Lady Godiva

This is a story of a brave woman who fought taxes and her husband at the same time. Lady Godiva was an eleventh century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to a legend rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain remission from the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants. She appealed again and again to her husband Leofric but he obstinately refused to remit the tolls. Finally, Leofric became so bored with Godiva's endless appeals that he declared he would reduce the taxes only if she rode naked through the crowded market place. After issuing a proclamation that all persons should stay indoors and shut their windows, Godiva rode through the town, covered only by her long hair. Only one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation - he bored a hole in his shutters so that he might see Godiva pass but afterwards was struck blind (or dead depending on the version of the legend). In the end, Godiva's husband kept his word and abolished the onerous taxes.