The Tinker

Origin
His chief appearance is in the ballad "Robin Hood and the Tinker" in which Robin pays him to join the Merry Men rather than collect the bounty on Robin's head. He went unnamed until later adaptations with the name Wat o' the Crabstaff—reflecting one of his weapons—given to him by Howard Pyle in 1883 proving popular.

Early Life
While not explored in the ballads the tinker's life before meeting the Sheriff's messenger and setting out to collect the bounty on Robin's head was explored briefly by Howard Pyle who described him as having beaten Simon of Ely in the ring at the fair at Hertford to give further credence to his fighting skill.

The Bounty
As the Sheriff became increasingly furious about the failure of any citizens of Nottingham to collect on the rich bounty that had been placed on Robin's head he sent out a messenger to find someone willing to risk injury and seek out the outlaw to deliver him to justice for the money. A tinker from Banbury who was considered a dangerous fighter responded to the messenger and set out with the warrant for Robin in hand.

Joining the Merry Men
After a turn in their fight saw Robin hopelessly outmatched, in some tellings the destruction his weapon, the outlaw used his horn to call the Merry Men to him and surround the Wat rather than be delivered to the Sheriff to hang. Once he had the upper hand Robin invited Wat into the Merry Men for his fighting skill and temperament offering to pay him so that he would feel less keenly the loss of the bounty on Robin's head.

Later Life
Pardoned by King Richard alongside the rest of the Merry Men after the King's return.

Ballads:

 * Robin Hood and the Tinker

Literature:

 * 1838-1840 Robin Hood and Little John; or, the Merrie Men of Sherwood Forest by Pierce Egan the Younger (as Gaspar-a-Tin/The Tinker of Banbury)
 * 1873 Robin Hood by Alexandre Dumas
 * 1883 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (as Wat o' the Crabstaff)
 * 1903 Robin Hood: His Book by Eva March Tappan illustrated by Charlotte Harding
 * 1912 Bold Robin Hood and His Outlaw Band by Louis Rhead (as Dick o' Banbury)
 * 1915 Tales and Plays of Robin Hood by Eleanor Louise Skinner illustrated by Bernard Westmacott