Lady Godiva and "Peeping Tom"

In modern English language, the term "Peeping Tom" is used for a person who derives a sort of enjoyment (usually sexual) from observing others. It is used to describe a voyeur. This expression was first discovered in the accounts of Coventry, in 1773. 

Of course, Peeping Tom is not a real person. It is closely connected with the legend of Lady Godiva, which dates back to the 11th century. This legend was very popular among the common folk in Britain. It was used many times as a motif in paintings, such as the example of the painting above, done by the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Collier. Lady Godiva is an actual historical figure and she is mentioned in many records, including the Domesday survey from the year 1085. Some records even describe her as a patron of the town and some simply describe her as a patron's wife. She got married to Leofric in 1040 and together they built a Benedictine monastery at Coventry. The legend says that she asked her husband to lower the taxes of the people in the town. Her husband Leofric agreed only if she would ride naked through the town. To his surprise, Lady Godiva accepted his proposition. She also appealed to the people to avert their gaze and shut the windows. The townspeople obeyed and Lady Godiva rode through the empty streets of the city with her long loose hair covering her body. The legend says that her husband lowered the taxes after this deed.

This is a translation from a Latin text, written a century after the event took it’s place. The Flores Historiarum were written by Roger of Wendover, who died in 1236.

"Ascend," he said, "thy horse naked and pass thus through the city from one end to the other in sight of the people and on thy return thou shalt obtain thy request." Upon which she returned: "And should I be willing to do this, wilt thou give me leave?" "I will," he responded. Then the Countess Godiva, beloved of God, ascended her horse, naked, loosing her long hair which clothed her entire body except her snow white legs, and having performed the journey, seen by none, returned with joy to her husband who, regarding it as a miracle, thereupon granted Coventry a Charter, confirming it with his seal.

Our Peeping Tom appears much later, in the 17th/18th century. Around 1700, some started to mention "Tom the tailor", who disobeyed Lady Godiva and watched her ride thorugh the hole in his shutters. Some even say he was blinded after this mischief. The frase Peeping Tom was first noted in the Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue in 1796 as: "A nick name for a curious prying fellow."

One more proof of how creative a language can be and how a legend as old as the hills can be connected with a modern, every day expression, one thousand years later.