Barliman Butterbur

Barliman Butterbur was a Man of Bree and owner of The Prancing Pony, in the town of Bree.
== Biography ==
Barliman Butterbur owned the Prancing Pony for an unknown period of time in the late Third Age. He was fond of Hobbits and had two hobbit employees: Bob, who worked in the stables, and Nob, a servant. He knew Gandalf very well as he frequently came and stayed at the inn from time to time over the years. During the War of the Ring, he forgot to send Gandalf's letter to Frodo, leaving Frodo uncertain as to Gandalf's fate and causing him to start his journey much later than the letter indicated. He did not remember it until Frodo and his companions arrived to stay at the inn, and even then it was long before the connection was made.
When Gandalf found out, he threatened to "roast" Butterbur, but forgave him in light of his memory problems. Butterbur did, however, remember in time to produce Strider's credentials. Gandalf blessed his beer for seven years upon hearing that Frodo and companions were alive and well and with Strider.
After the War of the Ring, Butterbur was amazed to learn that Strider, a former patron of his inn and for whom he thought was a mere Ranger of the wild, had become a king. In the days that the hobbits visited The Prancing Pony shortly before the Scouring of the Shire, Bob went home after dark every day, which Butterbur continued to forget.
== Character ==
Barliman was a stout, good-hearted man, notorious for his very bad memory, about which he said "One thing drives out another".