The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28
LADY aoDIvA s RIDE A MYTH.

c. L. Pullen. oiMemphis, III American Notes aud
Queries
For six or seven centuries the story Of
Lady Godiya's ride has been accepted as
historical fact by the masses, as well rs by
the more critical historian.
Poets harvesting OF It, artists have painted
II, and the sculptor's hand has cunningly'
wrought Il into marble.
In a conversation n short time ago with
a very intelligent woman, the writer Of
this article expressed his doubts OF this
ride ever having really taken place, and
was scorniully rcbuked by his auditor
with the remark II believe every word OF
it,"
II is recognized as fact by Charles
knight, in his History Of England" and
Il is used by him to illustrate the greed
aud oppression Of the mobiles OF that day.
Il IL also told in that sterling work OF ref
crence, "Chambcrs's Encyclopaedia"
without any kind Of reservation or doubt.
and even "clinches the naiP' by giving
some other facts about the town OF Cow
entry. Mrs Hale, In her book OF "Ilus.
trious Women" also gives u rs historic
fact. The tale has been repeated and
written about 20 often in magazines tina,
the public are perfectly familiar with H.
Tho poem OF Tonnyson has done more
perhaps 10 tx the belief Of its authenticity
than any other one instance. Iorng
people who read the poem, and are Affect
ed by It's paihos and beauty. often ask
their elders whether the story Is true; and
parents and teachers grayely expatialc
upon the supposed qualities Of the sweet
lady, and never disturb the wonder Of the
little ones by telling them that Lady Godi.
vas ride Is only one Of the many legends
Of the Middle Ages-a relic OF the simple
iiy aud crcdulily Of our early ancestors
At the time this myth first became In.
c0rpOraled into history and accepted rs n
fact. the pcople--at least the more intelli-
gent part OF thcm-iook Il for granted that
liz orlginaiors were men with philosophic
and moral ideas like their own. and hence
accepted It's wild incidents rs an ordinary
or actual occurrence.
That the Lady Godiva was n real flesh.
and.blOod parsonage | do not pretend to
deny; but do assert that she never took
any such ride as i related In tho legend;
and the object OF this article IA 10 puncture
the myth and prevent any further idcntid-
calion-oi II with history.
OF course. recognize the difficulty Of
upsctling this belief. because IL has the
strength Of an impression acquired In child.
hood, because great period OF time has
elapsed since the date OF the alleged ride,
and the pauciiy Of contemporary authority
IA undcniabc
Godiya lived In the middle Of the Elov
onih century, and only few OF the work.
OF contemporary writers remain, and these
are almost inaccessible 10 readers. Ger.
iainly none OF them which have 40 iai
seen the light have made any mention OF
this ride; aud 30 remarkable n circum,
stance would surely have been proclaimed
FROM one end Of tho land 10 the other and
been mentioned by every writer OF the
day. The very earliest account that VI
have IA that OF Roger OF Wcndover, who
ilourishcd In the first half Of the Thir'
tccnth century, nearly 200 years aftoi
Godiya. No mention Is made Of u by the
Saxon chroniclcs-lngulph, who knew
her personally, speaks Of her beauty
Odoric Nitalis, who was almost contempt
fary, Henry Of Huntington, Simeon o.
Durhaln. Tho Chronicle Of Mclrosc, Flor
cnco Of Worcester, and William OF Mains
bury.
Matthew Of Westminster, who wrote biz
history about fifty years after Roger Q
Wondoyer, mentions the ride. Matthews
work IL almost n copy OF, and u certainly
based upon that OF Roger Hovcden loarl,
part Of Thirteenth century. who said
nothing about Godiya's ride consequently
Matthew must have derived his iniorina
ton from Roger Wcndover.
Walter do Coventry who wrote between
the years 1898 and 1907, In speaking OF th'
convent AZ Coventry and Of Lady oodival
SAYS "For the love and devotion to sam
Mary the Ioblo Countess Godiya, Iron
her patrimony constructed ~ surely !
any such fact as her celebrated ride had
taken place, this ohronicler would nave
made mention Of H. .,
Coventry, or Coveniria, was = W., :.
named because a conypnt Of when sa.'