# Sir Nigel Loring — The White Company character guide

> Sir Nigel Loring in The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle.

**Role:** major

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

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-how-alleyne-edricson-came-out-into-the-world

## Snapshot

A small knight with an outsized appetite for honor, Sir Nigel Loring leads the White Company with punctilious chivalry and a tongue that quotes dying customs.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Alleyne Edricson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/alleyne_edricson)

_professional_

Alleyne serves as squire to Sir Nigel, who is his mentor and commander, with deep mutual respect and loyalty.

### [Lady Maude Loring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/lady_maude_loring)

_family_

Lady Maude is Sir Nigel's daughter, and their relationship is one of loving but formal familial duty.

### [Hordle John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/hordle_john)

_professional_

John serves as a man-at-arms under Sir Nigel, with loyalty and admiration for his knightly commander.

### [Roger Clubfoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/roger_clubfoot)

_rivalry_

Roger Clubfoot is a spy and enemy of Sir Nigel, representing treachery and opposition to the English company.

### [Sir Oliver Buttesthorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_oliver_buttesthorn)

_friendship_

Sir Nigel and Sir Oliver are fellow knights and close friends, sharing a deep bond of chivalric brotherhood.

### [Samkin Aylward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/samkin_aylward)

_professional_

Samkin serves as a seasoned archer under Sir Nigel, with loyalty and admiration for his leader.

### [Sir William Felton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_william_felton)

_friendship_

Sir Nigel and Sir William are fellow knights and allies, sharing a mutual respect and camaraderie in arms.

### [Tiphaine du Guesclin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/tiphaine_du_guesclin)

_rivalry_

Tiphaine du Guesclin is a French knight and enemy of Sir Nigel, representing the opposing side in battle.

### [Alleyne Edricson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/alleyne_edricson)

_professional_

Alleyne serves as squire to Sir Nigel, who is his mentor and commander, with deep mutual respect and loyalty.

### [Alleyne Edricson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/alleyne_edricson)

_professional_

Alleyne serves as squire to Sir Nigel, who is his mentor and commander, with deep mutual respect and loyalty.

### [Roger Clubfoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/roger_clubfoot)

_rivalry_

Roger Clubfoot is a spy and enemy of Sir Nigel, representing treachery and opposition to the English company.

### [Sir Oliver Buttesthorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_oliver_buttesthorn)

_friendship_

Sir Nigel and Sir Oliver are fellow knights and close friends, sharing a deep bond of chivalric brotherhood.

## In the story

### [The White Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/the-white-company)

The leader of the White Company, a knight of honor and chivalry who commands the band.

### [How the Three Comrades Journeyed Through the Woodlands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/vii-how-the-three-comrades-journeyed-through-the-woodlands)

Recipient of the letter from Sir Claude Latour, mentioned as the knight to whom the message is addressed.

### [How Hordle John Found a Man Whom He Might Follow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/x-how-hordle-john-found-a-man-whom-he-might-follow)

Hosts the three travelers at Twynham Castle; learns of the White Company and considers leading them.

### [How a Young Shepherd Had a Perilous Flock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xi-how-a-young-shepherd-had-a-perilous-flock)

Interviews Alleyne for the squire position, discusses his baldness and need for hair curling.

### [How Alleyne Learned More Than He Could Teach](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xii-how-alleyne-learned-more-than-he-could-teach)

The knight under whom Alleyne serves; he is actively recruiting men for the coming war, though hampered by poverty.

### [XIII: How the White Company Set Forth to the Wars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xiii-how-the-white-company-set-forth-to-the-wars)

Bids farewell to Lady Mary, takes her glove as a gage, and leads the company forth.

### [How Sir Nigel Sought for a Wayside Venture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xiv-how-sir-nigel-sought-for-a-wayside-venture)

Leads the group, instructs his squires on seeking honor, and interacts with a blind beggar and Hordle John's mother.

### [How the Yellow Cog Sailed Forth from Lepe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xv-how-the-yellow-cog-sailed-forth-from-lepe)

Commands the defense of the Yellow Cog, orders preparations against the pirate galleys, and insists on maintaining knightly honor by not lowering pennons.

### [How the Yellow Cog Fought the Two Rover Galleys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xvi-how-the-yellow-cog-fought-the-two-rover-galleys)

Commands the defense, uses a ruse to lure the galleys close, fights with great skill and courage, kills the Genoese leader, and orders the Norman pirate to be hanged.

