Post by Dennis of Ravenscar on May 23, 2014 17:44:22 GMT
Hugo - Man of the Cloth
A character profile of Abbot Hugo de Rainault by Dennis of Ravenscar
Hugo is one of my favourite characters from Robin of Sherwood, the others being the Sheriff, Gisburne and King John; notice a pattern yet? Hugo is a semi - major character, who personifies the Church for this series. Not much is immediately apparent from his character but we can glean much from the available episodes. From the episode Adam Bell we find out that the de Rainault family had three brothers, Hugo, Robert and Richard. Hugo, seeing the Church as a vehicle for wealth and power, became an Abbot while Robert used his financial resources to become Lord High Sheriff of Nottingham. Richard, the white sheep of the family, became a knight, later dying in the Third Crusade. Judging by their comparative sizes and aspects Hugo may have had a different mother from Robert. Perhaps Hugo’s mother died during childbirth and their father then remarried having Robert and Richard by his second wife. What we can tell of his childhood indicates that he was an ‘angry’ child. Robert stated “I have the bruises to prove it” when discussing his early life with Guy.
Hugo, while not necessarily a popular man, nevertheless holds much influence amongst the landed nobles and spends much of his time either on pilgrimages or assisting his brother, the Sheriff. Although no love is lost between them both recognise that in each other they have valuable contacts and resources and act more as allies than blood relations. Much of Hugo’s portrayal in this series focuses on the acquisition of possessions and land, although we also see him as a judge and a victim on occasion.
We first come across Hugo in the initial episode Robin Hood and the Sorcerer. He comes bursting in to Nottingham Castle complaining about the fact that he has to drain his fish pond. The Sheriff, who is obviously suffering from a hangover, answers angrily that he just has to lower the water level to avoid flooding the King’s land on the opposite bank. Hugo, being rather shrewd and acquisitive suggests a trade off. He will adhere to the terms if the Sheriff will provide more foresters.
When the Sheriff states that his coffers are empty and that he will have to provide them himself, Hugo complains “God in Heaven, Robert, we’re haggling over less than an acre, and you’re my brother!”, to which Robert answers “I’m Sheriff. Our blood relationship has nothing to do with it.” Hugo, enraged by Robert’s attitude, then complains about Gisburne’s ineffectiveness at keeping the forest free of poachers. While this debate continues Baron de Belleme arrives asking for the custody of the Lady Marion who is under the ‘protection’ of the brothers. When they refuse he warns them that they will need his help in defeating the hooded man.
Hugo: “I’ll have him excommunicated!”
Robert: “And he’ll have us murdered. I’d be inclined to give him the girl, Hugo; it would save us a lot of bother!”
Hugo: “And lose 400 acres?”
Robert: “Why are you men of God so damned acquisitive?”
Hugo: “Belleme’s possessed!”
Robert: “He’s insane!”
The Lady Marion, fearing for her safety, not necessarily from Belleme but also from her two ‘guardians’, departs Nottingham Castle for Kirklees Abbey, to become a nun. Hugo sees her to the gate, gives a blessing and as an afterthought mutters , “I suppose you’d better commend me to that old hag the Abbess.... go in peace”. Hugo is satisfied knowing that now he has total access to Leaford’s lands, due to his position in the Church.
Hugo suggests that Robin and the outlaws are in league with the devil after defeating Gisburne and his men. Although Robert initially seems amused by this, especially with Gisburne being humiliated, Hugo senses unease and realises that in the long term Robin and the others could be dangerous.
Robert de Rainault devises a plan to capture Robin Hood who is starting to challenge Norman authority and decides to hold an archery competition as a lure for Robin with the silver arrow as bait. Hugo is sceptical about such a scheme and doubts that Robin will be so easily tempted. The plan of course fails and Robin not only escapes but captures the silver arrow as well.
After the debacle with the tournament, Baron de Belleme arrives at the Castle offering his assistance in catching the Hooded man, his condition being that he may have the Lady Marion. Hugo is obviously unnerved by the Baron with all the rumours of the Baron’s black magic and with the fact that she is already at Kirklees Abbey. He refuses to relinquish the Lady Marion into Belleme’s care, fearing that he would lose all the attached lands. However, when the Baron states that the girl is all he is interested in, he quickly comes around and signs the necessary papers. When Tuck protests at the outrage Hugo and Robert quickly silence him with threats of floggings.
