Gutenberg Articles

Appearance

Excerpt ​

Excerpt from The White Company, by Arthur Conan Doyle

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

CONTENTS.

I. How the Black Sheep came forth from the Fold
II. How Alleyne Edricson came out into the World
III. How Hordle John cozened the Fuller of Lymington
IV. How the Bailiff of Southampton Slew the Two Masterless Men
IV. How a Strange Company Gathered at the “Pied Merlin”
VI. How Samkin Aylward Wagered his Feather-bed
VII. How the Three Comrades Journeyed through the Woodlands
VIII. The Three Friends
IX. How Strange Things Befell in Minstead Wood
X. How Hordle John Found a Man whom he Might Follow
XI. How a Young Shepherd had a Perilous Flock
XII. How Alleyne Learned More than he could Teach
XIII. How the White Company set forth to the Wars
XIV. How Sir Nigel sought for a Wayside Venture
XV. How the Yellow Cog sailed forth from Lepe
XVI. How the Yellow Cog fought the Two Rover Galleys
XVII. How the Yellow Cog crossed the Bar of Gironde
XVIII. How Sir Nigel Loring put a Patch upon his Eye
XIX. How there was Stir at the Abbey of St. Andrew's
XX. How Alleyne Won his Place in an Honorable Guild
XXI. How Agostino Pisano Risked his Head
XXII. How the Bowmen held Wassail at the “Rose de Guienne”
XXIII. How England held the Lists at Bordeaux
XXIV. How a Champion came forth from the East
XXV. How Sir Nigel wrote to Twynham Castle
XXVI. How the Three Comrades Gained a Mighty Treasure
XXVII. How Roger Club-foot was Passed into Paradise
XXVIII. How the Comrades came over the Marches of France
XXIX. How the Blessed Hour of Sight Came to the Lady Tiphaine
XXX. How the Brushwood Men came to the Chateau of Villefranche
XXXI. How Five Men held the Keep of Villefranche
XXXII. How the Company took Counsel Round the Fallen Tree
XXXIII. How the Army made the Passage of Roncesvalles
XXXIV. How the Company Made Sport in the Vale of Pampeluna
XXXV. How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle
XXXVI. How Sir Nigel Took the Patch from his Eye
XXXVII. How the White Company came to be Disbanded
XXXVIII. Of the Home-coming to Hampshire

Explanation ​

The excerpt you’ve provided is not a passage from The White Company itself but rather the table of contents from Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1891 historical adventure novel. While this may seem like a simple list of chapter titles, it is rich with narrative foreshadowing, thematic hints, and stylistic choices that reflect the novel’s adventure-driven, medieval-chivalric tone. Below is a detailed breakdown of the significance of these chapter titles, their literary context, and how they function as a microcosm of the novel’s structure, themes, and Doyle’s storytelling techniques.

1. Context of The White Company ​

Before analyzing the titles, it’s essential to understand the novel’s background:

  • Genre & Setting: The White Company is a historical adventure novel set during the Hundred Years' War (14th century), following a band of English archers (the "White Company") and their knightly leader, Sir Nigel Loring. The story blends medieval romance, military heroism, and picaresque adventure, reflecting Doyle’s fascination with chivalry and his desire to revive the spirit of Sir Walter Scott’s historical novels.
  • Publication & Reception: Written before Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories made him famous, The White Company was one of his personal favorites. It reflects his idealization of medieval knighthood and his belief in honor, camaraderie, and martial valor—themes that would later appear in his Holmes stories (e.g., loyalty between Holmes and Watson).
  • Influences: Doyle drew from Froissart’s Chronicles (a 14th-century account of the Hundred Years' War) and the Robin Hood legends, blending historical realism with romanticized adventure.

2. The Table of Contents as a Literary Device ​

The chapter titles in The White Company are not merely descriptive but performative—they:

  • Foreshadow key events (e.g., battles, betrayals, revelations).
  • Establish tone (whimsical, heroic, or ominous).
  • Reflect the novel’s episodic, picaresque structure (each chapter is a self-contained adventure contributing to the larger narrative).
  • Use archaic and chivalric language ("How the Bailiff of Southampton Slew the Two Masterless Men") to immerse the reader in the medieval world.

This technique was common in 19th-century serial fiction (e.g., Dickens, Dumas), where chapter titles served as hooks to keep readers engaged. Doyle’s titles are particularly dramatic and rhythmic, often beginning with "How," which gives them a folkloric, oral-storytelling quality—as if the narrator is recounting a legend by the fire.

3. Thematic Analysis Through the Chapter Titles ​

The titles reveal the novel’s central themes:

A. Chivalry and Knighthood ​

  • "How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle" (XXXV) – The falconry metaphor suggests nobility and the knightly pursuit of excellence.
  • "How Sir Nigel Took the Patch from his Eye" (XXXVI) – Symbolizes restored honor or vision, possibly after a trial.
  • "How the White Company set forth to the Wars" (XIII) – The company’s name ("White") evokes purity, discipline, and the idealized warrior brotherhood.

B. Adventure and the Picaresque ​

  • "How the Three Comrades Journeyed through the Woodlands" (VII) – Emphasizes the road-narrative structure, where each chapter is a new encounter.
  • "How a Strange Company Gathered at the ‘Pied Merlin’" (IV) – Introduces the motley crew of heroes, a staple of adventure tales (cf. The Three Musketeers).
  • "How the Yellow Cog fought the Two Rover Galleys" (XVI) – Highlights naval combat, a thrilling set-piece in the tradition of maritime adventure stories.

