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.)--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.).
Will-o’-the-Flat, one of the huntsmen near Charlie’s Hope farm.--Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).