16 NOVEMBER 1951, Page 36

Sweet William

SIR,—I have seen it stated in York—on I know not what authority— that Sweet William derives its name from St. William of York, to whose Mots the Minster owes so much. Not that this consideration can be said to remove the note of controversy which appears to be associated with the flower. For the Archbishop was charged by his enemies with simony, unchastity, indolence and intrusion, while his death in 1154 was by some attributed to an adroitly administered dose of poison.-1 am,