The sheriff he saddled his good palfrèy, 85 And, with three hundred pound in gold, Away he went with bold Robin Hood, His horned beasts to behold. Away then the sheriff and Robin did ride, To the forrest of merry Sherwood; 90 Then the sheriff did say, "God bless us this day From a man they call Robin Hood!" But when a little farther they came, Bold Robin he chancèd to spy A hundred head of good red deer, 95 Come tripping the sheriff full nigh. "How like you my horn'd beasts, good master sheriff? They be fat and fair for to see;" "I tell thee, good fellow, I would I were gone, For I like not thy company." 100 Then Robin set his horn to his mouth, And blew but blasts three; Then quickly anon there came Little John, And all his company. "What is your will, master?" then said Little John, "Good master come tell unto me;" 105 "I have brought hither the sheriff of Nottingham This day to dine with thee." "He is welcome to me," then said Little John, "I hope he will honestly pay; 110 I know he has gold, if it be but well told, Will serve us to drink a whole day." Then Robin took his mantle from his back, And laid it upon the ground: And out of the sheriffs portmantle 115 He told three hundred pound. Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood, And set him on his dapple gray; "O have me commended to your wife at home;" So Robin went laughing away. 120 17. What is price. ROBYN AND GANDELYN. This interesting ballad (derived from a manuscript of the 15th century,) belongs to the cycle of Robin Hood, as Mr. Wright remarks, "at least by its subject, if not by the person whose death it celebrates." It was first printed by Ritson in his _Ancient Songs and Ballads_, (i. 81,) and has been again printed by Mr. Wright in a little black-letter volume of _Songs and Carols_ (No. X); from which we take our copy. The similarity of the name Gandelyn to the Gamelyn of the _Cook's Tale_, attributed to Chaucer, and the affinity of that story to the Robin Hood ballads, are alluded to by the last-named editor. Is it not possible that this name reappears again in the "Young Gamwell" of _Robin Hood and the Stranger_? The dialect of this piece is proved by an incidental coincidence, says Mr. Wright, to be that of Warwickshire. I herde a carpyng of a clerk Al at zone wodes ende, Of gode Robyn and Gandeleyn Was ther non other thynge.[L4] _Robynn lyth in grene wode Bowndyn._ Stronge theuys wern tho chylderin non, 5 But bowmen gode and hende: He wentyn to wode to getyn hem fleych, If God wold it hem sende.