, 1877-07-01
EUROPEAN GOSSIP.

London, Correspondence He,o FORK 14'nea
Oncc in seven years the ancient City OF Gov
entry wakes up to the memory OF "Lady Godi-
var ami celebrates the Saxon legend. The
scptennial anniversary took place on Monday.
It vas expected that the demonstrations would
be only very poor affair, promoted by the local
hotel-kcepe.s and tradcspeople, but the event
developed into a brilliant pageant, and has
given much satisfaction. The story Of Lady
Godiva isA,est aud most widely known Of all the
Warwickshire legends. Who has not
Wated for the train At Coventry,
And watched the three tall spires!
and thought of the tyrannical Earl who over
taxed the people, aud Of the gentle wife to
whom tile women and children made appeal,
''1f We pay this tax We starve:'
The situation so graphically described By Ten
nyson has supplied painters in every cline with
chaste studies Of the nude:
3oa wogld s"1 not let Teur anse1 &C., aehe a, aid
Tic 1augted. and swore by Peter and by Paul;
.4Oi az, Az, ~, you talk" stAlasi she said,
a But prove me what 1t is would not do"
And from heart rongh a. Esau's hand
He answered, Ride you naked thro' the town,
And I'll repeal IT."
How the heralds vent forth to give warning
that nboe stirred out or looked into the silent
streets; how the lady fitted from pillar to post
like O sunbeam, clothed as with .chastity, aud
thus repealed the tax and ,matlc an everlasting
name, is story known throughout tic world.
II; friend, Mr.. Burgess, wcll-known local
journalist, has been at some trouble Just re-
Gently to examine the evidence upon which the
truth Of the story rests, aud be declares it to be
untrue There was, hc says, Lady Godira,
historically renowned for her piety, her
the daughter of Thorold, Sheriff Of Lincoln
shire, the founder Of the Abbey Of Spa1diug.
Her husband Leofric, Earl OF Mercia, had seat
at Coventry. He and his wife we're liberal ben
efactors to the ecclesiastical foundations of
Worcester. Coventry, Eyesham, Chester, Leomin-
ster, Wenlock, and Stow-in-L Lindsey. Leofric died
Aug 81, 1857, but Godiya, his Countess, lived
for many years afterward. niece and grand
daughter Of Lady Godisa intermarred with the
Norman Earl OF Chester, from whom the pres
cut Grosvenor ian,ily claim descent Mr. Bur-
CESS does not find, in connection with the en-
dowments and residence at Coventry, any nlen-
ton Of the incident which has made the name
Of Lady Godiya celebrated. The legend is given
sssa; and 10 10 Roger Of Wendover ED !. 4o7. It vas
not heard Of OF mentioned By any known writer
prior TO the end Of the fourteenth century.
Edward Ill. had the town fortified with
add the taxes were heavy. After. tho death
of the Black Prince, who had castle close By,
the historian first finds the statement that Cow
entry ais to be toll-iree." That Leofric gave
the city many privileges there is little doubt !;
but, says the student Of parrhmcnts and papers,
)" the ride Of Godiva is purely apochryphal." !"
The incident is, however, set forth with circum-
stantiality in Dur,daJe, one Of the must notable
sources Of history, and there Vas an ancient
window in Trinity Church, set up in the days OF
Richard IL, commemorative of the event, IN
which Leofric is holding scroll bearing the
words:
I, Lcofric, for lore ftheee
Do make Coventry tol frce9
*'PecpIng Tom u is not mentioned IN the Dug
dale version of the story The inquisitiyc tailor
found his way into the legend during the reign
OF Charles II. The figure which is still to be
seen over shop In Coventry is q curious work,
taken originally, it is supposed, from one Of the