Bill Ferny
Bill Ferny in the New Line film
Traitor to Bree during the War of the Ring. Bill Ferny gave news of the Hobbits' movements in Bree that became vital information to those he told.
Bill had long had a malicious reputation amongst the Bree-folk. He cared nothing for the troubles of others, only for his own riches; though it is known that he also enjoyed making trouble. Bill was allied with the Southerners who had come up the Greenway to invade Bree. One of these Southerners was called the squint-eyed Southerner, a man Bill Ferny was particularly friendly with.
On September 29, 3018 of the Third Age, Bill Ferny went to the Prancing Pony with the squint-eyed Southerner. He acted as an informant for the Southerner; he told him all that he knew of Frodo Baggins and his companions. When Frodo began to sing in the Common Room, the One Ring slipped onto his finger and he disappeared. Bill sneered at the Hobbits knowingly and left the inn with the Southerner. Merry Brandybuck later witnessed Bill giving news of the Hobbits' presence to the Nazgul at his house.
During the night, the Hobbits' ponies were released. Seeking profit, Bill sold the Hobbits Bill the Pony for twelve silver pennies, quite the cost for a week and abused pony like the one he sold them.
When Strider was leading the hobbits out of Bree, Bill and his Southerner mimicked and mocked them, causing Sam Gamgee to hit Bill on the nose with an apple.
In 3019, the tensions between the Bree-folk and the Southerners resulted in fighting in Bree. Bill sided with the Southerners along with the gatekeeper Harry Goatleaf. When the Southerners were defeated and expelled from Bree, Bill left with them.
Bill helped the Ruffians with their invasion of the Shire. He became known as the Chief's Big Man and guarded the gate at Brandywine Bridge. On October 30, 3019, the four Hobbits arrived and Merry ordered Bill to leave, never to be heard from again. Bill the Pony gave Bill Ferny a kick as he fled.
Bill had long had a malicious reputation amongst the Bree-folk. He cared nothing for the troubles of others, only for his own riches; though it is known that he also enjoyed making trouble. Bill was allied with the Southerners who had come up the Greenway to invade Bree. One of these Southerners was called the squint-eyed Southerner, a man Bill Ferny was particularly friendly with.
On September 29, 3018 of the Third Age, Bill Ferny went to the Prancing Pony with the squint-eyed Southerner. He acted as an informant for the Southerner; he told him all that he knew of Frodo Baggins and his companions. When Frodo began to sing in the Common Room, the One Ring slipped onto his finger and he disappeared. Bill sneered at the Hobbits knowingly and left the inn with the Southerner. Merry Brandybuck later witnessed Bill giving news of the Hobbits' presence to the Nazgul at his house.
During the night, the Hobbits' ponies were released. Seeking profit, Bill sold the Hobbits Bill the Pony for twelve silver pennies, quite the cost for a week and abused pony like the one he sold them.
When Strider was leading the hobbits out of Bree, Bill and his Southerner mimicked and mocked them, causing Sam Gamgee to hit Bill on the nose with an apple.
In 3019, the tensions between the Bree-folk and the Southerners resulted in fighting in Bree. Bill sided with the Southerners along with the gatekeeper Harry Goatleaf. When the Southerners were defeated and expelled from Bree, Bill left with them.
Bill helped the Ruffians with their invasion of the Shire. He became known as the Chief's Big Man and guarded the gate at Brandywine Bridge. On October 30, 3019, the four Hobbits arrived and Merry ordered Bill to leave, never to be heard from again. Bill the Pony gave Bill Ferny a kick as he fled.
Names & Meanings
Bill Ferny was also called the Chief's Big Man when the Ruffians invaded the Shire.
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," page 172; "Strider," pages 177, 185-186; "A Knife in the Dark," page 191
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," page 271; "The Scouring of the Shire," page 278
The Unfinished Tales: "The Hunt for the Ring," page 341
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," page 271; "The Scouring of the Shire," page 278
The Unfinished Tales: "The Hunt for the Ring," page 341
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