# Master Nathaniel Chanticleer — Lud-in-the-Mist character guide > Master Nathaniel Chanticleer in Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Master Nathaniel, Nat, Nathaniel Chanticleer, young Chanticleer, Chanticleer **First appearance:** 0003-i-master-nathaniel-chanticleer ## Snapshot Lud-in-the-Mist's mayor and a prosperous merchant, he hides a lifelong dread of fairy things behind civic duty and dry jokes. ## Who they are Master Nathaniel Chanticleer presides over Lud-in-the-Mist's Senate and countinghouse, a man of property, parties, and quiet routine. Yet a buried childhood terror of fairy fruit and the hills beyond the Debatable Land keeps surfacing, and his love for his son Ranulph is tangled with guilt and dread. When rumor and misfortune begin to circle his house, his public standing curdles into suspicion, forcing him to act on fears he has spent a lifetime denying. ## Relationships ### [Endymion Leer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/endymion_leer) _friendship_ Endymion Leer is Nathaniel's closest friend and confidant, sharing a deep bond over the mysteries of Lud-in-the-Mist. ### [Ranulph Chanticleer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/ranulph_chanticleer) _family_ Nathaniel is Ranulph's father, and their relationship is marked by paternal care and generational tension over tradition and change. ### [Dame Marigold Chanticleer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/dame_marigold_chanticleer) _family_ Marigold is Nathaniel's wife, and their relationship is one of domestic partnership and mutual support within the family. ### [Hazel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/hazel) _friendship_ Hazel is a loyal friend and ally to Nathaniel, often assisting him in his investigations and adventures. ### [Hempie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/hempie) _professional_ Hempie is a servant in the Chanticleer household, serving Nathaniel with dutiful loyalty. ### [Jeremiah Gibberty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/jeremiah_gibberty) _rivalry_ Jeremiah Gibberty is a cunning antagonist who opposes Nathaniel, often manipulating events for his own ends. ### [Mumchance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/mumchance) _friendship_ Mumchance is a mysterious but helpful figure who aids Nathaniel in navigating the magical and political intrigues of the town. ### [Mistress Ivy Peppercorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/mistress_ivy_peppercorn) _social_ Ivy Peppercorn is a fellow townsfolk and acquaintance, interacting with Nathaniel in the social sphere of Lud-in-the-Mist. ### [Prunella Chanticleer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/prunella_chanticleer) _family_ Prunella is Nathaniel's daughter, and their relationship is one of affectionate paternal care and concern for her future. ### [Moonlove Honeysuckle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/moonlove_honeysuckle) _romantic_ Moonlove Honeysuckle is a romantic interest for Nathaniel, representing a forbidden or complicated attraction tied to the fairy world. ### [Mother Tibbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/mother_tibbs) _social_ Mother Tibbs is an elderly townswoman who interacts with Nathaniel as part of the local community. ### [Duke Aubrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/duke_aubrey) _professional_ Duke Aubrey is the ruler of Lud-in-the-Mist, and Nathaniel serves as his mayor, creating a formal political relationship. ## In the story ### [Lud-in-the-Mist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/lud-in-the-mist) Introduced as the mayor of Lud-in-the-Mist, a practical and respected merchant who upholds the town's denial of Fairyland. ### [I: Master Nathaniel Chanticleer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/i-master-nathaniel-chanticleer) The head of the Chanticleer family, a typical Dorimarite in appearance but secretly troubled by a nameless fear stemming from a single note he heard on an ancient lute during a youthful prank. ### [III: The Beginning of Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/iii-the-beginning-of-trouble) Discovers his son has eaten fairy fruit; experiences a new tenderness and recalls his own hidden fears. ### [Endymion Leer Prescribes for Ranulph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/iv-endymion-leer-prescribes-for-ranulph) Awakens with a new, possessive love for his son Ranulph, but is torn between denial of reality and a sense of responsibility. He reluctantly calls in Endymion Leer, and later flies into a rage upon hearing the Note, physically attacking the doctor. ### [Ranulph Goes to the Widow Gibberty’s Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/v-ranulph-goes-to-the-widow-gibberty-s-farm) Struggles with the decision to send Ranulph away, tormented by hearing the Note in Leer's voice, but ultimately consents for Ranulph's sake. ### [VI: The Wind in the Crabapple Blossoms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/vi-the-wind-in-the-crabapple-blossoms) Missing Ranulph but satisfied with reports of his health; enchanted by Endymion Leer's accounts. ### [Endymion Leer Looks Frightened, and