We then don’t see much more of Hugo, presumably he went back to his Abbey satisfied in knowing that the law entitled him to Leaford Grange and the surrounding lands.
Hugo demonstrates another role the Church played during the 12th Century in the following episode. He acts as a judge to try a woman accused of practising witchcraft. From watching the episode it is obvious Gisburne is guilty of flirting with Jennet. Gisburne, angry at her spurning his advances, bullies the other villagers into accusing Jennet and her husband of witchcraft. Hugo ignores Gisburne’s babbled justification of Jennet’s witchcraft and seizes upon Jennet’s defence when she claims to heal fellow sick villagers. Stating that she is interfering with God’s purpose and that she is committing blasphemy he then issues a rather dubious quote from the Bible, knowing that the people’s ignorance and fear of the Church will let him issue any judgment he sees fit. “You tried to seduce my steward! Thou shall not suffer a witch to life, Exodus. Neither shall thee use enchantment. Leviticus? Leviticus.” He then promptly judges Jennet and her husband guilty and sentences them to death by burning at the stake. After judgment he switches off from the crowd’s protests by saying “By God I’m hungry, .....brother!”
Later when Robin comes into the castle to gain a pardon for Jennet, Hugo urges his brother to use restraint and tries to get them to negotiate. Robert, however, is convinced he can kill the Saxon upstart and tries to beat him but he is no match for Robin and is defeated. Hugo then proves that the pen is mightier than the sword when Robert’s life is threatened and is only too eager to talk, quickly rushing to bring all the paperwork complete with pen for Robert to sign a pardon for Jennet of Elsdon. From a position of strength and surrounded by guards Hugo is not reluctant to use violence to achieve his own ends and shows no mercy when asked. He is determined to put the outlaws’ heads on spikes. However, if without protection he is opposed with strength he quickly capitulates and tries to negotiate himself out of the problem. A typical definition of a coward and bully.
He spends a fair bit of time on Church business as is demonstrated in Alan a Dale. When Guy questions Robert about whether Hugo will attend the wedding. Robert retorts “My dear brother has had a sudden and totally uncharacteristic surge of piety and hurried off on a pilgrimage to Walsingham. Thus saving both his soul and the necessity of providing me with a wedding present.”
When King Richard returns to England both Hugo and Robert are out of favour due to the loss of tax money and their continual ineffective feud with the outlaws. However, by keeping a low profile they managed to keep their heads. King Richard obviously had little interest in England’s internal affairs except where it interfered with his financial backing of the Crusade and his wars in Normandy. By contributing heavily to Richard’s new army with gold and soldiers, they were able to retain their positions and carry on as before. In fact they are encouraged to increase taxes to maintain Richard’s war effort in France. Richard then departs to Normandy with his army and leaves Prince John behind as regent. Prince John, fearing for his long term position due to Richard’s ongoing campaign, starts to petition for support amongst the nobility to secure the line of succession, when he realises his lack of popularity amongst the Barons. John identifies Hugo as a major source of influence amongst the nobility and decides to use him to further strengthen his power base by using Richard of Leaford as a bargaining chip. This is to force Hugo to get his allies to endorse Prince John as the rightful heir, presumably by threatening him with the loss of Leaford’s lands should he release Sir Richard. As Leaford Grange has some considerable land Hugo is somewhat reluctant to do this. John then humiliates Hugo by taking his signet ring, thanking him for the present. Obviously annoyed at being manipulated Hugo departs to gain support from the other Barons and Lords.
However, while en route he is captured by the outlaws and is questioned by them as to the identity of King John’s prisoner. He initially refuses but quickly capitulates when Scarlet threatens to lop off an ear. He is obviously terrified by the outlaws and gives them all the information they require. Hugo also reveals that Mark is a paid lackey of the Sheriff albeit inadvertently when questioning how he had been outlawed. This precious information prevents Leaford being murdered and later enables him to regain his land. by gaining a pardon from King John. I think this really angered Hugo as he vilified both Marion and Richard at Huntingdon Castle sometime later after Loxley’s death.
