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

Hall, where she met Ralph, who had been cured of his wounds. Ralph, being knighted by Douglas, married the lady Clare.—Sir W. Scott: Marmion (1808).

Wimble (Will), a character in Addison’s Spectator, simple, good-natured, and officious.

N.B.—Will Wimble in the flesh was Thomas Morecroft of Dublin (*–1741).

Wimbledon (The Philosopher of), John Horne Tooke, who lived at Wimbledon, near London (1736–1812).

Winchester, in Arthurian romance, is called Camelot.

It swam down the stream to the city of Camelot, i.e. in English, Winchester.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 44 (1470).

Winchester (The bishop of), Lancelot Andrews. The name is not given in the novel, but the date of the novel is 1620, and Dr. Andrews was translated from Ely to Winchester in February, 1618–19; and died in 1626.—Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Wind Sold. At one time, the Finlanders and Laplanders drove a profitable trade by the sale of winds. After being paid, they knitted three knots, and told the buyer that when he untied the first he would have a good gale; when the second, a strong wind; and when the third, a severe tempest.—Olaus Magnus: History of the Goths, etc., 47 (1658).

King Eric of Sweden was a potentate of the winds, and could change them at pleasure by merely shifting his cap.

Bessie Millie, of Pomona, in the Orkney Islands, helped to eke out her living (even so late as 1814) by selling favourable winds to mariners, for the small sum of sixpence per vessel.

Winds were also at one time sold at mont St. Michel, in Normandy, by nine druidesses, who likewise sold arrows to charm away storms. These arrows were to be shot off by a young man 25 years of age.

Witches generally were supposed to sell wind.

‘Oons! I’ll marry a Lapland witch as soon, and live upon selling contrary winds and wrecked vessels.— Congreve Love for Love, iii. (1695).

In Ireland and in Denmark both,
Witches for gold will sell a man a wind,
Which, in the corner of a napkin wrapped,
Shall blow him safe unto what coast he will.
   —Summer: Last Will and Test. (1600).

See note to the Pirate “Sale of Winds” (Waverley Novels, xxiv. 136).