THE SCENE: A woman of principles whose heart burned with love of her hometown, Lady Godiva is reported to have stripped naked and ridden through the market square in order to gain tax relief for the town of Coventry.
THE TEXT: The countess Godiva, who was a great lover of God’s mother, longing to free the town of Coventry from the oppression of a heavy toll, often with urgent prayers besought her husband that he would free the town from that service taxation, and from all other heavy burdens. The earl sharply rebuked her for foolishly asking what was so much to his damage, and forbade her ever more to speak to him on the subject. She, on the other hand, never ceased to exasperate her husband on that matter. He at last made her this answer, “Mount your horse, and ride naked, before all the people, through the market of the town, from one end to the other, and on your return you shall have your request.” On which Godiva replied, “But will you give me permission if I am willing to do it?” “I will,” said he. Whereupon the countess, loosed her hair and let down her tresses, which covered the whole of her body like a veil and then mounting her horse and attended by two knights, she rode through the market-place, without being seen except her fair legs. Having completed the journey, she returned with gladness to her astonished husband, and obtained of him what she had asked. Earl Leofric freed the town of Coventry and its inhabitants from the aforesaid service, and confirmed what he had done by charter.
– Flowers of History, Roger of Wendover, 13th Century AD
