CYCLOPS

"Lady Godiva," (U12.197)

Lady Godiva or Godgifu (ca 990 - 1067) was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman and the wife of Leofric (968 - 1057) in Coventry, England. According to legend, the people of Coventry were heavily taxed by Leofric and asked Lady Godiva to intercede in their favor. Lady Godiva repeatedly appealed to her husband in vain. At last, weary of her entreaties, Leofric said he would grant her request if she would ride her horse naked through the streets of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word, and rode clothed only in her long hair. In respectful gratitude, the townspeople kept within doors and shut their windows (save a tailor, later known as Peeping Tom, who got struck with blindness). Leofric kept his word and abolished the onerous taxes.