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

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

Willoughby (Lord), of queen Elizabeth’s court.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Willoughby (Sir Clement), insolent but polished. His passion for Evelina is bold, perfidious, and impertinent.—Mme. D’Arblay: Evelina (1778).

Willy, a shepherd to whom Thomalin tells the tale of his battle with Cupid (ecl. iii.). (See Thomalin, p. 1098.) In ecl. viii. he is introduced again, contending with Perigot for the prize of poetry, Cuddy being chosen umpire. Cuddy declares himself quite unable to decide the contest, for both deserve the prize.— Spenser: The Shepheardes Calendar (1579).

(Of course Virgil’s Bucolic iii. will readily recur to the mind. Palemon, the umpire, says—

Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites,
Et vitula tu dignus, ethic,
   —Lines 108, 103.

Wilmot. There are three of the name in Fatal Curiosity (1736), by George Lillo, viz. old Wilmot, his wife Agnes, and their son young Wilmot, supposed to have perished at sea. The young man, however, is not drowned, but goes to India, makes his fortune, and returns, unknown to any one of his friends. He goes in disguise to his parents, and deposits with them a casket. Curiosity induces Agnes to open it, and when she sees that it contains jewels, she and her husband resolve to murder the owner, and appropriate the contents of the casket. No sooner have they committed the fatal deed than they discover it is their own son whom they have killed; whereupon the old man stabs first his wife and then himself.

The harrowing details of this tragedy are powerfully depicted; and the agonies of old Wilmot constitute one of the most appalling and affecting incidents in the drama.—R. Chambers: English Literature, i. 592.

Old Wilmot’s character, as the needy man who had known better days, exhibits a mind naturally good, but prepared for acting evil.—Sir W Scott: The Drama.

Wilmot (Miss Arabella), a clergyman’s daughter, beloved by George Primrose, eldest son of the vicar of Wakefield, whom ultimately she marries.—Goldsmith: Vicar of Wakefield (1766).

Wilmot (Lord), earl of Rochester, of the court of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott: Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Wilsa, the mulatto girl of Dame Ursley Suddlechop the barber’s wife.— Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

WILSON (Alison), the old house-keeper of colonel Silas Morton of Milnwood.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Wilson (Andrew), smuggler; the comrade of Geordie Robertson. He was hanged.—Sir W. Scott: Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Wilson (Bob), groom of sir William Ashton the lord keeper of Scotland.—Sir W. Scott: Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Wilson (Christie), a character in the introduction of the Black Dwarf, by sir W. Scott.

Wilson (John), groom of Mr. Godfrey Bertram laird of Ellangowan.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Wilton (Ralph de), the accepted suitor of lady Clare daughter of the earl of Gloucester. When lord Marmion overcame Ralph de Wilton in the ordeal of battle, and left him for dead on the field, lady Clare took refuge in Whiby Convent. By Marmion’s desire she was removed from the convent to Tantallon