Article (magazine)  (2023)  
 
Williams’ Double Yellow’ has a weak citrus-like scent, and almost no R. foetida-like unpleasant odor in its flowers. The major scent component of ‘Williams’ Double Yellow’ is geraniol. Fatty acid derivatives, the characteristic scent components of R. foetida, were not detected in this cultivar.

Book  (2000)  Page(s) 631.  Includes photo(s).
 
‘William’s Double Yellow’/’Double Yellow Scots Rose’ = Ancien – Pimprenelle – jaune moyen. Doubles et très odorantes, ses petites fleurs sont d’un jaune vif... Elles constellent en mai ce buisson au bois grêle sous un feuillage très fin, d’une hauteur d’environ 1m20… Williams, UK, 1828. Rosa foetida x Rosa pimpinellifolia.

Book  (Apr 1999)  Page(s) 169-170.  
 
Double Yellow ('Jaune de William', 'Williams' Double Yellow') Foetida. J. Williams, ca. 1828. The author cites information from different sources... Pale-yellow color... sulphur yellow... A good seed-bearer... It is said to have been grown from the Yellow Austrian [Rosa foetida], although I think it is more likely from a Scotch rose impregnated with that variety. It produces seed freely, and its capsule has more of the appearance of the Scotch than the Austrian Rose...

Book  (1996)  Page(s) 87.  
 
Williams' Double Yellow ('Double Yellow Scots Rose', 'Prince Charlie's Rose')... cupped to flat double bright yellow flowers often with green carpels in the centre... Parentage: R. pimpinellifolia x ? R. foetida. Williams, England 1828.

Book  (Nov 1994)  Page(s) 113.  
 
'Williams' Double Yellow'. Rosa pimpinellifolia lutea plena. This was raised about 1828 by John Williams of Pitmaston near Worcester (U.K.), from seeds obtained from the single yellow rose (R. foetida). It is thus the same parentage as R. x harisonii, but the present Old Double Yellow Scots Rose, as it is often called, is very distinct. It would seem to be much nearer to the Burnet Roses than to R. x harisonii, making a freely suckering, branching, prickly bush about 4 feet high, with neat leaves and loosely double, bright yellow flowers. These have a bunch of green carpels in the centre; 'Harison's Yellow' has yellow stamens, and this at once distinguishes them, apart from other characters. The heavy scent of R. foetida pervades them both. In shape the flowers are inclined to reflex, and the petals stay on the bush for a long time after turning brown...It is often encountered in the gardens in the Western Highland, where it is known as 'Prince Charlie's Rose'.

Book  (1991)  Page(s) 22.  
 
The Scots Brier hybrid rose 'Williams Double Yellow', raised from seeds of R. Foetida, the so-called Austrian Brier, is of the same parentage as R. x harisonii but lacks the stamens of the latter, their place being taken by a bunch of palest green stigmata......flowers stay on the bush when faded....

Book  (1991)  Page(s) 22.  Includes photo(s).
 
Williams' Double Yellow a Scots Brier hybrid, raised from seeds of R. foetida...

Book  (1975)  Page(s) 29.  
 
Williams' Double Yellow sometimes called 'Double Yellow' or R. spinosissima lutea plena or 'Old Double Yellow Scots Rose' or (in the Western Highlands) 'Prince Charlie's Rose'...apparently from a cross with R. foetida, whose fragrance it reproduces in its 'loosely double, bright yellow flowers', which 'have a bunch of green carpels in the centre'. A blemish is that the blooms die badly, in that the petals stay on the plant for too long after the flower is dead. It has the other characteristics of the Burnet, but grows to about 4 ft.

Book  (1970)  Page(s) 156.  
 
New Roses of the World.
Williams’ Double Yellow (R. Spinosissima lutea plena) Spinosissima hybrid. (John Williams, 1828;  int. Sunningdale Nurs.). R. foetida. Semi-double, pine-yellow with green carpels in centre, blooms borne singly. Very free-flowering (spring). Sweet, heavy fragrance. Tiny, dark green foliage. Free but spindly growth. 

Website/Catalog  (1949)  
 
"DOUBLE YELLOW SCOTCH - a paler yellow than Harison's Yellow, dwarfer, and with a finer and denser growth. Needs snow cover in our climate, but usually dwarf enough to get it."

Percy Wright Catalogue - Hardy and Semi-Hardy Roses - ca 1949 p. 9