In Lord of the Trees Hugo is portrayed as the calm voice of reason and tolerance. The Sheriff is at Westminster, possibly at King John’s coronation and Gisburne has assumed the mantle of Sheriff. Hugo, who is now accustomed to Gisburne’s limitations, is surprised and outraged when he finds he has enlisted the help of Brabancon mercenaries. Although he doesn’t care about the well being of Saxon villagers or the outlaws, he is aware of the Brabancon’s anarchic tendencies, and is more concerned with (Norman) law and order. He knows that he can do nothing physically, but in true tradition threatens to write a letter to his brother. And indeed when Gisburne later tries to argue his case he stops his shave and orders a scribe to do just that.
When Gisburne bursts into the Abbey, seemingly mad, Hugo adopts the “I told you so” stance, stating that there is something about the pagan mythology that is best left alone. As far as he is concerned, as long as they’re baptised, go to mass, get married and buried in his Church, he doesn’t give a damn what the villagers do in their own time.
In Herne’s Son, Robert is feeling benevolent after the apparent destruction of the outlaws. However Hugo is angry at the loss of Leaford Grange and its associated lands to Sir Richard, after King John has pardoned him. While en route to Huntingdon he snipes at Gisburne for letting the outlaws escape from their bonds. He is also annoyed with the ongoing Saxon myth about the hooded man. His first opinion of Robert of Huntingdon is; “Who’s this peacock?” He later shows his contempt for Marion by insisting that she is a traitor even after the Earl of Huntingdon states his affection and protection of her. It’s only when the Earl of Huntingdon directly threatens him does Hugo fall silent. As an act of spite Hugo and his brother inform Clun’s men as to the road that Marion and her father take back to Leaford When Marion is abducted by Owen of Clun, Hugo uses this opportunity to try to regain Leaford by using it as security when Richard needs some soldiers to effect a rescue. He ensures that all the paper work is done so that when Richard failed there would be proof that everything was above board and legal. He would presumably haggle with Robert over the precise division of lands as they were his soldiers they were using along with Gisburne who was in the Sheriff’s employ. Robert and Hugo ensure that Richard’s attempt fails by getting Gisburne and the others to run away at the critical moment.
When Richard seeming failed and came back to plead for mercy, Hugo taunted him by asking who he was and whether it was his signature on the parchment. They were both taken aback when Richard proceeded to pay them the required sum of money, and were similarly amazed at Marion’s rescue.
We don’t see much more of Hugo in any further episodes, presumably Church affairs and other matters took him away from Nottingham. I think that perhaps Hugo may have brought his influence to bear and have been partially responsible for stirring up support amongst the Barons and curbing the power of the increasingly erratic King John by forcing him to sign the Magna Carta. Perhaps that is just wishful thinking, but I think that would have been in character. A “behind the scenes” man, he prefers to manipulate others to achieve his own ends.
The Abbot Hugo is not a character who is traditionally found in Robin Hood legends, but in Robin of Sherwood he is used to represent most of the powerful men of the Church at the time. They had no interest in spiritual matters except as it gave them power over others and they spent most of their time and energy attempting to increase their wealth and influence. In being a recurring character, Hugo also acts as a sounding board for and a contrast to the Sheriff. He may not care much for spiritual matters, but he certainly believes in powers beyond this world, which his rational brother and the pragmatic Gisburne scoff at, usually to their cost. It’s a pity they didn’t listen to him more often. Hugo is also quite an amusing character with his constant ranting and because he is obviously terrified of the outlaws particularly Scarlet. When threatened he panics and is more than willing to agree to any demands.
It is easy to see why the two brothers chose their respective professions. Robert is probably the more clever and possibly more devious, and makes a good Sheriff (on his terms, anyway). However, he is answerable for his actions to the King, and is frequently in trouble if he doesn’t get results. Hugo is a cautious man, and would much rather be in a position where he can just quietly accumulate wealth and power, without being expected to actually achieve anything. The Sheriff likes to be in charge, to have a lot of power in his own area. He doesn’t really try to get power beyond Nottingham, as I don’t think he would like to be ‘a small fish in a big pond’. Hugo, on the other hand, clearly has influence beyond his Abbey, as Prince John recognises, and takes satisfaction in this.
The Abbot is not a particularly sympathetic character, as Gisburne can sometimes be. Nor does he have the intelligence and wit that makes the Sheriff so enjoyable to watch. He does, however, add to the portrayal of the Norman establishment so that we are never watching faceless ‘bad guys’ but a collection of fascinating adversaries who all have their own motives and agendas for their behaviour and the way this affects the outlaws.
