FIRST FRUITS

First fruits: translation

Latin word for this term is annates. This gratuity was paid by the new holder of an ecclesiastical post to his superior, which was ultimately the pope. Such offices were lucrative and these monies amounted to the annual revenue of the *benefice or see in question. These payments, which appeared in the 11c, were first made only to bishops and abbots; however, from the 14c popes also began to receive them. This closely resembled *simony, which was at times rampant, though severely and universally deprecated by the Church.