For information on Project Gutenberg and their affiliates, and tips on using these files on your reading device, please refer to my Newsletter: My NEXT Step in Technology.

The White Company

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Click the title for your free ebook!

    It is said that Conan Doyle made his living from Sherlock Holmes, but his passion was historical novels and the supernatural, (which he sneaks into many of his works, including Sherlock Holmes). I have read some of those stories, and I own the complete Holmes in two volumes, which will be showing up on these pages at some point, but I really do like historical novels and this is a good one. There is a sequel that I will be adding, and you can keep current of the reviews I have written for this author on his Index Page.
    However, I have recently been lamenting that fact that it seems most of the historical novels I read are about wars, and I am really getting quite weary of that subject, both here in the present and the horrors of the past. Enough, already. This one takes place in medieval times, during the Hundred Years' War between France and England and it is from the viewpoint of the (eventual) losing side, which would be England, thankfully. The more I read about the history of England, the less I like it. They certainly believed in "Rule Britannia!" and not just the waves but half the globe. They seemed to think they could invade whatever country they damn well pleased, and unfortunately provided an example for the U.S.
    Anyways, the Hundred Years' War was long and complicated, finally "officially" ending with the Treaty of Picquigny in 1475, much of France's increase of power due to the amazing efforts of Joan of Arc, whose wonderful historical novel was written by Mark Twain (Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc).
    The events of this present story take place much earlier, however, beginning in 1366, which on the Wikipedia page linked above would be in the "French ascendancy under Charles V: (1369-1389). In fact the only real battle emphasized in the story takes place in Spain. Bertrand Du Guesclin, one of the main players in this segment of history, was also a character in the story.
    Most of the novel really is not about battles, but about the lives of a number of people, with some romance thrown in. The main knight is Sir Nigel Loring, loosely based on the life of a real knight under various spellings, (Neel, Neil, Loryng, Loringe) who lived from 1320-1386, and was also the founder of the Order of the Garter. In the story, it is Sir Nigel who leads The White Company, a mercenary band of archers. In real life, there was a company of that name, led by John Hawkwood. The sequel to this story, is called Sir Nigel, and goes back to an earlier time, speaking of this knight's battles before the events of this story. Incidentally, Conan Doyle became interested in medieval history after attending a lecture on the Middle Ages in 1889. And we are all the richer for it!
    But as I said, the story is really not about the Hundred Years' War, nor is Sir Nigel the main character, though he is one of several. Our hero in this one is a young man of 20 years named Alleyne Edricson. And we first meet him in a monastery, where he has spent most of his life being raised, as requested in his father's will. His brother is the socman (landlord) of Minstead (part of the feudal system in England at the time). That brother inherited what was left of the wealth, and was known as a cruel and disreputable character, resenting that part of what he believed should have been his inheritance went to the monastery to raise his brother. Alleyne, however, has grown up as meek, pious, and obedient as a monk. That is all about to change however, since it is stipulated in the will that Alleyne must leave the peace and isolation of his only home at age twenty, to experience the world. After a year, he may return, if he chooses. (He doesn't choose, by the way.)
    However, the first event happens as the monks of the Cistercian Abbey in Beaulieu, England, gather to hear an accusation against one of their novices, John, who has, (gasp!) looked at a woman, woman being a creature of evil that should be avoided. In fact, not only has this big burley man looked upon her, but he picked her up and carried her over a stream. Now he sits on trial, condemned to punishment. This big gorilla of a man has no intention of being punished by a bunch of sissy monks for being a normal man, so he (violently) fights his way free and hightails it down the road. We find out later that the only reason he is in the monastery anyways is to seek refuge from a little indiscretion concerning a woman or two and simultaneous betrothals.
    Shortly after, and in great contrast, the still angry Abbot Berghersch seeks the audience of his beloved Alleyne, to whom he must say goodbye. And so, in a much different mode, he also takes off down the road, sad to leave his only home, but suddenly realizing he now has the freedom to discover a world he never knew existed. He has been taught it is all evil, (especially those women), but is soon to discover that really is not true.
    However, at first he believes it may be, as he comes upon a man wearing the late Hordle John's monastery clothing, who has been swindled out of his own. He assists the man in obtaining other clothing from a friend, then makes his way to the Pied Merlin, where he gets a real dose of worldly reality. It is not bad at all, though. He re-meets Hordle John and actually begins to like him. In addition is a just-arrived archer from The White Company, Samkin Aylward, returning from a French adventure in looting with a load of treasures. Alleyne finds he likes this man, too, and this man finds he really likes the widow who runs the Pied Merlin, and vows on his return to marry her. (He does!) So the three new friends, Aylward, John, and Alleyne take off to Christchurch, the first two to seek Sir Nigel who has been requested to take over The White Company in France. As mercenaries, they will join with the Black Prince, Edward, eldest son of Edward III of England, who is in Gascony attempting to restore Peter of Castile to the throne, usurped by his half-brother, Henry II. Alleyne, however, will not continue the entire journey with his new friends, because he is on a spiritual mission to bring God back to his wayward brother. As they separate, John and Aylward beg Alleyne to stay with them, and though he truly desires that, he must stay with what he believes is his mission. The others tell him they will wait to see what reception his brother has to his presence. Alleyne urges them to go on without him.
    As he nears what he realizes is his family estate, he sees a wild man, though handsome enough, making demands upon a lady. Though not a fighter, Alleyne comes from valiant stock, and his bloodline kicks in. He demands the release of the lady, and is dismayed to find that this barbaric brute is his brother, who now intends to kill him. He and the young lady take off, and he notices how beautiful she is, and that he is attracted to her. He knows he cannot help his brother, and says he will return to his two friends to meet Sir Nigel at Christchurch. The lady laughs and by now her horse and page have returned, so she rides home.
    Alleyne catches up to his friends, and they meet the great knight, Sir Nigel, who is small, bald and half-blind, with an ugly wife whom he adores and thinks is the most beautiful woman alive. But the biggest surprise is when Alleyne realizes the lady whom he has rescued, Lady Maude, is Sir Nigel's daughter. After their introductions, and Sir Nigel is assured that Alleyne is nothing at all like his brother, the young man is quickly accepted at Tywnham Castle. He is made a squire, along with two other young men, to Sir Nigel. Hordle John joins the White Company, and all prepare to go overseas to Gascony. Meanwhile, Alleyne is teacher to Maude and her tire-woman, though neither are that excited about learning. Alleyne and Maude fall in love, but now is not the time to think about anything further ahead. Alleyne must go to war with Maude's father, as his protector and servant, to prove himself.
    Sir Nigel is always on the lookout for battle, to "further his advancement." He finds it before they reach Gascony, in the form of dealing with a fleet of pirates. One of the squires is killed and a big hole is made in the cog which carries Sir Nigel. They manage to make it to Gascony.
    The one character of comic relief is Sir Oliver Buttesthorn, a very fat knight of good repute, but who seems to think of nothing but eating. The remainder of the book is about their adventures in Gascony, and their meeting up with the White Company, who have turned into a bunch of rogue looters. Sir Nigel snaps them into shape and reminds them who they are serving. All but a few decide to follow Sir Nigel, and off they go to Castile, where they face the greatest battle of their lives.
    This is a long book and requires time to read, but it is well-written, typical of the great Conan Doyle. Recommended reading, especially if you love stories from the Middle Ages.

hhhh