Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Lady Godiva and Naked Olivia...


So, this blog is about the naked truth.. haha, just kidding! Actually, it’s about Brett’s ancestors. Brett tells me that he is blood related to Lady Godiva! Yes, the lady who rode naked through a town back in the day. It’s kinda funny… this means Olivia is now a blood relative too! She loves to be naked, and now we know why ;) So, the story of Lady Godiva goes like this:

Godiva quarrelled frequently with her husband over his merciless behaviour and begged him to change his ways, and to be more lenient with the people. During an argument one day, Leofric made the extravagant promise that he would remit the tax if Godiva would ride naked through the streets of Coventry on market day, knowing full well that was something his wife would never do. But Leofric had forgotten Godiva’s compassion and concern for the people. She mounted her horse and made her famous journey, clothed only by her beautiful long blonde hair. Leofric kept his promise and the people of Coventry never again had to pay the taxes. Leofric also mended his ways and gave up persecuting the Church and tyrannising the people. He and Godiva made up their differences and together they founded a monastery, where they were both eventually buried. Nothing remains to day of the monastery.

Not mentioned in the story- they made the whole town go in there houses the day she rode naked and boarded up windows so that NO ONE would see… It was forbidden to peak, and one guy named Tom did and got caught. That’s how “peeping Tom” came about, at least that’s what I read!

4 comments:

Kristen P. said...

That story came from Grandpa Pete in AZ didn't it?

Here's another funny story: I'm related to Lady Godiva too! Ha ha ha! Jon and I are related!!! It's no wonder I like him so much!

Karen K. said...

Ah, little BABY Godiva :) Now all she needs is that beautiful long blonde hair...girl let your hair 'grow'! (I'm sure she'll make a difference in the world in ways other than riding naked through the streets on a horse!) By the way, did Brett get her to the bathtub without having to change his shirt???

Valerie said...

That looks just like Caroline from the back! How cute. I love the bald spots of hair in the back!

Karen K. said...

I agree with Valerie. Cute! Not only are the bald spots cute but that little tuft of hair just at the top of her head is the cutest cuz it reminds me of Em. She had a tuft like that when she was a baby and it grew faster than the rest of her hair til she had a long piece hanging from the top of her head. I hated to cut it!