Godiva, Lady , the wife of Leofric, the 11th-century English earl of Mercia and lord of Coventry. According to legend, Leofric's taxes were so burdensome on the poor people of Coventry that Godiva begged him to remit them. He consented with the provision that she ride naked through the town. Godiva accepted and rode through the town on horseback. In some versions of the story, the townspeople were asked to stay indoors with their shutters closed at the time of her ride. Only one person, a tailor, since known as “Peeping Tom,” looked out at her. He was immediately struck blind.