Lady Godiva

By Crusader1307

History recounts Godiva as The Duchess of Mercia, who lived from 1066 to 1086 AD. Married to one Leofric (The Duke of Mercia), the two were well known benefactors of The Church during their day, and were well thought of. This made a strange Case as to “why” The Godiva “Legend'' even started. It traces it's origins to the 13th Century, hundreds of years after both of their deaths. The “Story” would become a well known tale of virtue and determination, visited upon for many hundreds of years. As Godiva's “Legend” is told, she was Married to a powerful and somewhat cruel Lord. He made his fortunes by heavily taxing his Subjects. Godiva saw the great suffering and tried repeatedly to remove it, but to no avail. During one of her many arguments with her Husband, Leofric came up with the “bet'' that if his Wife were to ride through Town completely naked (thus shaming her), he would greatly lower his high taxes.

As The Myth goes, Lady Godiva took him at his word. She rode through Town naked using her long hair as a form of modesty covering for “certain areas” of her body. The Townspeople were so honored by her obvious “sacrifice” that none looked upon her. All save a Man named Thomas. He would go down in History as “Peeping Tom''. As the bet was completed, Leofric did indeed lower the taxes. As for the actual bet, many Historian's cite that the practice of being a Penitent did in fact afford the removal of one's clothing, but that one was not altogether naked. Penitents wore a skin tight undergarment (which approximated one's “nakedness''). Many feel that Godiva may have actually completed her “bet” in her Penitent Dress. A practice in the 14th Century, Godiva was seen as a “Fertility” image – often invoked by Common people for help in becoming fertile and producing children. She would also be adopted into The Female version of  ''The Nine Worthies” in The Renaissance Era, as the personification of “Determination”.