Character Sheet for the Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles by Susanna Gregory.
Main Characters
Matthew Bartholomew
- Badass Bookworm: Many of the fellows and the students, including Matthew and Michael.
- Bash Brothers: Matthew and Michael are a mild form of this, as this is how the town, university, and church view them with crime-solving abilities.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Viewed by many as this due to his uncommon (but
correct medical theories, such as washing one's hands frequently and not drinking dirty water. - Cannot Spit It Out: Matthew towards Matilde, whom he loves. The day he finally decides to propose, she's already left town and disappears.
- Interdisciplinary Sleuth: Physician and teaching fellow by trade, he becomes known for solving crimes.
- The McCoy: Matthew, definitely. Michael to a lesser extent.
- Only Sane Man: Feels like it in regards to his medical theories.
- Plague Doctor: Matthew was one. It nearly kills him in the first book.
- Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: Could work for wealthy clients and roll in the dough, but prefers the pittance he's paid as a teacher and assist the poor.
- Took a Level in Badass: Matthew in the eleventh book, after spending over a year abroad searching for Matilde, including France at the Battle of Poitiers, and has grown capable with a sword as a result.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Matilde.
Brother Michael
- Badass Bookworm: Many of the fellows and the students, including Matthew and Michael.
- Bash Brothers: Matthew and Michael are a mild form of this, as this is how the town, university, and church view them with crime-solving abilities.
- The Big Guy: Brother Michael, possibly to the extent of a Genius Bruiser.
- Interdisciplinary Sleuth: A monk and teaching fellow by trade, he becomes known for solving crimes. He's also a spy for the Bishop of Ely.
- The Kirk: Can veer into The Spock and The McCoy territory, but is most often this.
- Large and in Charge: As the Senior Proctor of the university.
- Papa Wolf: Do not try to mess with either the university and its scholars or the town and its people, or you will regret it.
- Technical Pacifist: Brother Michael. Just because he doesn't like to carry arms doesn't mean he can't fight back. He is the son of a knight after all.
- Took a Level in Badass: Michael when he becomes the Senior Proctor of the University and begins gathering a power base.
Supporting Characters
Cynric
- Matthew's Welsh book-bearer, but is more like a close friend than a servant. Tends to be very superstitious, and is a great fighter.
- The Sneaky Guy: Due to being a former soldier.
Sir Oswald Stanmore
- Matthew's brother-in-law and friend. He's a clothing merchant, and relatively wealthy.
- Papa Wolf: Don't mess with his wife, his brother-in-law, or his apprentices.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: He sells cloth for a living, so it makes sense he'd always be well-dressed.
Edith Stanmore
- Older sister of Matthew, who raised him after their parents passed.
- Cool Big Sis: Ten years older than Matthew, she raised him along with her husband Oswald.
- Mama Bear: Very protective of her brother and her husband's apprentices.
"Lady" Matilde
- A mysterious woman that comes to Cambridge. Rumored to have been a lady-in-waiting that was dismissed for being too friendly with the men. Intelligent and independent.
- High-Class Call Girl: She's retired.
- Mysterious Past: Doesn't reveal much about it.
- Plucky Girl
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Matthew.
Agatha
- Michaelhouse's laundress who basically runs the domestic side of things there. Women aren't allowed to stay in Michaelhouse, but Agatha ignores this and does as she pleases. The Fellows know better than to argue with her.
- The Big Girl
- Mama Bear: Don't mess with "her" college or its fellows.
Master Kenyngham
- Actual Pacifist: Deplores any kind of violence and will always try to find a peaceful solution.
- Good Shepherd
- Killed Off for Real
Father William
- The Fundamentalist: Not a bad guy, just sees heresy everywhere, especially in the Dominicans. (He's a Fransican friar and hates the Dominican Order.)
- No Indoor Voice: He can, and will, out-shout you. From across town.
- Put on a Bus: In-Universe. Father William gets sent away for about a year for causing problems and helping to incite riots over perceived heresy.
John Clippesby
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Holds conversations with animals and isn't always there, but he's a good music teacher, if not astronomy teacher.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Overlaps with the above.
- Speaks Fluent Animal: Or so he thinks. Everyone else thinks he's insane.
Robert Langlee
- The Big Guy: Known for it.
- Book Dumb: Despite becoming Master of Michaelhouse and being an apt administrator, he and scholarship have a tenuous relationship. He's not an idiot by any stretch, but much prefers talking about camp-ball than reading texts.
- Mysterious Past: Worked as an agent for the Archbishop before becoming a scholar. Has hinted that he has does some unpleasant things during his time as an agent.
Richard Tulyet
- The town's capable sheriff. He works well with the University and is honest, earning him respect with both the town and the gown.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: As the town's sheriff.
- Captain Oblivious: To the fact that his son is a spoiled brat and a bully.
Dickon Tulyet
- Bratty Half-Pint: Everyone in the town despises him, but his father is oblivious to his antics.
- The Bully
- Spoiled Brat
