# Jasper Leigh — The Sea Hawk character guide

> Jasper Leigh in The Sea Hawk by Rafael Sabatini.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Master Jasper Leigh, Leigh, Captain Leigh, Captain Jasper Leigh

**First appearance:** 0008-vi-jasper-leigh

## Snapshot

A weather-beaten, conscience-free sea captain who sells his services to whoever pays, and whose treacherous opportunism sets Oliver on the path to slavery and revenge.

## Who they are

Master Leigh is the kind of mariner who would trepan his own mother for a purse of gold, and he proves it when he delivers Sir Oliver into the hands of his enemies. Yet he is no mere villain: his cowardice, his greed, and his craven instinct for self-preservation make him a recurring instrument of fortune, useful to stronger men and dangerous to trusting ones. His path crosses Oliver's again under the corsair's flag, where the tables turn and the rascal must serve the man he betrayed.

## Relationships

### [Sir Oliver Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_oliver_tressilian)

_professional_

Jasper Leigh is a sea captain who serves Oliver, first as a hired sailor and later as a loyal follower.

### [Master Lionel Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/master_lionel_tressilian)

_professional_

Jasper Leigh interacts with Lionel as a subordinate and occasional messenger, with little personal warmth.

### [Sir Oliver Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_oliver_tressilian)

_professional_

Jasper Leigh is a sea captain who serves Oliver, first as a hired sailor and later as a loyal follower.

### [Master Lionel Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/master_lionel_tressilian)

_professional_

Jasper Leigh interacts with Lionel as a subordinate and occasional messenger, with little personal warmth.

### [Master Lionel Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/master_lionel_tressilian)

_professional_

Jasper Leigh interacts with Lionel as a subordinate and occasional messenger, with little personal warmth.

### [Sir Oliver Tressilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sir_oliver_tressilian)

_professional_

Jasper Leigh is a sea captain who serves Oliver, first as a hired sailor and later as a loyal follower.

## In the story

### [VI: Jasper Leigh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/vi-jasper-leigh)

A desperate adventurer ripe for any deed if the price is high enough; Lionel seeks to hire him to deal with Oliver.

### [VIII: The Spaniard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/viii-the-spaniard)

Reveals he was hired by Lionel Tressilian to kidnap Sir Oliver, then offers to return him for payment.

### [I: The Captive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/i-the-captive)

A ragged English slave aboard the Spanish ship, he recognizes Sakr-el-Bahr as Sir Oliver and expects to be hanged.

### [II: The Renegade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/ii-the-renegade)

The skipper who trepanned Oliver; both are captured by the Spanish and undergo the Inquisition together.

### [III: Homeward Bound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/iii-homeward-bound)

Captured and brought before Sakr-el-Bahr, he agrees to navigate the ship to England in exchange for his life and liberty.

### [VI: The Convert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/vi-the-convert)

Converts to Islam and pledges loyalty to Sakr-el-Bahr, moved by clemency.

### [Marzak-Ben-Asad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/vii-marzak-ben-asad)

Appears as a renegade in Moorish attire, presented to Asad and confirmed as Jasper-Reis.

### [XX: The Messenger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xx-the-messenger)

Supports Sakr-el-Bahr's claim that Lionel has vanished after the arrow shot.

### [XXIII: The Heathen Creed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxiii-the-heathen-creed)

Shares the prison cell, confesses to killing Lionel Tressilian, and is tormented by fear of death and damnation, but is comforted by Sir Oliver.

### [XXVI: The Judgement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xxvi-the-judgement)

Named by Lionel as the man hired to kidnap Oliver; his testimony will confirm Oliver's story.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/jasper_leigh
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters