Mrs. Hudson
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| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Chambermaid |
| Gender | Female |
| Status | Alive |
| Ships | Delicia |
| Relationships | Woodes Rogers (Former employer) Eleanor Guthrie (Former charge/employer; deceased) David Hudson (son) Hudson Daughters (daughters) |
| Appearances | First: XX. Last: XXXVIII. |
| Portrayed by | Anna-Louise Plowman |
Mrs. Hudson is an English chambermaid in the employ of Woodes Rogers hiding a dangerous secret. As a chambermaid she is able to see and hear things while remaining almost entirely invisible herself. Originally assigned to keep watch over Eleanor Guthrie, she becomes a confidant and friend to her. Her primary concern is her children, to whom she wishes to return.
Biography[]
Background[]
Not much is known about Mrs. Hudson’s past. She has worked as a chambermaid for many daughters of the privileged class, as well as for Woodes Rogers' family for some years. She has three children, two daughters and a son, David Hudson. Her family resides in London, and she often has to work late.
Season Three[]
Woodes Rogers brings Mrs. Hudson with him on the English fleet heading to Nassau to reclaim the governorship of the island. She is to act as chambermaid and gaolor for Eleanor Guthrie. Mrs. Hudson first introduces herself when the fleet is en route to Nassau. She tells Eleanor that Governor Rogers requests her presence on deck and that she needs to dress. Eleanor replies that she has never had a proper chambermaid before, and asks if that is how they address all their employers. Hudson replies that Governor Rogers is her employer, Eleanor is a convict in need of someone to keep her things clean, movement restricted and door shut. Hudson notes that due to the circumstances, Eleanor is the first daughter of privilege that she can speak openly around. Eleanor denies being a daughter of privilege, but Hudson points out that Eleanor's father built a criminal enterprise and Eleanor inherited it. Hudson glibly remarks that the only difference between Eleanor and the other ladies she's served is that their fathers had better lawyers.
The fleet and the Orion rendezvous at St. Kitts. There, Benjamin Hornigold comes aboard the Delicia, and he sees Eleanor standing with Hudson on the quarterdeck. Hornigold is aghast at this, but Rogers explains he trusts neither Eleanor nor Hornigold, and hopes they will act as a check on each other. Hornigold then gives the news that Flint is dead[1].
Mrs. Hudson comes with Eleanor when she is summoned by Rogers to the forecastle, where he shows her the Pirate Fleet assembled in a firing line at the mouth of the harbor. She is then present at the subsequent meeting of Rogers' advisors and officers in his cabin, where Commodore Chamberlain informs them that there is no way to force their way into Nassau without significant losses. Eleanor then suggests that Roger sends Hornigold to read his address to the pirates on the beach, as Hornigold was one of the founders of the Pirate Republic. Rogers agrees to the idea, which proves successful. The pirates on the beach surrender and agree to take up the Royal Pardon.[2]
As the standoff with the Pirate Fleet continues into the night, Rogers hosts a meeting in his cabin with Commodore Chamberlain, Eleanor and several others. Mrs. Hudson sits outside the cabin on a bench reading. After the officers leave and just Woodes and Eleanor remain. Mrs. Hudson looks around before pressing her ear against the door to listen in on their conversation. However, she returns to the bench and pretends to be reading when Lieutenant Perkins arrives to warn Rogers about the incoming schooner.[3]
As Rogers and Eleanor muse on the cache of gems converted from the Urca de Lima gold, Mrs. Hudson interrupts. Rogers, angry at being caught in a compromising position with Eleanor, asks if Hudson was summoned. Hudson begs for forgiveness and says she is not quite sure how to explain what she is about to say. Six months prior, a man had approached her and introduced himself as John. "John" said his employers wanted to monitor Rogers' expedition to retake Nassau, as they had a vested interest. Hudson assumed that John worked for one of Rogers' investors and thought it all perfectly legitimate, and accepted the large amount of money they offered her.
