# Jan — The First Sir Percy character guide > Jan in The First Sir Percy by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Good old Jan, Already Jan, good Jan, worthy Jan **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-night-on-the-veluwe ## Snapshot Stoutenburg's stolid, grim henchman, a tower of strength who never argues with an order and relishes settling old scores with a rope. ## Who they are Jan is the enforcer at Stoutenburg's elbow, already at attention under the lintel when the command to hang the blind vagabond is given, and personally eager for it after the humiliation that drove his master from the land. He is canny enough to catch his lordship's silent signal and play along when the prisoner dangles a secret worth a thousand guilders a year. His loyalty is absolute and his cruelty unreflective — the muscle behind every threat in the hall. ## Relationships ### [Lord Stoutenburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/lord_stoutenburg) _professional_ Jan is a henchman and servant in Stoutenburg's employ, carrying out his orders. ### [The Stadtholder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/the_stadtholder) _rivalry_ Jan, as Stoutenburg's man, is an enemy of the Stadtholder and his regime. ### [Lord Stoutenburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/lord_stoutenburg) _professional_ Jan is a henchman and servant in Stoutenburg's employ, carrying out his orders. ### [The Stadtholder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/the_stadtholder) _rivalry_ Jan, as Stoutenburg's man, is an enemy of the Stadtholder and his regime. ### [The Stadtholder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/the_stadtholder) _rivalry_ Jan, as Stoutenburg's man, is an enemy of the Stadtholder and his regime. ### [Lord Stoutenburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/lord_stoutenburg) _professional_ Jan is a henchman and servant in Stoutenburg's employ, carrying out his orders. ## In the story ### [A Night on the Veluwe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i-a-night-on-the-veluwe) Stoutenburg's servant, helps with the horses and guides Pythagoras. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/v) Faithful servant who guided the drunken messenger far away and returns weary but obedient. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi) One of the two loons riding with Diogenes and the Stadtholder. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi) Called by Stoutenburg to remove the burgomaster; participates in the ambush. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vii) Raised his fist to strike the burgomaster but is stopped by Gilda. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv) Threatened by Stoutenburg as the one who will forcibly bring Gilda back if she tries to leave. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi) Ordered by Stoutenburg to release the burgomaster and to command the soldiers left in Amersfoort as a hostage force. ### [XI: The Danger-Spoke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xi-the-danger-spoke) Escorts Gilda upstairs; later pushes Diogenes into Stoutenburg's presence. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i) Gilda prefers to follow Jan rather than accept her brother's escort. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii) Assists Stoutenburg, wipes his doublet, and brings Diogenes into the room. ### [XII: Tears, Sighs, Hearts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xii-tears-sighs-hearts) Follows Stoutenburg's orders to remove Diogenes from the hall. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i) Retires with the soldiers, closing the doors behind them as Gilda enters. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii) Receives a significant nod from Stoutenburg to remove Diogenes. ### [XIII: The Stygian Creek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xiii-the-stygian-creek) Stoutenburg's loyal henchman, ready to carry out the order to hang Diogenes. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i) Serves Stoutenburg personally; places dishes before the burgomaster to taste. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii) Ready to obey Stoutenburg's order to hang Diogenes, but stays his hand at the lord's signal. ### [XIV: Treachery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xiv-treachery) Remains vigilant, gathers intelligence from the gates, and reports rumors of the Stadtholder's advance and an attack on Ede. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii) Called by Stoutenburg for parley; knows the story of the blind vagabond's offense and is bitter about it; looks scared at Stoutenburg's expression. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii) Stoutenburg's loyal henchman, eager to hang Diogenes but willing to negotiate for the secret. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv) Carries out Stoutenburg's orders, secures and escorts Diogenes. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/v) Dubious of Diogenes, threatens to burn him alive if tricked; sent by Stoutenburg to investigate the disturbance in the town. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi) Returns with news of the Stadtholder's advance and the attack on Ede, then organizes spies and conveys Stoutenburg's orders to the Master of the Camp. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vii) Assists Stoutenburg in planning and summons the burgomaster. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/viii) Jan remains awake, guards the door, investigates the pistol shot, and reports to Stoutenburg that the burgomaster locked the room and that the windows are barred. ### [XV: The Molen on the Veluwe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xv-the-molen-on-the-veluwe) Left in command of troops at Amersfoort, with orders not to leave until Stoutenburg sends word. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i) Left in command of the troops in Amersfoort, awaiting Stoutenburg's word. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii) Jan is strictly enjoined by Stoutenburg to leave the banqueting hall undisturbed. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned by Stoutenburg as still being at Amersfoort, used as a threat to coerce Gilda. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/jan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters