Lady Godiva is a key figure in the history of Coventry, a city in England. She was a rich landowner and the Countess of Mercia. She spent her time helping churches and monasteries.

Lady Godiva was the beautiful wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. Leofric was one of the powerful Lords who ruled England under Canute the Great (Knud den Store), who was the king of Denmark, Norway, and England.

Leofric was a tough tyrant who tended to state matters of the kingdom. He demanded that the people of Coventry should pay a high tax called ”Heregeld”, a sort of army tax that would leave them in debt. This tax would pay for King Canute’s bodyguards, and Leofric was an eager collector, who made sure that the poor people of Coventry paid the tax on time.

According to the legend, the nice Lady Godiva felt pity for the poor people of Coventry. She begged her husband to cancel the taxes, but he refused. At last, however, he promised to remit the taxes if she would ride naked on her horse through town.

Lady Godiva took him at his word, and Leofric commanded hat all persons should stay indoors and shut their windows. Godiva then stripped naked, mounted her horse and rode through the streets, her long hair draped so

that it almost covered her body, allowing only her legs and eyes to be seen.

But one man, the tailor Tom, could not refrain from looking through a small window and immediately he was blinded. Ever after he was remembered as “Peeping Tom”

Leofric kept his promise and reduced people’s debts,

and Lady Godiva was happy.

Today, Lady Godiva is mainly remembered for

her legendary naked ride through Coventry.