C. Honor and Betrayal ​

  • "How the Bailiff of Southampton Slew the Two Masterless Men" (IV) – "Masterless men" were outlaws or mercenaries; their death suggests justice or the cost of lawlessness.
  • "How Roger Club-foot was Passed into Paradise" (XXVII) – Euphemistic phrasing ("passed into Paradise") hints at violent death, possibly a betrayal or execution.
  • "How the Brushwood Men came to the Chateau of Villefranche" (XXX) – "Brushwood men" likely refers to guerrilla fighters or bandits, foreshadowing a siege or ambush.

D. Love and Romance ​

  • "How the Blessed Hour of Sight Came to the Lady Tiphaine" (XXIX) – Suggests a miraculous cure or revelation, possibly tied to a romantic subplot (Lady Tiphaine is a historical figure, a mystic associated with the Black Prince).
  • "How Alleyne Won his Place in an Honorable Guild" (XX) – Alleyne Edricson, the protagonist, is a young clerk turned warrior; his "honorable guild" may refer to knighthood or a brotherhood of archers.

E. War and Glory ​

  • "How England held the Lists at Bordeaux" (XXIII) – "The lists" refers to a tournament, symbolizing England’s martial prowess.
  • "How Five Men held the Keep of Villefranche" (XXXI) – A heroic last stand, reminiscent of Thermopylae or Roncesvalles (which is later referenced in XXXIII).
  • "How the Army made the Passage of Roncesvalles" (XXXIII) – Roncesvalles is a legendary battlefield (from The Song of Roland), invoking epic struggle and sacrifice.

F. Humor and Folk Wisdom ​

  • "How Hordle John cozened the Fuller of Lymington" (III) – "Cozened" means tricked; this title introduces Hordle John, a giant archer with a roguish streak, providing comic relief.
  • "How Samkin Aylward Wagered his Feather-bed" (VI) – A whimsical bet, showing the everyman humor amid war.

4. Literary Devices in the Titles ​

Doyle employs several stylistic and rhetorical techniques in the chapter titles:

A. Anaphora (Repetition) ​

  • Nearly every title begins with "How", creating a rhythmic, incantatory effect. This mimics:
    • Medieval chronicles (e.g., "Here begins the tale of...").
    • Oral storytelling (as if a bard is recounting the tale).
    • Biblical or mythic cadence (e.g., "And it came to pass...").

B. Archaic Diction ​

  • Words like "cozened," "slew," "wassail," "lists," "hawked" evoke the 14th-century setting and lend authenticity.
  • "Masterless men" – A term for ronin-like mercenaries, reinforcing the lawless atmosphere.

C. Dramatic Irony & Foreshadowing ​

  • "How the White Company came to be Disbanded" (XXXVII) – The word "disbanded" suggests tragedy or the end of an era, hinting at the impermanence of glory.
  • "How a Champion came forth from the East" (XXIV) – The "East" often symbolizes exotic threat or salvation (e.g., the Crusades, Genghis Khan).

D. Symbolism in Titles ​

  • "The Pied Merlin" (IV) – A "pied" (multicolored) merlin (a small falcon) may symbolize deception or diversity in the company.
  • "The Yellow Cog" (XV, XVI, XVII) – The ship’s name ("cog" = medieval vessel) becomes a recurring motif, representing journey and peril.

5. Significance of the Structure ​

The progression of titles mirrors the hero’s journey and the rise and fall of the White Company:

  1. Introduction of Characters (I-III) – The "Black Sheep," Alleyne, and Hordle John are introduced as outsiders.
  2. Formation of the Band (IV-VII) – The company gathers, bonds, and sets off.
  3. Trials and Adventures (VIII-XXIV) – Battles, tournaments, and personal growth.
  4. Climax and Siege (XXV-XXXI) – The height of their glory (holding Villefranche).
  5. Decline and Return (XXXII-XXXVIII) – The company disbands, and the survivors return home.

This three-act structure (assembly, triumph, dissolution) is classic in epic and chivalric romance, reinforcing the cyclical nature of war and heroism.

6. Comparison to Doyle’s Other Works ​

  • Sherlock Holmes: While Holmes is rational and modern, The White Company is romantic and medieval. However, both feature:
    • Loyal companions (Holmes/Watson vs. Alleyne/Hordle John/Samkin).
    • Episodic adventures (each Holmes story is a case; each chapter here is a quest).
  • The Lost World: Like his later adventure novels, The White Company blends historical research with pulp excitement.

7. Why This Table of Contents Matters ​

The chapter titles are not just organizational but thematic and tonal. They:

  • Set expectations (readers anticipate battles, betrayals, and heroism).
  • Create a mythic atmosphere (the "How..." formula makes the story feel like a legend).
  • Reflect Doyle’s narrative philosophy: He believed in clear, dramatic storytelling, and the titles serve as miniature hooks for each chapter.

In an era when many novels were published serially, compelling chapter titles were essential to keep readers engaged week after week. Doyle’s titles achieve this by being both informative and mysterious—revealing just enough to intrigue but not so much as to spoil the surprise.

8. Conclusion: The Table of Contents as a Microcosm ​

The table of contents of The White Company is a masterclass in foreshadowing and tone-setting. Through archaic language, rhythmic repetition, and symbolic titles, Doyle:

  1. Immersion in the medieval world (via diction and themes).
  2. Promises adventure (each "How" is an invitation to a new tale).
  3. Balances humor and heroism (from feather-bed wagers to last stands).
  4. Hints at deeper themes (the fleeting nature of glory, the cost of war).

In essence, these titles are not just a list but a prologue—they prepare the reader for a sweeping, romantic, and ultimately bittersweet tale of chivalry in its twilight.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific chapter’s implied content based on its title?