Talk:John Williams (archbishop of York)

Latest comment: 7 years ago by Kildwyke in topic Did he try to fly?

There is a discrepancy in the birthyear of John Williams. See [1], p. 34-35 for an indication that he was baptized already in 1581 Mar 17 Judiir (talk) 14:16, 18 March 2011 (UTC)Reply

Did he try to fly? edit

Although you may consider this story undignified it should still be included in this page, since it is, in fact, a story often told about Williams. It is not the job of a Wikipedia editor to discriminate. If you consider it untrue, the story may be preceded by remarks such as: "one legend is told thus:" and followed by: "This is a legend and may not be a historical event." I have read this story now in numerous places:-

In 1693 John Hacket described how as a child John Williams used to wander the walls of Conway garrison town. In 1589, when seven years old, he threw himself out toward the sea, hoping the wind would carry him away. The coat he was wearing was long, and he assumed it could billow out and act like a sail or wings. The boy, in Hacket's words, "suffer'd an adventitious mischance" and fell immediately onto a rock below. The stone "caused a secret Infirmity, fitter to be understood, then further describ’d.”

Kildwyke (talk) 05:15, 28 October 2016 (UTC)Reply