Before I found out that we were related, I have to admit I knew nothing of the world’s first flasher. So I stole the story from Wikipedia, and now you know it too. Isn't the internet great?“According to the popular story, the beautiful Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who were suffering grievously under her husband's oppressive taxation. Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to remit the tolls. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if she would ride naked through the streets of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word and, after issuing a proclamation that all persons should keep within doors or shut their windows, she rode through, clothed only in her long hair. Only one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the most famous instances of voyeurism. In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters so that he might see Godiva pass, and is struck blind. In the end, Godiva's husband keeps his word and abolishes the onerous taxes.”
2 comments:
Phil- I also just found out that I am a direct descendant of Geoffrey Plantagenet (through my mom's side). Is he a relation of yours as well?
Great story . . . In Coventry, they have a life size statue of her riding naked on the horse (covered ever so modestly with her hair, of course).
If you're ever there, you should also go to Coventry cathedral, which was destroyed in the German blitz. Very soon after the cathedral was bombed, they took two beams from the church to make a cross and determined to forgive the Germans, labeling it "Father, forgive."
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