Chapter William and Margaret to Wind Sold of W by Brewer's Readers Handbook

William and Margaret to Wind Sold

William and Margaret, a ballad by Mallet (1727). William promised marriage to Margaret, deserted her, and she died “consumed in early prime.” Her ghost reproved the faithless swain, who “quaked in every limb,” and, raving, hied him to Margaret’s grave. There

Thrice he called on Margaret’s name,
And thrice he wept full sore;
Then laid his cheek to her cold grave,
And word spake never more.

William king of Scotland, introduced by sir W. Scott in The Talisman (1825).

William of Cloudesley , a north-country outlaw, associated with Adam Bell and Clym of the Clough (Clement of the Cliff). He lived in Englewood Forest, near Carlisle. Adam Bell and Clym of the Clough were single men, but William had a wife named Alyce, and “children three” living at Carlisle. The three outlaws went to London to ask pardon of the king, and the king, at the queen’s intercession, granted it. He then took them to a field to see them shoot. William first cleft in two a hazel wand at a distance of 200 feet; after this he bound his eldest son to a stake, put an apple on his head, and, at a distance of “six score paces,” cleft the apple in two without touching the boy. The king was so delighted that he made William “a gentleman of fe,” made his son a royal butler, the queen took Alyce for her “chief gentlewoman,” and the two companions were appointed yeomen of the bed-chamber.—Percy: Reliques “Adam Bell,” etc.), I. ii. 1.

William of Goldsbrough, one of the companions of Robin Hood, mentioned in Grafton’s Olde and Auncient Pamphlet (sixteenth century).

William of Norwich (Saint), a child said to have been crucified by the Jews in 1137. (See Hugh of Lincoln, p. 510; Werner, p. 1203.)

Two boys of tender age, those saints ensue,
Of Norwich William was, of Lincoln Hugh,
Whom th’ unbelieving Jews (rebellious that abide),
In mockery of our Christ, at Easter crucified.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xxiv. (1622).

William-with-the-Long-Sword, the earl of Salisbury. He was the natural brother of Richard Cœur de Lion.—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Williams (Caleb), a lad in the service of Falkland. Falkland, irritated by cruelty and insult, commits a murder, which is attributed to another. Williams, by accident, obtains a clue to the real facts; and Falkland, knowing it, extorts from him an oath of secrecy, and then tells him the whole story. The lad, finding life in Falkland’s house insupportable from the ceaseless suspicion to which he is exposed, makes his escape, and is pursued by Falkland with relentless persecution. At last Williams is accused by Falkland of robbery, and the facts of the case being disclosed, Falkland dies of shame and a broken spirit. (See Wilford, p. 1214.)—W. Godwin: Caleb Williams (1794).

(The novel was dramatized by G. Colman, under the title of The Iron Chest (1796). Caleb Williams is called “Wilford,” and Falkland is “sir Edward Mortimer.”)

Williams (Ned), the sweetheart of Cicely Jopson, farmer, near Clifton.

Farmer Williams, Ned’s father.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Willie, clerk to Andrew Skurliewhitter the scrivener.—Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Willieson (William), a brig-owner, one of the Jacobite conspirators under the laird of Ellieslaw.—Sir W. Scott: The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

Williewald of Geierstein (Count). father of count Arnold of Geierstein alias Arnold Biederman (landamman of Unterwalden).—Sir W. Scott: Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Willmore, the hero of Mrs. Behn’s play, in two parts, called The Rover (1877, 1881).