Hugh Fitzooth

### Friends

Earl of Huntingdon, Maid Marian, Tyb, Robin Fitzooth, King Richard, and Queen Eleanor

### Enemies

Prince John, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Red Gill, Prince John's guards, and archers

### Fate

Killed by Red Gill with an arrow shot on the back for defying the Sheriff.

### Quote

"The maid is not with Robin if that's what you mean."
"Don't be distracted, lad. You must expect such rudeness from the men who serve our new Sheriff. Their man has but matched their deeds of late."
"My lad, no man is beaten until he admits it."
"I will not change my coat. Nor will my lad change his. In the old days, I'd have been proud to wear King Richard's livery. For a forester in Sherwood nowadays is no better than a tax gatherer or a Sheriff's bully. You'll not tempt me to raise my bow against my neighbor!"
"I will not keep silence! It's time an honest man spoke out!"
"I'll speak my mind as an Englishman and no licksbittle Sheriff shall say me name." (his last words)

**Hugh Fitzooth** is a character in Disney's *The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men*. He is Robin Hood's late widowed father and the Earl of Huntingdon's chief verderer. He was portrayed by the late Reginald Tate.

## Role in the film

Hugh Fitzooth is first seen entering Huntingdon Manor with his Deerhounds until Tyb, the Earl of Huntingdon's servant, asks him about his son, Robin's whereabouts, thinking Maid Marian, whom she's looking for to help prepare to leave for Nottingham Castle, could be with him. Fitzooth assures her that his son is alone in the meadows practicing archery.

A few days later, after King Richard has left for the Crusade while his greedy, younger brother, Prince John assumes the throne with his new Sheriff of Nottingham helping him gather his taxes across the countryside, an archery contest is organized by Prince John and the Sheriff at the Nottingham fair to determine which archer is the best to serve Prince John and form an army of good arrow shooters under their command. Prince John and the Sheriff seem impressed with a competitor and one of the Sheriff's bowmen, Red Gill's archery skills during the game. Despite Red Gill's mockery, Robin still manages to shoot a straight bull's-eye when his father comes to his defense. Then, Master Fitzooth shoots his a bull's-eye straight through his son's arrow. As it turns out, it's Hugh Fitzooth and Robin himself the winners. However, Fitzooth gives his prize from Queen Eleanor, King Ricahrd and Prince John's mother, to Robin, who then gives it to Marian as he learns that she is leaving for London with the Queen.

After Maid Marian and the Queen leave, knowing the Sheriff and Prince John's true nature and intentions, Master Fitzooth and his son both defy and refuse to join and serve them; an act which aspires some other archers to follow Master Fitzooth's lead. In retaliation, the Sheriff sends some men to kill them (including Red Gill). On the way home, in the forest, after Master Fitzooth and his son have greeted the Queen and Marian passing by, Robin reminds his father that without the Queen's help, his father's life could be in danger after defying the new Sheriff but Master Fitzooth simply states he'll speak his mind as an Englishman no matter what. Suddenly, Master Fitzooth is killed by an arrow shot on his back in front of Robin. Luckily, Robin manages to avenge his father's death by killing the murderer, who turns out to be Red Gill himself, thus, begins Robin's life as Robin Hood, an outlaw living in Sherwood Forest who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.

## Gallery

Hugh Fitzooth with TybMaster Fitzooth mad at Red Gill's mockery to his son, Robin HoodMaster Fitzooth coming to his son's defenseMaster Fitzooth watching his son shoot secondMaster Fitzooth shooting thirdMaster Fitzooth defying the Sheriff of NottinghamMaster Fitzooth and his son on their way homeMaster Fitzooth and his son greeting Queen Eleanor and Maid Marian on the wayMaster Fitzooth killed by Red GillMaster Fitzooth lying dead before his son