GODI'VA, LADY, patroness of Coventry. About the year 1040, Leofrie, earl of Mercia, and lord of Coventry, then an important market-town,• imposed certain oner ous services and heavy exactions upon the inhabitants, of which they loudly com plained. His wife, the lady Godiva, having the welfare of the town at heart, besought her husband to give them relief, and was so earnest in her entreaties that'at length, to escape from her importunities, the earl said he would grant her the favor, but only on condition that she would ride naked through the town, supposing, from the modesty of lady Godiva, that he had required an impossible condition; but he was surprised with the answer, "But will you give me leave to do so?" As he could not in justice refuse, she ordered that proclamation be made that on a certain day no one should be away, or even look, from their houses, when, clothed only by her longhair, she rode through the town; and her husband, in admiration of her intrepid devotion, performed his promise_ This circumstance was commemorated by a stained-glass window, mentioned in 1690, in St. Michael's church, Coventry; and the legend that an unfortunate tailor, the only
man who looked out of a window, was struck blind, has also found commemoration in .an ancient effigy of "Peeping Tom of Coventry," still to be seen in a niche of one of the buildings. By a charter of Henry III., 1218, a fair is held at Coventry, beginning on Friday of Trinity-week, and lasting eight days. The fair was opened with a grand civic procession, a part of which was, in 1678, the representation of the ride of lady Godiva. These processions were continued at intervals of from three to seven years, until 1826. Sonic beautiful woman, who represented lady Godiva, was the principal figure, bill many other historical and emblematic personages were introduced. In 1848, the procession was revived with great splendor, and attracted 15,000 strangers. The ceremony has, however, now fallen into disrepute, and the procession, when celebrated, is a vulgar and tawdry affair.