Character guide

Alleyne Edricson

major

Also known as Alleyne, Simple Alleyne, poor Alleyne, Edricson

Raised in a monastery and released into a world of war, Alleyne Edricson enters the White Company as a squire of the body, learning the sword and the politics of chivalry at Sir Nigel's side. His gentle conscience and scholarly habits clash with the brutal pragmatism of camp life, and his secret love for Lady Maude Loring complicates every oath he swears. His growth from innocent novice to tested man anchors the story's moral center.

Sir Nigel Loring

major

Also known as Sir Nigel, Nigel, Sir Nigel Loring of Christchurch

Sir Nigel Loring of Christchurch commands the White Company, a band of archers and men-at-arms whose fortunes rest on his reputation for courage and his refusal to compromise on the forms of chivalry. Diminutive in stature but fierce in battle, he is a man of tender vanities and rigid principles, equally at home trading jests with old comrades and demanding impossible feats of his squire. His leadership and his code shape the company's identity and drive Alleyne's education in honor.

Hordle John

supporting

Also known as John, big John, brother John, John of Hordle

Hordle John towers over his companions, a former monk whose enormous strength and appetite for brawling make him both a terror in battle and a source of comic relief in camp. Beneath his rough humor lies a loyal heart, and his friendship with Alleyne and Aylward forms one of the story's warmest bonds. His journey from cloister to battlefield mirrors Alleyne's, but with far more ale and far fewer scruples.

Samkin Aylward

supporting

Also known as Aylward, Sam Aylward, Sammy, old Samkin Aylward

Samkin Aylward has spent decades in the wars, and his easy charm and quicker wit make him a favorite among the archers and the women of every town the company passes through. He serves as guide and mentor to the younger recruits, his practical wisdom a counterweight to Sir Nigel's lofty ideals. His loyalty to the company and his unflappable good humor keep the band together through hardship and siege.

Sir Oliver Buttesthorn

supporting

Also known as Sir Oliver, Oliver, Old Sir Oliver

Sir Oliver Buttesthorn is a mountain of a man whose fury over a missed feast is as legendary as his courage in battle, and whose friendship with Sir Nigel dates back to their shared campaigns in France. He is quick to wrath and quicker to forgive, especially when a good pie or a noble pigeon is involved. His earthy appetites and boisterous loyalty provide a comic counterpoint to Sir Nigel's austere chivalry, and his presence reminds readers that even great warriors are made of flesh and gravy.

Lady Maude Loring

supporting

Also known as Maude, the Lady Loring, the Lady Maude

Lady Maude Loring is the sole heiress of Sir Nigel, a young woman of spirit and beauty whose heart has been captured by Alleyne Edricson, her father's squire. When news of the company's supposed destruction reaches her, she seeks the cloister's peace, only to be confronted at the very threshold by the lover she thought dead. Her choice between the nunnery's safety and the risks of love and nature gives the story one of its most vivid romantic set-pieces.

Black Simon of Norwich

minor

Also known as Black Simon, Simon

A grim and fearsome man-at-arms in the White Company.

John Norbury

minor

Also known as Norbury, great John

A sturdy English man-at-arms who fights with the company.

Sir John Chandos

minor

Also known as Chandos, Lord Chandos, the Lord Chandos

A renowned English knight and commander in the wars.

Tiphaine du Guesclin

minor

Also known as Du Guesclin, the Lady Tiphaine, Lady Tiphaine

A prophetic French noblewoman who aids the company.

John Tranter

minor

Also known as Tranter

A rough English archer in the White Company.

Walter Ford of Botley

minor

Also known as Ford, Walter Ford

An archer from Botley who serves in the company.

Sir William Felton

minor

Also known as Felton, William

An English knight who fights alongside the company.

Johnston

minor

Also known as old Johnston

An elderly archer and veteran of the company.

Sir Tristram de Rochefort

minor

Also known as Tristram, the Lady Rochefort

A French knight and husband of Tiphaine du Guesclin.

Goodwin Hawtayne

minor

Also known as Hawtayne, Master Hawtayne

A master bowman and leader among the archers.

Sir Bertrand du Guesclin

minor

Also known as Bertrand, Bertrand du Guesclin

A famous French knight and commander.

Claude Latour

minor

Also known as Sir Claude Latour, Sir Claude

A Gascon knight who joins the White Company.

Don Pedro

minor

Also known as Pedro, King Pedro

The King of Castile, a cruel and treacherous ruler.

Lady Mary Loring

minor

Also known as Mary, the Lady Mary

Sir Nigel's wife and mother of Maude.