### [How the Yellow Cog Crossed the Bar of Gironde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xvii-how-the-yellow-cog-crossed-the-bar-of-gironde)

Remains preoccupied with heraldic matters concerning his uncle's coat of arms, dismissing the ship's peril as a small matter.

### [XVIII: How Sir Nigel Loring Put a Patch Upon His Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xviii-how-sir-nigel-loring-put-a-patch-upon-his-eye)

Binds a patch over his left eye as a vow to honor his lady and perform a deed in Spain; rides through Bordeaux and is warmly greeted by Sir John Chandos.

### [XIX: How There Was Stir at the Abbey of St. Andrew's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xix-how-there-was-stir-at-the-abbey-of-st-andrew-s)

Arrives at the Abbey of St. Andrew's with Sir Oliver; is warmly greeted by the Prince of Wales and introduced to the court.

### [XXII: How the Bowmen Held Wassail at the Rose de Guienne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxii-how-the-bowmen-held-wassail-at-the-rose-de-guienne)

Mentioned as one of the five English knights chosen for the tournament, and as sleeping with Lord Chandos.

### [XXIII: How England Held the Lists at Bordeaux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxiii-how-england-held-the-lists-at-bordeaux)

Selected as one of the five English champions to hold the lists; noted as the second lance in the army.

### [How a Champion Came Forth from the East](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxiv-how-a-champion-came-forth-from-the-east)

Fights the unknown French knight on foot with a two-handed sword, wounds him in the shoulder, and shows great skill.

### [How Sir Nigel Wrote to Twynham Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxv-how-sir-nigel-wrote-to-twynham-castle)

Struggles with writing a letter to his wife, praises the French knight from the joust, and advises Alleyne on love and honor.

### [How the Three Comrades Gained a Mighty Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxvi-how-the-three-comrades-gained-a-mighty-treasure)

Rode ahead with Ford; Alleyne recalls their conversation about his love and fortune.

### [XXVII: How Roger Clubfoot Was Passed Into Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxvii-how-roger-clubfoot-was-passed-into-paradise)

Leads the party, converses with Sir Gaston d'Estelle, and offers protection to Micheldene.

### [XXVIII: How the Comrades Came Over the Marches of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxviii-how-the-comrades-came-over-the-marches-of-france)

Engages in conversation with Du Guesclin and Lady Tiphaine, expresses his devotion to his wife, and later crosses swords with Du Guesclin.

### [How the Blessed Hour of Sight Came to the Lady Tiphaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxix-how-the-blessed-hour-of-sight-came-to-the-lady-tiphaine)

English knight present at the feast, who defends Lady Tiphaine's honor and inquires about Twynham Castle.

### [How the Brushwood Men Came to the Château of Villefranche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxx-how-the-brushwood-men-came-to-the-ch-teau-of-villefranche)

Roused by the battle-cry, he joins the defense and counsels holding the keep.

### [How Five Men Held the Keep of Villefranche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxi-how-five-men-held-the-keep-of-villefranche)

Sir Nigel fights alongside Du Guesclin on the stair, refusing to parley with the peasants, and later converses with Du Guesclin about their end.

### [How the Company Took Counsel Round the Fallen Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxii-how-the-company-took-counsel-round-the-fallen-tree)

Leads the company, calls for honor and duty, decides to march to Dax to join the prince's vanguard.

### [How the Army Made the Passage of Roncesvalles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxiii-how-the-army-made-the-passage-of-roncesvalles)

Rides proudly at the head of his company, but is disgruntled by the peaceful passage and longs for a chance to prove his chivalry.

### [How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxv-how-sir-nigel-hawked-at-an-eagle)

Leads the company, devises the plan to wait until evening, and personally rides into the Spanish camp disguised as a Spaniard to capture a royal figure.

### [How Sir Nigel Took the Patch from His Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxvi-how-sir-nigel-took-the-patch-from-his-eye)

Removes his eye patch, declaring his vow fulfilled; receives news from England; reacts coldly to Alleyne's confession of love for Lady Maude; fights and kills Sebastian Gomez.

### [How the White Company Came to Be Disbanded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxvii-how-the-white-company-came-to-be-disbanded)

Leads the defense with great valor, his shield broken and armor smashed. He is captured by the Spaniards and believed dead.

### [XXXVIII: Of the Homecoming to Hampshire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxviii-of-the-homecoming-to-hampshire)

Missing after the Spanish campaign, but is found alive at an inn near Pitt's Deep, reunited with Alleyne and Aylward.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_nigel_loring
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- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters