May 4th 1043
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| Times were hard in the year 1043. England was not yet England but part of the Saxon world and the West Midlands were relatively peaceful thanks to Leofric, Earl of Coventry, who had raised and maintained a strong and disciplined army, dissuasive enough to keep the neighbouring Saxon kings at bay. |
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But this had a price, and on the first of May the Earl had anounced that he would double the taxes.
Any one refusing to pay would be put to death.
Bad weather, poor crops and taxes which were already the highest in the region had put Leofric's people on the brink of famine.
Godiva, the Earl's wife, pleaded for them : "If half of your subjects die, you won't get much taxes either"... An argument which would touch Leofric. Accepting it, however, was harder: "I will lower the taxes, dear, the day you ride through Coventry naked." |
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The next morning, before her husband had the time to express that he had been speaking rhetorically,
Godiva came out of the palace naked, mounted her horse and started her journey across the city. History says that the streets were empty. Everyone had stayed indoors in respect for the Lady's courage. The story also says that one man, Peeping Tom , did look and his name entered the language to describe someone who "peeps" at ladies. Leofric kept his word. He abolished the taxes and founded a monastery where his decision can still be read, engraved on a window pane : "I, Luriche, for love of thee, do make Coventry toll free ." |