Leofric as the Earl of Mercia was used to getting his own way,
He had the wealth and power to command others to obey,
But his wife Godgifu, or as we say now Godiva,
Had a compelling nature that often made him side with her.
When they married she was already a widow he knew,
But she was very young and beautiful and their love grew,
For in the rich Anglo-Saxon circles that they were part,
She stood out as decisive and generous of heart.
And indeed several decades before the Norman Conquest came,
In old documents of benefactors we see her name,
And her husband was pleased she made such well chosen choices,
He thought her wise and listened when he wouldn't to other voices.
But in this one recurring argument he stood resolute,
And even her copious charms would not polute
His fixed viewpoint on taxation,
A subject he decidedly felt was only man's of his station.
She had pleaded and cajoled and tried to make him see,
How the people of Coventry were suffering grievously,
Good reason hadn't worked and she tried the womanly wiles,
But all she got was platitudes and grateful smiles.
Yet in her constant efforts to remit the tolls,
She worked tielessly as she did for all her projects and goals,
She came from a good family in which she learned many arts,
And as a widow her confidence and shrewdness grew in good parts.
On and on she'd harry him until she wore him down,
And at last he said, "If through the streets of the town,
You will ride naked on the back of a horse,"
Never believing she'd dare to do it of course.
Imagine the smile as she knew him a man of his word,
She had a sneaky plan and though it was absurd,
She felt so passionately that there was no other way to win,
Issuing a proclamation -"all people shut your windows and stay in!"
The cold stone streets echo in the silence,
As the hooves clattered on the cobbles and from hence,
She shamelessly rides in the sweet Summer breeze,
The tiny bells of the harness ringing it's lyrical reprise.
An auburn haired beauty a Lady no less,
Clothed only in her flowing hair that did carress
Her every curvaceous part,
On a pure white gelding whose livery was in itself an art.
She held the reins with feeble grace,
Eyes down feining contriteness on her face,
But secretly screaming defiance inside,
An amble on her horse as promised she did ride.
The pidgeons on the roofs look down,
See the regal bearing and expect to see a crown,
Hear the sweet chimes and fly to the ground,
Usually outspoken she uttered now no sound.
The streets were empty but she had to be sure,
So she was true to her word and not a stitch she wore,
As attested by a tailor who was the only shameful person,
To spy on her and was then dubbed -"Peeping Tom".
Her strength of will and character you have to applaud,
A heroine of a fashion for making him keep his word,
It takes real strength of will to stand up for other peoples' rights,
To battle as a woman then to resolve the poor's plights.
She won her cause and her husband forgave her,
And from their love nine children occur,
Then after his death in the Domesday Survey,
She's the only woman to stay a major landholder of the day.
Not as naked beauty on her horse I see,
But an AngloSaxon proud to be,
A noble lady who has defiance, generosity and good grace,
I honour those who like her are willing to all fears embrace.