<p>No, once the bribe is taken is it a binding contract.</p>

<p><a href="https://gusandcodotnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/son_rulebook_ch09_singlepages.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Rules</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Once the Sheriff has made a choice it cannot be changed.
  As soon as you unsnap a Merchant Bag or hand it back,
  it’s too late to change your mind!    </p>
  
  <p>After the Sheriff hears your offer (and after any negotiation
  required to settle the issue), the Sheriff must either allow you
  to pass (accepting any bribe that may have been
  offered), and hand you your Merchant Bag,
  or inspect the bag (refusing any bribe that
  may have been offered).</p>
  
  <p>Normally, all deals you make must
  be honored! However, there are a
  couple of exceptions:<br>
  • Promises of future favors, which take place after the current
  inspection phase, are not binding!<br>
  • A merchant might offer the sheriff a bribe, which includes
  Goods in his merchant bag. Of course, he might be lying
  about the contents of his bag. If he is allowed to pass, when
  he reveals the Goods in his bag, he need only pay the sheriff
  the Goods he promised which actually exist! If he promised
  Goods to the sheriff, which are not in his bag, he does not
  have to pay those.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As a side note in the group I played with bribes where frequently offered to open bags as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:37:14.933Z
2018-07-19T17:53:45.567Z
2018-07-19T17:53:45.567Z
Joe W
<p>No, it is not allowed. Only promises of future action are non-binding. See the same question on <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1394636/are-bribes-binding" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Boardgamegeek</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:31:02.167Z
2018-07-19T17:31:02.167Z
L. Scott Johnson
<p><strong>No.</strong></p>
<p>The sheriff can <em>either</em> take the bribe <em>or</em> search the bag, not both. From <a href="https://www.arcanewonders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sheriff_of_Nottingham_Rulebook.pdf" rel="noreferrer">the rules</a>, in Phase 4 (Inspection):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When the Sheriff has made a decision about a Merchant Bag, he has two choices:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Accept whatever final bribe was offered (if any) and hand the bag back to its owner; or</p>
</li>
<li><p>Reject any bribe that may have been offered and unsnap the Merchant Bag, revealing the cards inside.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:35:45.670Z
Thank you! Darn, when I was playing it, I didn't know this. Time to get my money back!
noblerare
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-19T17:31:04.987Z
2018-07-19T17:31:04.987Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
Samthere
<p>I was playing in a game where I had offered a bribe on my merchant bag. The sheriff, in turn, chose to take my bribe and still search my bag anyway.  Is this type of play allowed?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-20T10:28:33.927Z
I saw this in Hot Network Questions, thought it was Law Stack Exchange, and was rather puzzled.
Mark Amery
<sheriff-of-nottingham>
Sheriff of Nottingham - Is the sheriff allowed to take your bribe and still search your bag?
noblerare
# Sheriff of Nottingham - Is the sheriff allowed to take your bribe and still search your bag?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-19)

I was playing in a game where I had offered a bribe on my merchant bag. The sheriff, in turn, chose to take my bribe and still search my bag anyway. Is this type of play allowed?

**Tags:** sheriff-of-nottingham

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I saw this in Hot Network Questions, thought it was Law Stack Exchange, and was rather puzzled.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-07-19. Score: 16 | Accepted answer

**No.**

The sheriff can *either* take the bribe *or* search the bag, not both. From [the rules](https://www.arcanewonders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sheriff_of_Nottingham_Rulebook.pdf), in Phase 4 (Inspection):

> When the Sheriff has made a decision about a Merchant Bag, he has two choices:
>
> * Accept whatever final bribe was offered (if any) and hand the bag back to its owner; or
> * Reject any bribe that may have been offered and unsnap the Merchant Bag, revealing the cards inside.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you! Darn, when I was playing it, I didn't know this. Time to get my money back!  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-19. Score: 5

No, once the bribe is taken is it a binding contract.

[Rules](https://gusandcodotnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/son_rulebook_ch09_singlepages.pdf)

> Once the Sheriff has made a choice it cannot be changed.
> As soon as you unsnap a Merchant Bag or hand it back,
> it’s too late to change your mind!
>
> After the Sheriff hears your offer (and after any negotiation
> required to settle the issue), the Sheriff must either allow you
> to pass (accepting any bribe that may have been
> offered), and hand you your Merchant Bag,
> or inspect the bag (refusing any bribe that
> may have been offered).
>
> Normally, all deals you make must
> be honored! However, there are a
> couple of exceptions:  
> • Promises of future favors, which take place after the current
> inspection phase, are not binding!  
> • A merchant might offer the sheriff a bribe, which includes
> Goods in his merchant bag. Of course, he might be lying
> about the contents of his bag. If he is allowed to pass, when
> he reveals the Goods in his bag, he need only pay the sheriff
> the Goods he promised which actually exist! If he promised
> Goods to the sheriff, which are not in his bag, he does not
> have to pay those.

As a side note in the group I played with bribes where frequently offered to open bags as well.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-19. Score: 2

No, it is not allowed. Only promises of future action are non-binding. See the same question on [Boardgamegeek](https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1394636/are-bribes-binding).


---