Hudson later learned that the man's name was Juan Antonio Grandal, and he was an agent of the Casa de Contratación's intelligence department. Upon their arrival in Nassau, Grandal reached out out to her. The department had learned about a series of transactions to exchange significant amounts of gold for more easily transportable commodities, such as gems and pearls. The Spanish authorities were furious over this attempt to run away with their money without them knowing. Hudson then reveals that she was asked if she about the caches. Hudson then says that standing outside that door, she had one of two choices. She could keep quiet, knowing Rogers intended to keep the cache resulting in Nassau's being sacked, or she could reveal the danger Rogers faced. Rogers, frustrated, orders her to relay to Grandal that he will send the cache to Havana along with the rest of the gold. Hudson refuses, saying that based on the scope of the exchanges, Max's represents only half of the gems[4].
The next day, Eleanor speaks privately with Hudson in her room. Hudson admits that while tempted, she initially declined Grandal's offer, for it felt both dangerous and wrong to betray Governor Rogers in that way. Eleanor then asks how an honest English chambermaid ended up in the employ of the Spanish Empire. Hudson explains that a few days after she declined the offer, she returned home late from Governor Rogers' service. She found her children already asleep, a not unusual occurrence, but that night she also saw Grandal with them in the room with David and the girls, waiting. In one hands, he held a purse, in the other, a knife. He then asked Hudson which she would prefer her children receive from him that night. Hudson then tearfully says that these are the type of people she is beholden to[5].
Mrs. Hudson meets discreetly with Juan Antonio Grandal in the streets of Nassau while she pretends to read the Pilgrim's Progress. Hudson tells him that Jack Rackham is to be exchanged for the cache, and then the entirety of the Urca treasure will be in Governor Rogers' possession and will be shipped to Havana. Grandal is surprised to learn that Rackham is in Rogers' custody, and tells Hudson she failed to mention this. Hudson quickly apologizes and Grandal calms her down and tells her that he has sympathy for her situation. He says that if Rogers returns the entirety of the gold, his superiors have promised not to loose the fleet on Nassau. However, Grandal's superiors are proud and angry men. He suggests to Hudson that to further ingratiate Rogers with the Spanish, she send not only the gold, but the man responsible for its theft in the first place, to Havana. He advises her to tell Rogers that the Spanish demanded they hand Rackham over, and that no one will ever know. He finishes by emphasizing that Hudson's and Nassau's safety is best served by shipping Rackham to Havana with the gold. Hudson then returns to Eleanor and Rogers and tells them that the Spanish demand Rackham be delivered along with the cache[6].
After Rogers falls ill, Eleanor summons Hudson to his room. Eleanor explains that Dr. Marcus told her the stress of receiving visitors is making Rogers' illness worse. Therefore, Eleanor is sealing off Rogers' room, and that no one will be permitted inside besides herself and the doctor. Hudson asks if Rogers was informed of the plan to sequester him. Eleanor says she did not, for the last time Rogers was awake, he was delirious and called Eleanor "Sarah," having confused Eleanor for his wife in England. Eleanor then asks Hudson to inform her if Rogers' condition changes. When Eleanor later arrives to inform him of her decision regarding Charles Vane's trial, Hudson leaves to room[7].
Season Four[]
When the pirates attempt to invade Nassau, Mrs. Hudson takes shelter with Eleanor (now married to Rogers) in the vaults below the fort. The two practice embroidery, and Eleanor pricks herself. Hudson and the rest of the civilians return to Nassau after the town is secured[8].
The next night, Mrs. Hudson, Eleanor and many others watch from the tower in the Tavern as Woodes Rogers sails away to lure Edward Teach away from his position blockading the harbor under cover of Fort Nassau's guns[9].
