Council Member Peter Vallone Jr.’s proposal to outlaw voyeurism in New York City reminds us that the original Peeping Tom, a resident of 11th-century Coventry, England, earned his name not as a low-life voyeur but as a witness to a tax rebellion. Legend has it that Lady Godiva was demonstrating in response to a challenge issued by her husband, the Earl of Mercia. Appalled by the tolls her husband had imposed on the townspeople, the titian-haired Lady begged for tax relief — which he promised to extend, but only on the condition that she ride naked through the streets of Coventry. He also ordered everyone to stay inside their shuttered houses, but the enterprising Tom bored a hole and gained a reputation that continues to this day.

News of Mr. Vallone’s proposal comes on the heels of reports that Campbell Soup is exploring strategic alternatives for its Godiva brand, which the Swiss chocolatier Lindt and the American brands Hershey and Wrigley could be interested in buying, although spokesmen for the companies said that no talks are underway. Analysts hailed the news, which immediately lifted Campbell’s stock.

We hope that whoever buys Godiva recognizes that its historic name resonates beyond the world of confections to the realm of public policy. And that Mr. Vallone, in his quixotic attempt to keep New Yorkers from looking out their own windows, remembers the legend of Lady Godiva. As heroic as her protest was, the legend lives on only because Peeping Tom was there to witness it.