John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
132 John Heywood 1497?-1580? John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 132 |
| AUTHOR: | John Heywood (1497?–1580?) |
| QUOTATION: | To robbe Peter and pay Poule. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| Note 1. To rob Peter and pay Paul is said to have derived its origin when, in the reign of Edward VI., the lands of St. Peter at Westminster were appropriated to raise money for the repair of St. Paul’s in London. [back] |