# Hugh — Barnaby Rudge character guide > Hugh in Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Maypole Hugh, Hugh of the Maypole, the Maypole **First appearance:** 0002-chapter-1 ## Snapshot A wild, hawk-eyed ostler from the Maypole who trades his horse-cloth for a flag and becomes a grinning captain of the mob. ## Who they are Hugh sleeps in the ruinous outbuildings of the Maypole and can find his way anywhere blindfold, a savage, cudgel-carrying servant who owes no loyalty to anyone. He flatters Barnaby with visions of gold lace and grand houses, winking at the hangman Dennis even as he spins them, and the pleasure he takes in the boy's delight is as genuine as it is dangerous. In him the novel gives the riots their most magnetic and least trustworthy face, a man whose appetite for chaos will carry the story far past mere flag-carrying. ## Relationships ### [Barnaby Rudge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/barnaby_rudge) _friendship_ Barnaby and Hugh share a simple, almost childlike bond, with Hugh acting as a protector and Barnaby trusting him blindly. ### [Sir John Chester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/sir_john_chester) _psychological_ Chester manipulates Hugh, using him as a pawn in his schemes, while Hugh is unaware of his true parentage and loyalty. ### [Simon Tappertit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/simon_tappertit) _friendship_ Hugh and Simon are fellow conspirators in the riot, sharing a rough camaraderie and mutual disdain for authority. ### [John Willet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/john_willet) _professional_ Hugh works as a stable boy at the Maypole Inn under John Willet, who treats him with disdain and suspicion. ### [Barnaby Rudge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/barnaby_rudge) _friendship_ Barnaby and Hugh share a simple, almost childlike bond, with Hugh acting as a protector and Barnaby trusting him blindly. ### [Sir John Chester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/sir_john_chester) _psychological_ Chester manipulates Hugh, using him as a pawn in his schemes, while Hugh is unaware of his true parentage and loyalty. ### [Simon Tappertit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/simon_tappertit) _friendship_ Hugh and Simon are fellow conspirators in the riot, sharing a rough camaraderie and mutual disdain for authority. ### [Barnaby Rudge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/barnaby_rudge) _friendship_ Barnaby and Hugh share a simple, almost childlike bond, with Hugh acting as a protector and Barnaby trusting him blindly. ### [John Willet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/john_willet) _professional_ Hugh works as a stable boy at the Maypole Inn under John Willet, who treats him with disdain and suspicion. ### [Sir John Chester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/sir_john_chester) _psychological_ Chester manipulates Hugh, using him as a pawn in his schemes, while Hugh is unaware of his true parentage and loyalty. ### [John Willet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/john_willet) _professional_ Hugh works as a stable boy at the Maypole Inn under John Willet, who treats him with disdain and suspicion. ### [Simon Tappertit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/simon_tappertit) _friendship_ Hugh and Simon are fellow conspirators in the riot, sharing a rough camaraderie and mutual disdain for authority. ## In the story ### [Chapter 11](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-11) Sleeps by the fire, described as a muscular, animalistic figure; John Willet compares him to a beast. ### [Chapter 17](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-17) Mentioned as having been with Barnaby during the day's adventures, though not present in the chapter. ### [Chapter 21](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-21) Confronts Dolly with aggressive admiration, threatens her, and later joins the search for her lost items. ### [Chapter 22](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-22) Rides with the party at John Willet's request, covertly watching Dolly and unsettling her. ### [Chapter 23](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-23) Arrives at Sir John's chambers, returns the whip, delivers Dolly's letter, and admits to taking a kiss and a bracelet; becomes intoxicated and boasts of his violent nature. ### [Chapter 25](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-25) Comes out sluggishly from the Maypole to hand up a parcel to the coach. ### [Chapter 28](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-28) Walks twelve miles to London, waits for Mr. Chester, and delivers Dolly's note. He is warned to keep their association secret. ### [Chapter 29](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-29) At the Maypole, Hugh is ordered by John Willet to care for Chester's horse and performs acrobatic feats, showing his wild nature and disdain for authority. ### [Chapter 34](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-34) Hugh serves as John's reluctant escort, displaying his rough and defiant demeanor, and his unsettling familiarity with the Warren's dark history. ### [Chapter 35](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-35) Acts as John Willet's guard, confronts the horsemen roughly, and later engages in a brief physical exchange with John Grueby, showing his aggressive nature. ### [Chapter 37](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-37) Arrives at Gashford's room, another 'Protestant' recruit for the cause. ### [Chapter 38](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-38) Enlists in the Protestant Association, showing his eagerness for violence and his illiteracy. ### [Chapter 39](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-39) Roars with laughter, dances, and declares his hatred for Papists; forms a friendship with Tappertit and Dennis. ### [Chapter 40](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-40) Returns to Sir John Chester's chambers, wet from a pump, and reveals his involvement with the rioters, expressing a desire for violence and revenge. ### [Chapter 44](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-44) Revealed as the man who threw the stone at Gashford, Hugh is eager for violent action and readily accepts the task of punishing Haredale. ### [Chapter 49](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-49) A cunning and manipulative leader in the riot, he uses Barnaby's simple nature for his own purposes, promising him rewards and falsely claiming to have secured his mother's safety. ### [Chapter 50](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-50) Roused by Gashford's taunts; determined to prevent arrest; leads the rioters to destroy Catholic chapels. ### [Chapter 52](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-52) Plans a new expedition with Dennis, intending to harm a former friend of Barnaby and carry off a woman. ### [Chapter 53](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-53) Receives Gashford's incitement to attack Haredale, leads a party of rioters, and returns to the stable, showing a fierce loyalty to Barnaby. ### [Chapter 54](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-54) Leads the rioters into the Maypole, protecting old John while participating in the destruction. ### [Chapter 55](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-55) Leads the attack on the turret-door at the Warren, contributing to the destruction. ### [Chapter 58](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-58) Referenced in Barnaby's half-dream, where he imagines Hugh speaking to him in the stable. ### [Chapter 59](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-59) Leads the rioters, celebrates with plunder, and terrorizes Dolly and Emma. ### [Chapter 60](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-60) Boisterous and reckless, Hugh leads the rioters after learning of Barnaby's capture, swearing to burn down Newgate and every jail in London. ### [Chapter 63](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-63) Leads the mob to the Golden Key and demands the locksmith's services. ### [Chapter 64](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-64) Leads the mob's demand for the release of prisoners and is the first to leap into the burning jail. ### [Chapter 67](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-67) Leads the rioters on horseback, wielding an axe and wearing fetters from Newgate. He is seemingly invincible, leading attacks on the Bank, prisons, and the vintner's house, and specifically targets Mr. Haredale. ### [Chapter 68](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-68) Wounded and drunk, falls from his horse, drinks burning spirit, is rescued by Barnaby. ### [Chapter 74](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-74) Imprisoned in the same cell, he is consumed by bitterness over his mother's execution and shows no fear of death, lashing out at Dennis. ### [Chapter 75](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-75) Imprisoned and condemned, revealed to be Sir John's son. ### [Chapter 76](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-76) Displays reckless hardihood, mocking Dennis's terror and encouraging Barnaby to face death with defiance. ### [Chapter 77](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-77) Faces his execution with defiant courage, cursing his father and showing care for Barnaby and his dog. ### [Chapter 79](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-79) Though not present, his burial is the focus of a dark scene, where he is laid to rest as a nameless man in an unmarked grave. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/hugh - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters