Peter to pay Paul

[RevMAH]

Where does the expression "robbing Peter to pay Paul" come from?

[Peter Pedant]

It's a family saying from long ago, and I have to say I am very very poor, and my brother Paulie, is rich.

[spacechimp]

Robbing Peter to pay Paul On December 17th, 1550, the abbey church of St. Peter, Westminster, was advanced to the dignity of a cathedral by letters patent; but ten years later it was joined to the diocese of London again, and many of its estates appropriated to the repairs of St. Paul's Cathedral. (Winkle: Cathedrals.)


�Tanquam siquis crucifigeret Paulum ut redimeret Petrum.� (Twelfth century.)
�It was not desirable to rob St. Peter's altar in order to build one to St. Paul.�- Viglius: Com. Dec. Denarii, i. 9 (1569).

Source: http://www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/data/1061.html

[spacechimp]

I'm not quite sure how that's relevant.