Lady Godiva

Started in July of 2007, she is finally finished.

The pattern is a detail adapted from the painting "Lady Godiva" by John Collier.

Here is her story (courtesy of Jennifer at GoldenKite.com Thank you, Jennifer!)

Godiva was the wife of Earl Leofric, a powerful Lord during the reign of the Dane Canute around 1050 AD. Leofric had raised the taxes on the people of Coventry to an unbearable level. When Godiva asked him to repeal them saying that they were too harsh, he laughingly said that he would do so when she rode naked on a horse through the town. One can only imagine his surprise when she did so, covered by nothing more than her long golden hair.

The people of Coventry out of gratitude, and to spare the Lady any shame, stayed indoors with their windows shut. All but one that is – a tailor who has become known as “Peeping Tom” dared to look out and was struck blind by God for his audacity.

Leofric kept his word and repealed the taxes.

This is the legend. But did it actually happen? There was indeed an Earl Leofric and his wife, a Lady Godgifu (meaning “God’s gift” in Saxon) in Coventry at that time. He was a Danish Lord (the King of England at that time was in fact a Dane, Canute).

She was a Saxon and a landowner in her own right and is recorded in the Domesday book (1086) as having lands in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire.

The fact that her lands are still her own at this time, when so many lands had been redistributed by William the Conquerer after the Norman Invasion can be seen a sign of the lady’s popularity (indeed those of her grandchildren had been confiscated).

Contemporary historians only mention her as the wife Earl Leofric, nothing is said of her ride. Documents show that Leofric and Godiva were great benefactors of the Church and endowed an abbey in Coventry for the education of the clergy.

The first mention of the ride is by a monk and chronicler at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Albans, Roger of Wendover, He has this to say:

“The Countess Godiva, who was a great lover of God's mother, longing to free the town of Coventry from the oppression of a heavy toll, often with urgent prayers besought her husband that,

from regard to Jesus Christ and his mother, he would free the town from that service and from all other heavy burdens; and when the Earl sharply rebuked her for foolishly asking what was so much to his damage,

and always forbade her evermore to speak to him on the subject; and while she, on the other hand, with a woman's pertinacity, never ceased to exasperate her husband on that matter,

he at last made her this answer: "Mount your horse and ride naked, before all the people, through the market of this town from one end to the other, and on your return you shall have your request.”

On which Godiva replied,

“But will you give me permission if I am willing to do it?”

“I will,” said he.

“Whereupon the Countess, beloved of God, loosed her hair and let down her tresses, which covered the whole of her body like a veil,

and then, mounting her horse and attended by two knights, she rode through the marketplace without being seen, except her fair legs,

and having completed the journey, she returned with gladness to her astonished husband and obtained of him what she had asked,

for Earl Leofric freed the town of Coventry and its inhabitants from the aforesaid service, and confirmed what he had done by a charter.”

Chronica, Roger of Wendover , listed under the year 1057

Cancer Anyone?

January 28, 2008 my mother's brother, Bill, lost his 2 year long battle with cancer; he would have been fifty-two this month. Exactly three weeks later on February 18, 2008 my mother's father, also named Bill, was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder.

A little family history - the first person I ever lost that was close to me was my mother's mother. She died of cancer in her early sixties (sixty-two, i think). Years before that my Grandmother lost her mother and one of her sisters to cancer. When I was in third grade my mother's father lost his sister to cancer. I believe that all of these women died from breast cancer or breast cancer related complications. My Grandfather also lost his mother to cancer, although I do not know what kind she had. My mother's sister has had a number of benign lumps removed from her breasts and in the last year polyps formed from precancerous cells were found when she had a colonoscopy.

Given the family history, and the loss of Uncle Bill, this most recent diagnosis of my Grandfather's has not been received particularly well.
When my Grandfather was diagnosed he was living in his winter home in Arizona. He quickly decided that he would travel home, to Boise, for further testing, evaluation, and treatment. He made the trip from Arizona to Idaho safely and is awaiting the results of further testing (which will likely be received on Uncle Bill's birthday) after which a plan for treatment will be made. In the meantime, his children are trying to cope the best way they know how. There is fear and paranoia, "Who will be next?" they all wonder. There are also prayers and support for one another.

I live so far away and, unfortunately, seldom see the majority of my family. I feel somewhat removed from the current events. However, I talk often with my Mother and my Aunt so, I am kept up with news and stories of what goes on up there. I sit down here miles, and miles away essentially just watching what will unfold. I wonder what God will do for my family and those around it in this situation. I pray that His Grace and His Glory will shine through and bring them to a closer relationship to Him in their hardships.

SNOW!

Saturday afternoon was a warm sunny day in our neck of the woods. So warm and sunny, in fact, that I saw more than one customer come in with sunburns while at work that evening. Now, most people welcome warm, sunny weather on the second day of March. I, however, felt a sort of depression settle in with the knowledge that this warm, sunny day marked the end of "winter" and the beginning of the road to a long, hot summer.

However, I am joyful to report that I was wrong. In the space of two short days we went from warm sunshine, to freezing cold wind and rain, to SNOW! It started to snow in the evening and had finished by the middle of the night but, it was snowing real snow (not that icy imitation) and we had a chance to play in it a little and enjoy the unique atmosphere that can only be had with a blanket of snow. The snow began to melt as soon as the sun rose this morning and will be gone by the time we are in bed tonight. Tomorrow the temperature will be back in the sixties. Yet, when all hope of any winter weather was lost for the year, God saw fit to show me that he is indeed in control and gave this wonderful gift of real snow in March in Texas.

Praise you, Lord! You knew the desires of my heart and provided this beautiful gift. Thank you.