Saint William of Perth

Saint William of Perth (died c. 1201), also known as Saint William of Rochester or Saint Liam was a Scottish saint who was martyred in England. He is the patron saint of adopted children. Following his death, he gained local acclaim and was canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256. William was a devout individual and a baker who gave every tenth loaf of bread to the poor. He adopted an abandoned child and taught him his trade. Years later they set off on a pilgrimage. William was murdered, and his adopted son suspected of the crime intending to rob him. The Bishop of Rochester obtained William's canonization and created a shrine in Rochester Cathedral which drew many pilgrims. Little is known about the life of William, and practically all information regarding him comes from Capgrave's Nova Legenda Angliae. He was born in Perth, at that time one of the principal towns of Scotland. In youth, he had been somewhat wild, but on reaching manhood he devoted himself wholly to the service of God. A baker by trade, he was accustomed to setting aside every tenth loaf for the poor. He went to Mass daily, and one morning, before it was light, found on the threshold of the church an abandoned child, whom he adopted and to whom he taught his trade. Later he took a vow to visit the Holy Places, and, having received the consecrated wallet and staff as a Palmer, set out with his adopted son, whose name is given as "Cocker may Doura", which is said to be Scots for "David the Foundling". They stayed three days at Rochester, Kent, and proceeded to Canterbury the next day (and perhaps thence to Jerusalem). However, according to a popular account, David willfully misled his benefactor with a short-cut and, with robbery in view, felled him with a blow on the head and cut his throat. The body was discovered by a Lunatic mad woman, who plaited a garland of honeysuckle and placed it first on the head of the corpse and then her own, whereupon the madness left her.