 1526 to 1687. In 1688 the fortifications were blown up by the imperialists, and the town was soon after burned to the ground by the Turks ; but at the peace of Passa- rowitz (1718) it remained in the posses- sion of the emperor. Here, on Aug. 10, 1716, Prince Eugene obtained a great victory over the Grand Vizier Ali. The Hungarians were compelled to surrender the fortress to the Austrians in Septem- ber, 1849. PETIOLE, the leaf stalk of a plant, the part connecting the blade with the stem. It is generally half cylindrical, often channeled above, but in some mono- cotyledons it is cylindrical, and in others it is a sheath. PETITION, an entreaty, a request, a supplication, a prayer; a solemn, earnest, or formal prayer of entreaty addressed to the Supreme Being, or to a superior in rank and power. A single article, or several, in a prayer; as, the several peti- tions of the Lord's Prayer. A formal written request or application made to one vested with authority, or to a legis- lative or administrative body, soliciting a favor, grant, right, or act of mercy. The paper or document containing such request or application; especially applied