The Ruffian Leader was a human criminal from somewhere near Bree. He was one of Saruman's top men in the Shire. At the beginning of The Battle of Bywater, he led 20 Ruffians to the rebel hobbits' base in Bywater. His companions were not too excited about attacking a group of hobbits much larger than their own group, despite this he attacked Merry and was shot dead by a few hobbits with bows.