"Robbing Peter to Pay Paul."
This saying has its origin in the rivalry between St. Peter's Cathedral (now Westminster Abbey) and St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
In 1550 an appropriation was made from St. Peter's to make up a deficiency in the accounts of St. Paul's.
This action met with much opposition, the people saying, "Why rob St. Peter to pay St. Paul?"
The proverb was afterwards revived upon the death of William Pitt (Earl Chatham) in 1778. Each of the metropolitan cemeteries laid claim to the honor of his burial. The city of London argued that so great a statesman as William Pitt should be buried in St. Paul's; while Parliament took the ground that the dust of so great a man as he should come near to the dust of kings, and that not to bury him in Westminster Abbey would again be "robbing St. Peter to pay St. Paul."
William Pitt the elder was called the "Great Commoner of England," but afterwards forfeited the title when he was made Earl of Chatham.