"Ay, but which side?" said the knight.

"That remains to be tried," said young Gamwell.

"I have King Henry's commission," said the knight, "to apprehend this
earl that was. How would you advise me to act, being, as you see,
without attendant force?"

"I would advise you," said young Gamwell, "to take yourself off without delay,
unless you would relish the taste of a volley of arrows, a shower of stones,
and a hailstorm of cudgel-blows, which would not be turned aside by a God
save King Henry."

Sir Ralph's squire no sooner heard this, and saw by the looks
of the speaker that he was not likely to prove a false prophet,
than he clapped spurs to his horse and galloped off with might
and main. This gave the knight a good excuse to pursue him,
which he did with great celerity, calling, "Stop, you rascal."
When the squire fancied himself safe out of the reach of pursuit,
he checked his speed, and allowed the knight to come up with him.
They rode on several miles in silence, till they discovered
the towers and spires of Nottingham, where the knight introduced
himself to the sheriff, and demanded an armed force to assist in
the apprehension of the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon. The sheriff,
who was willing to have his share of the prize, determined to accompany
the knight in person, and regaled him and his man with good store
of the best; after which, they, with a stout retinue of fifty men,
took the way to Gamwell feast.