Abbot Berghersh

minor

Also known as the Abbot, the Abbot Berghersh

The stern abbot of the Abbey of St. Andrew's.

Sir Simon Burley

minor

Also known as Simon, Burley

A stout English knight and commander.

Peter Terlake

minor

Also known as Terlake, young Peter Terlake

A young squire from Fareham who joins the company.

Dame Eliza

minor

A woman who appears briefly in the story.

Lord Audley

minor

Also known as Audley, my Lord Audley

An English nobleman and commander in the wars.

Don Diego Alvarez

minor

Also known as Don Diego

A Spanish nobleman encountered during the campaign.

Sir Thomas Percy

minor

Also known as Thomas, Percy

An English knight who appears in the narrative.

Sir Robert Knolles

minor

Also known as Sir Robert, the rugged Sir Robert Knolles

A rugged English freebooter and commander.

Don Martin de la Carra

minor

Also known as Don Martin

A Spanish knight encountered in the campaign.

Sir William Beauchamp

minor

Also known as Beauchamp

An English knight and commander.

Roger Clubfoot

minor

Also known as this Roger Clubfoot

A treacherous villain encountered by the company.

Sieur de Crespigny

minor

Also known as Englishman, young Sieur de Crespigny

A young French nobleman who mocks an Englishman.

Edric the Socman

minor

Also known as Socman, Edric

A furious outlaw encountered in the woods.

Captal de Buch

minor

Also known as Captal, the Captal du Buch

A famous Gascon knight and ally of the English.

Sir Hugh Calverley

minor

Also known as Hugh, Sir Hugh

A fierce English knight leading a free company.

Sir Humphrey Tennant of Ashby

minor

Also known as Humphrey, Ashby

An aggrieved English knight seeking justice.

Michel

minor

Also known as the fat Michel

A fat French innkeeper or soldier encountered by the company.

Charles of Blois

minor

Also known as Charles

A claimant to the Duchy of Brittany.

Gourval

minor

Also known as Master Gourval

A master of a ship or merchant encountered by the company.

Roger Harcomb

minor

Also known as Harcomb

An archer in the White Company.

Sir William de Pakington

minor

Also known as William de Pakington, old Sir William

An elderly English knight.

David Micheldene

minor

Also known as David, Master Micheldene

A man encountered by the company in France.

Arnold de Cervolles

minor

Also known as Arnold

A French freebooter or knight.

Father Christopher

minor

Also known as Christopher

A priest from the priory who advises Alleyne.

Pelligny

minor

Also known as master Pelligny, François Poursuivant d'Amour Pelligny

A French pursuivant or herald.

Sir Richard Causton

minor

Also known as Sir Richard

An English knight who appears in the story.

Robbie Withstaff

minor

Also known as Robin, little Robby Withstaff

A small archer in the White Company.

Wat Swathling

minor

Also known as Wat

An archer in the White Company.

Brother Ambrose

minor

A monk at the Abbey of St. Andrew's.

Old Dom Bertrand

minor

Also known as page Bertrand

An old page or servant encountered by the company.

Sir Stephen Cossington

minor

Also known as Stephen

An English knight who appears in the narrative.

Master Witherton of Southampton

minor

Also known as Southampton

A merchant from Southampton.

Sir Thomas Wake

minor

Also known as Wake

An English knight from Yorkshire.

Brother Mark of the Spicarium

minor

Also known as Mark

A monk at the abbey who tends the garden.

Watkin of Sowley

minor

Also known as Watkin

A varlet or servant encountered in the story.

Amory de Valance

minor

Also known as young Amory

A young knight encountered by the company.

Sir Bartholomew Berghersh

minor

Also known as Bartholomew, brother Bartholomew

A knight and relative of the abbot.

Brother Athanasius

minor

Also known as Athanasius

A sleepy old monk at the abbey.

John Hawkwood

minor

Also known as old John Hawkwood

A famous English mercenary leader mentioned in the story.

Baron Brocas

minor

A baron who appears briefly in the narrative.

Lord de Mucident

minor

Also known as the Lord of Mucident, Mucident

A French lord encountered by the company.

De Clisson

minor

Also known as Clisson

A burly French knight encountered in the campaign.

Michael Easover of Romsey

minor

Also known as Romsey

A man from Romsey encountered by the company.

Willie Ockham

minor

Also known as Ockham, Will

A young archer in the White Company.

Sir Thomas Banaster

minor

An English knight who appears in the story.

Peter Wilkins

minor

Also known as Wilkins

A man encountered by the company.

Don Tello

minor

A Spanish nobleman encountered in the campaign.