Leofric III Earl of MERCIA

                   This is the famous Lady Godiva.  She complained constantly to her husbandthat the taxes were too high on the townspeople of Coventry.  He finallysaid that he would reduce the taxes if she would ride nude through themarketplace on market day.  She arranged for all of the men to remaininside and covered her entire body, except her legs, with her hair.Supposedly one person named Tom did not remain inside during her ride andbecame known as "Peeping Tom".   Leofric eliminated all taxes, except forone on horses.  During Edward I's reign, a check was made and the onlytax in Coventry was one on horses.  Since 1678 the town of Coventry stillcelebrates the ride during its annual fair.

Concerning her dates of birth and death.  I originally had 980-1067, butthis was not in agreement with Ancestral Roots line 176a-2, which has herbirth at c1010 and her marriage at c1030.  Nor was it consistant with theEncyclopedia Britannica which had Godiva fl. 1040-1080.  However the 980birth date was consistant with her gr grandaughter Nesta b. c1055/7, dauof Edith, dau of Aelfgar, son of Godiva.  With some serious scrunching ofdates I could conceive of:

       Godiva b. 1010 (originally 980)
       Aelfgar b. 1025 (originally 1002)
       Edith    b. 1041 (originally 1030)
       Nesta   b. 1057

with two other daughters of Leofric born to a "first wife or mistress".It is physically possible for 3 generations in a row born at the 15/16thyear of their parents life (however unlikely), so that is what I havedone.