The next day, Mrs. Hudson and Eleanor prepare to depart for Philadelphia aboard the Gloucestershire. Hudson tells Eleanor that it is her son David's birthday. She then discloses that Grandal has not contacted her in a while, as the war has taken up Spain's attention. Hudson asks Eleanor if when they reach Philadelphia, she could be released from their service so she can return to England and her children, which Eleanor agrees to. However, the Gloucestershire Captain informs them that their permission to depart has been revoked, because the soldiers for Eleanor's escort are needed in town. When Eleanor realizes that Captain Berringer's efforts will likely lead to a pirate assault on Nassau, Mrs. Hudson is sent to tell Lieutenant Utley to gather as much food and supplies to the fort as possible, send an escort of six men for Eleanor, and make sure Max gets to the fort. After the pirates re-take Nassau from the Governor, she seeks refuge with the remaining redcoats in Fort Nassau.[10]
When Eleanor arrives, Hudson notices the wound on her arm, but Eleanor says it is insignificant. Eleanor then assumes control of the Governor's Council and orders them to hunker down rather than try and launch a counterattack. Later, Eleanor approaches Hudson while in the vaults below the fort. Eleanor bemoans their situation. She acknowledges that their chances of convincing her grandfather for help were slim given Nassau's state, but now it feels like every sacrifice she has ever made was in vain. More sacrifice will be necessary just to return Nassau to its a few hours earlier. She then promises Hudson to return her to London as soon as possible, for the fight ahead does not belong to her or her children. Hudson then asks her if she would consider joining her in retiring to London. Eleanor says that Woodes is in too much debt to ever leave, therefore she is chained to Nassau with him. Hudson reveals she knows Eleanor is pregnant, and asks if this would change things for her husband. She goes on to say that she is very fond of Eleanor, who she believes to be a good person, and she imagines that Woodes would be worried about raising a child in a place as violent as Nassau. Eleanor compares this to an argument she overheard between her parents about raising her in Nassau. Eleanor is then summoned by Lieutenant Utley, who tells her that the pirates agreed to the prisoner exchange for Max.
Later, Teach's ship is spotted approaching the harbor flying no banner. Mrs. Hudson tells Eleanor that there's no sign of a prize ship, so it is unlikely that the Governor was captured. Eleanor says that Teach would never have given up so easily, and it is likely that her husband was captured. Hudson asks Eleanor if she'd rather wait this out below, but Lieutenant Utley informs them that the ship is raising Rogers' banners and British colors. Eleanor then concocts a plan to leave Nassau behind them by exchanging the fort without a fight, in exchange for the Urca cache of gems. Flint agrees to the plan, and surrenders himself as collateral[11].
Mrs. Hudson is allowed to leave the fort unharmed to a longboat flying the white flag. Eleanor assures her that the pirates will not harm her, for if they do Flint will be killed. Mrs. Hudson rows out to Rogers’ ship to persuade him to sail for Port Royal, and await Eleanor’s arrival. Mrs. Hudson does her damnedest to convince him Eleanor is doing this out of devotion to him, but he refuses to listen and continues his approach. However, Eleanor makes her point by firing warning shots from Fort Nassau. It takes several shots to get him to leave Nassau. As they sail away, Hudson visits Rogers in his cabin, where he tells her that he had concerns that Eleanor would regress back into old habits upon returning to Nassau, which would cause conflict between them. Hudson replies that Eleanor did this out of devotion, and Woodes agrees. He says she has no sympathy for the pirates or their cause, but believes that civilization is powerless to restore order to Nassau. He then ominously says that civilization has a number of faces, and it is a big mistake to think them all powerless to alter Nassau's future. They are then informed that harbor patrol is deploying, and Hudson worriedly asks where they are. Woodes repeats that there is very little he wouldn't do to protect Eleanor.
It is then revealed that Rogers has taken them to Spanish Havana, hoping that they will help Rogers considering the British won't. He orders that they raise the white flag and he sails into the harbor. At the docks, he and Hudson are greeted by Juan Antonio Grandal, whom Hudson points out, and an escort of Spanish Regulars. After Rogers explains that his intentions have nothing to do with the broader war between England and Spain and that he simply wants to defeat the pirates, Grandal takes them to the Havana Governor's Mansion to meet with Governor Raja. Once inside, Grandal privately asks Hudson if coming to Havana was her idea, and she answers it was not, but the urgency of Rogers' situation demanded it. Grandal replied it was a mistake, for in the prior war Rogers had personally killed Governor's Raja's brother. Despite that, Rogers is able to convince Raja to send his fleet to wipe out the pirates[12].
