Into this ancient version of the “Godiva legend” more modern elaborations have been imported. These, stating nothing of Godiva’s garment formed by her own tresses, record that the people being forewarned of the Countess’s intentions all remained indoors behind closed shutters, out of respect for her and her desire to serve them; and in consequence she rode unobserved except by one inquisitive tailor, whose Christian name was Tom. It is he who has been handed down to posterity and obloquy under the nick–name of “Peeping Tom,” whose eyes as a punishment for his curiosity and indiscretion are said to have either dropped out of his head or were smitten with blindness! Unhappily this romantic story, which casts a sidelight upon the manners and morals of those early times, and also upon the attitude of husbands towards their wives, is open to grave criticism regarding its authenticity. Indeed, most authorities are inclined to believe that at all events the part relating to “Peeping Tom” is of no greater antiquity than the reign of Charles II., and that the remainder of the story does not date earlier than King John, at least one hundred and fifty years later than the date of Godiva’s traditional ride. That this story of Godiva’s self–sacrifice in the interests of the oppressed inhabitants of Coventry has very little foundation on actual fact is proved by several circumstances; the chief of which are, that other more trustworthy chroniclers, who, writing at the actual period when the event is supposed to have taken place, whilst recording fully the many good actions which the Earl and Countess undoubtedly did perform, make no mention of Godiva’s ride. Another fact is that the population of Coventry was so small at that period that there was scarcely likely to have been in existence a market of the size suggested by Roger of Wendover, and, indeed, hardly a town at all through which Godiva could have ridden. Yet another circumstance is that with so small a place a mere toll would have been a matter of such small consequence, when the majority of the people were serfs, that Leofric would certainly have remitted it without exacting such a condition from his wife. There are, indeed, several versions in different countries of legends closely allied in general detail to that of Godiva, and it is more than probable that this particular one is of great antiquity, which became tacked on to the life of this famous woman without any real foundation in fact.