Character guide

Hudibras

major

Also known as Sir Hudibras, Knight, Sir Knight, The Knight, the Knight, Thither the Knight, The subtle Knight

A pompous, hypocritical Presbyterian knight who embarks on absurd adventures with his squire.

Ralpho

major

Also known as Ralph, plain Ralph, Squire, Good Squire, wrathful Squire, The Squire

Hudibras's independent-minded squire, a radical sectary who often debates his master.

Sidrophel

supporting

Also known as This Sidrophel, Sidrophello, Sir Agrippa, Cornelius Agrippa, Sir Cornelius Agrippa

A fraudulent astrologer and magician whom Hudibras consults.

Whachum

supporting

Sidrophel's cunning assistant and accomplice in his schemes.

Talgol

supporting

A fierce butcher and champion in the bear-baiting riot.

Crowdero

supporting

A fiddler and one of the combatants in the bear-baiting fray.

Orsin

supporting

Also known as furious Orsin, Noble Orsin

A bear-ward who leads the attack on Hudibras.

Bruin

supporting

Also known as The gallant Bruin, stout Bruin, the Bear, Bear, The worsted Bear

The bear baited in the riot, a central figure in the first canto.

Trulla

supporting

Also known as gentle Trulla

A fierce Amazonian woman who fights in the bear-baiting brawl.

Cerdon

supporting

Also known as The upright Cerdon next advanc't, Cerdon the Great, valiant Cerdon, Last Colon, Colon

A cobbler and combatant in the riot, later a minor character.

Magnano

supporting

Also known as Mong these the fierce Magnano

A tinker and fighter in the bear-baiting conflict.

Cerberus

minor

Also known as Proud Cerberus

The three-headed dog of myth, referenced as a character in the narrative.

Oliver Cromwell

minor

Also known as the usurper Oliver Cromwell, Cromwell, Oliver

The Lord Protector, frequently alluded to as a political figure.

Romulus

minor

Mythical founder of Rome, mentioned in passing comparisons.

Aeneas

minor

Trojan hero, referenced in classical allusions.

John Duns Scotus

minor

Also known as Johannes Dunscotas, Dunscotas

Medieval scholastic philosopher, mocked for obscure reasoning.

Thomas Aquinas

minor

Also known as Thomas

Scholastic theologian, cited in Hudibras's pedantic arguments.

Muhammad

minor

Also known as Mahomet

Prophet of Islam, mentioned in religious satire.

Chiron

minor

Centaur tutor of Achilles, referenced in classical allusions.

Joan of Arc

minor

Also known as Joan of, Pope Joan, Joan, Jo

French heroine and legendary female pope, used in satirical comparisons.

Taliacotius

minor

Renaissance surgeon known for nose grafts, mentioned in mockery.

Roger Bacon

minor

Also known as Friar Bacon, Bacon

Medieval philosopher and scientist, referenced as a magician.

Satan

minor

The devil, invoked in religious satire and oaths.

Raymund Lully

minor

Also known as Mr. Ray

Medieval alchemist and philosopher, mentioned in occult contexts.

Ignatius Loyola

minor

Founder of the Jesuits, satirized as a schemer.

Julius Caesar

minor

Also known as Caesar

Roman dictator, used in historical comparisons.

Pygmalion

minor

Mythical sculptor, referenced in classical allusions.

Montaigne

minor

French essayist, cited in philosophical digressions.

Hercules

minor

Mythological hero, used in epic comparisons.

Martin Luther

minor

Also known as Martin

Protestant reformer, referenced in religious satire.

Pyrrho

minor

Greek skeptic philosopher, mentioned in philosophical jokes.

Prometheus

minor

Titan who gave fire to humans, referenced in classical allusions.

Paracelsus

minor

Renaissance physician and alchemist, mentioned in occult contexts.

Philip Nye

minor

Also known as Philip, Phil

Puritan clergyman, satirized as a religious hypocrite.

Bongey

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or local figure.

Caligula

minor

Roman emperor, used as a byword for tyranny.

King Charles II

minor

Also known as King Charles I

The restored monarch, referenced in political satire.

Adam

minor

First man in the Bible, mentioned in theological jokes.

Cupid

minor

God of love, referenced in romantic satire.

Lob

minor

A rustic or clownish character, possibly a servant.

Eve

minor

First woman in the Bible, mentioned in theological satire.

Virgil

minor

Roman poet, referenced in classical allusions.

Pliny

minor

Roman naturalist, cited in mock-scholarly notes.

William Pryn

minor

Also known as Pryn

Puritan pamphleteer, satirized for his zeal.

Alexander Ross

minor

Also known as Alexander

Scottish writer and controversialist, mocked in the poem.

Apollo

minor

Also known as quoth Apollo

God of poetry, invoked in mock-epic conventions.

Homer

minor

Also known as old Homer

Ancient Greek poet, referenced as epic source.

Echo

minor

Also known as Quoth Echo

Nymph from myth, used in a punning exchange.

Madam Bennet

minor

Also known as Madam

A procuress or bawd, mentioned in satirical context.

Plato

minor

Greek philosopher, cited in philosophical satire.

Copernicus

minor

Astronomer, referenced in Sidrophel's pseudo-science.

Sarah Jimmers

minor

Also known as sally

A woman mentioned in passing, possibly a local figure.

Lord Napier

minor

Also known as Napier, The famous Lord Napier

Scottish mathematician, inventor of logarithms, referenced.

Demosthenes

minor

Greek orator, used in rhetorical comparisons.

Sir William Davenant

minor

Also known as Sir William d'Avenant, Sir William

Poet laureate, mentioned in literary satire.

Doomsday Sedgwick

minor

Also known as This Sedgwick

A Puritan preacher, satirized for his apocalyptic sermons.

Anaxagoras

minor

Also known as Anaxogaras

Pre-Socratic philosopher, mentioned in philosophical jokes.