In the aftermath of Eleanor's death during the devastating Spanish sack of Nassau, Mrs. Hudson begins to lose faith in Roger's ability to bring order to the island. Rogers summons her to his study, where she offers condolences and assures him that Eleanor made every choice she'd made out of love for him. Rogers reveals that before Raja left, Rogers made sure that the Spanish would not return and their account was square regarding the cache of gems and Jack Rackham. Raja said they were, and revealed that he never asked for Jack Rackham, and Rogers asks if it was all just a convenient lie to placate the Spanish, which Hudson admits. Rogers then blames Hudson for all the ill that has befallen them and that she manipulated Eleanor into betraying him, which she protests. The pair are then interrupted by Mr. Rawls, who has finished dressing the body and comes bearing news. Realizing that he is about to reveal that Eleanor was pregnant, Hudson orders him to leave and tearfully tells Rogers he does not want to hear this news.
Hudson accompanies Rogers to see Eleanor's body, and he asks how far along she was. Hudson answers not long, and admits that much of what she knew about Eleanor was observed rather than shared, but she did know that Eleanor loved him, and was determined to have a life with him and their son. She leaves after Rogers requests a moment alone, but expresses her condolences once again before exiting[13].
Later, Hudson packs up Eleanor's things and finds her journal, and reads a passage about how Eleanor felt trapped in her role playing the dutiful wife to Rogers. She is then interrupted by the Governor, who orders her to ready his things as he sails at first light. After Rogers leave the island, she heads to the brothel to speak with Eleanor's ally Mrs. Mapleton. Mrs. Hudson tells her that Rogers is going down a dangerous and destructive path and offers her information from inside the Governor’s mansion that could help Mapleton get back on the council, in exchange for safe passage back to her children in London. Mapleton says that this sounds like treason, but ultimately agrees. Hudson reveals that Rogers is heading to Skeleton Island, and Mapleton passes this information to Jack Rackham.[14]
After the Governor is defeated at the Battle at Skeleton Island, Mrs. Hudson returns to London to her two daughters and her son David Hudson. One night, she reads to them from the book A General History of the Pyrates.[15]
Personality[]
Mrs. Hudson comes across as very composed due to the nature of her job, but harbors an acerbic wit that she largely keeps to herself. She is also very skilled at getting around unseen and unheard, which end up making her the perfect spy for the Casa de Contratación. She displays a large sense of loyalty to Rogers, refusing to spy on him for money until her children are threatened, and her concern for them outweighs her loyalty to him. She also displays a similar sense of loyalty to Eleanor, and the two becomes friends and Hudson often does her best to help her.
However, after Eleanor's death, she views Rogers' increasing instability with great concern and in the end makes the decision to betray him again in order to depose him and reunite with her children.
Quotes[]
"Governor Rogers is my employer. You are a convict in need of someone to keep your things clean, your movement restricted, and your door shut. As such, you're the first daughter of privilege I have been able to serve while speaking my mind openly."
- Mrs. Hudson to Eleanor Guthrie in XX.
"About six months ago, I was approached by a man who introduced himself as John and said his employers wished to monitor your operation to retake Nassau, said they had a vested interest. I assumed this had something to do with your investors, which seemed perfectly legitimate. They offered me a significant amount of money. I said... yes. It turns out the man's name is Juan Antonio Grandal and his employer is the intelligence department of the Casa De Contratación."
- Mrs. Hudson to Eleanor and Rogers in XXIII.
"So standing outside the door just now, I found myself faced with two choices... report what I had just heard, that you are considering keeping this money and know that Nassau will likely burn for it and me with it... or I could open the door and warn you of the full scope of the danger you face if you do not return the entirety of the hidden cache along with the gold from the fort."
- Mrs Hudson to Eleanor and Rogers in XXIII.
"A few days after I declined their offer... I came home late from the governor's service. It wasn't unusual for me to return home to find my children long since fast asleep. That night, my children were not alone. The man who had approached me, Grandal, was there... waiting. In his left hand, a knife. In his right, a purse. He said my children would receive something from him that night. He asked me to choose which."
- Mrs. Hudson to Eleanor in XXIV.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Mrs. Hudson's first name is never revealed.
- Anna Louise Plowman is Toby Stephens' (Captain Flint) wife in real life.
Appearances[]
| XIX. | XX. | XXI. | XXII. | XXIII. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXIV. | XXV. | XXVI. | XXVII. | XXVIII. |
| XXIX. | XXX. | XXXI. | XXXII. | XXXIII. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXXIV. | XXXV. | XXXVI. | XXXVII. | XXXVIII. |