a Breach Is Made in an Old Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/viii-endymion-leer-looks-frightened-and-a-breach-is-made-in-an-old-friendship) Accused by Ambrose of hiding Ranulph's fairy fruit consumption and failing to act; furiously defends himself, leading to a breach in their friendship. ### [IX: Panic and the Silent People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/ix-panic-and-the-silent-people) Master Nathaniel becomes the most unpopular man in Lud, blamed for the crisis. He is tormented by fear for Ranulph, but decides not to flee or bring his son back, sinking into a lethargic nightmare. ### [X: Hempie's Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/x-hempie-s-song) Wracked by despair and guilt, he visits Hempie and finds comfort in her wisdom and song. ### [XI: A Stronger Antidote Than Reason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xi-a-stronger-antidote-than-reason) Resolves to act against his fears and the fairy fruit trade; reconciles with Ambrose Honeysuckle and pushes for Senate measures. ### [XII: Dame Marigold Hears the Tap of a Woodpecker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xii-dame-marigold-hears-the-tap-of-a-woodpecker) Receives a letter from Luke Hempen warning of danger to Ranulph and the widow's mischief. ### [What Master Nathaniel and Master Ambrose Found in the Guildhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xiii-what-master-nathaniel-and-master-ambrose-found-in-the-guildhall) Leads the exploration of the Guildhall, excited and anxious; interacts with Mother Tibbs and discovers the smuggling operation. ### [XIV: Dead in the Eye of the Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xiv-dead-in-the-eye-of-the-law) Wakes late and irritable after the previous night's humiliation, but composes a fiery speech to the Senate naming the Fairies and demanding harsh penalties for fairy fruit. ### [XV: “Ho, Ho, Hoh!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xv-ho-ho-hoh) Sits calmly in his pipe-room reading the widow Gibberty's trial while his effigy is burned; later faces the Senate's declaration of his legal death with cold detachment. ### [The Widow Gibberty's Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xvi-the-widow-gibberty-s-trial) Declared dead by the Senate and stripped of his mayoral robes, but remains cheerful and insists Ambrose read the trial of the widow Gibberty. ### [XVII: The World-in-Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xvii-the-world-in-law) Develops his theory of the world-in-law, linking Leer to Pugwalker, and takes an oath with Ambrose. ### [XVIII: Mistress Ivy Peppercorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xviii-mistress-ivy-peppercorn) Disguises himself as a justice-obsessed bachelor to question Mistress Ivy about her father's death, revealing his deep suspicion of Dr. Leer. ### [XIX: The Berries of Merciful Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xix-the-berries-of-merciful-death) Discovers the identity of the poison berries and resolves to leave Lud to investigate the widow Gibberty's farm. ### [XXII: Who Is Portunus?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxii-who-is-portunus) Travels to Swan-on-the-Dapple, meets Portunus, and poses as a cheesemonger to investigate the Gibbertys' farm. ### [The Northern Firebox and Dead Men's Tales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxiii-the-northern-firebox-and-dead-men-s-tales) Nearly killed by the charcoal stove; reveals his identity and mission to prove Jeremiah Gibberty's murder; leads the exhumation of the confession. ### [XXIV: Belling the Cat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxiv-belling-the-cat) Learns of Ranulph's departure to Fairyland and resolves to follow him; orchestrates the arrest of the widow Gibberty for murder. ### [XXVII: The Fair in the Elfin Marches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxvii-the-fair-in-the-elfin-marches) Rides to the Elfin Marches, experiences a dreamlike fair, and confronts the horror of the market of souls. ### [XXVIII: “By the Sun, Moon and Stars and the Golden Apples of the West”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxviii-by-the-sun-moon-and-stars-and-the-golden-apples-of-the-west) Frightened and alone in the Elfin Marches, he hears the Note again, feels deep remorse, and ultimately leaps into the abyss after Duke Aubrey's vision. ### [Master Ambrose Keeps His Vow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxx-master-ambrose-keeps-his-vow) Believed dead by most, he returns riding a white charger at the head of the fairy army. ### [XXXI: The Initiate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxxi-the-initiate) Reflects on his initiation and role as Duke Aubrey's deputy, feeling ashamed and melancholy; discusses Leer's downfall with Ambrose. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/chapters/xxxii-conclusion) Visits Hazel's farm each summer with Ranulph; later dies and is buried in the family chapel with an epitaph. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters/master_nathaniel_chanticleer - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lud_in_the_mist_se/characters