Feb 08 2009
Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva is a historical figure, but everything surrounding her fame is more or less legend. She was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, ruling in the English town of Coventry. It appears that she lived between 997 and 1067, although the exact dates are disputed. Both were benefactors of the church and monasteries, but Leofric had no such considerations for his subjects, who suffered from a heavy burden of taxes.
Godiva, taking pity on her subject’s plight, entreated her husband to lower the taxes. But Leofric didn’t want to hear. Godiva persisted and finally, in despair and tired of his wife’s constant urging. Leofric told her, that he was lower the taxes if she rode naked on a horse at noon from one end of the town to the other. he obviously had underestimated his wife’s determination because, according to legend, Godiva did.
The people, who knew about her bravery and generosity, determined that everybody should stay indoors and all windows and doors should be tightlo shut during her ride to protect her modesty. Legend continues, that a tailor, by the name of Tom, couldn’t re
