Origin: England

Book: The Howe Readers

Author: Will David Howe

Published: 1909

Once upon a time there lived a brave knight named Sir Cleges. Every year at Christmas Sir Cleges gave a great feast. Rich and poor the country round came to his feast. There were rich gifts of robes and jewels, horses, gold and silver for the guests when they left. For ten years Sir Cleges held his feast. But at last he had no wealth left. His friends and servants left him. No one but his good wife lived with him when he was poor.

One Christmas when Sir Cleges was very poor the king made a feast. Sir Cleges had no gift to send to the king, and he was too poor to go to the court. As he stood mourning, his wife came to him. *’My good lord,” she said, ‘*I pray you cease to mourn. On this Christmas day put away your sorrow. Let us go to our meal now and
be as merry as we feast.”

They put their sad thoughts away, and the knight went out into the garden, where he thanked God for the content that had come into his heart instead of sadness. As he knelt, he felt a bough over his head. He laid his hand on it, and behold a wonderful thing happened. He found green leaves and cherries in plenty.

“Dear God,” said he, “What manner of berry may this be at this time of year? At this season fruit trees do not bear.” He tasted the fruit, and found it the best he had ever eaten. With his knife he cut off a branch and took it to his wife.” Lo, dame ! ” said he, ” here is a new thing. On a cherry-tree in our garden I found this fruit. It is a great marvel.”

Then said his wife: ”Let us fill a basket, for ’tis a gift that God hath sent. To-morrow you can take a basket of cherries to the king.” On the morrow, when it was light, Sir Cleges took a staff, for he had no horse to ride, and he set out on foot to go to give his Christmas gift to the king.

In time Sir Cleges came to the castle. He tried to enter at the great gate. But he was poorly clad, and a porter barred the way.  “Churl,” said the man, ”begone, or I will break your head. Go stand with the beggars.” ” Good Sir,” said Sir Cleges, ” I pray you let me in; I have a gift for the king. Behold what I bring.”

The porter lifted the lid of the basket and saw the cherries. Well he knew that such a gift would bring a great reward from the king. ”You can not come into this place,” he said, ” unless you promise me the third part of whatever the king gives you, whether it be silver or gold.” ” I agree,” said the knight, and the porter let him enter.

But at the hall door stood an usher with a staff. “Go back,” he cried ; ” I will break every bone in your body if you come further.” “Good Sir,” said the knight, ‘* cease your anger. I have here a present for the king. Last night it grew in my garden. Behold whether it be true or false.” The usher lifted the lid of the basket, and saw the cherries.

“You can not come in,” he said, “unless you give me a third part of whatever is given you for the cherries.”Sir Cleges saw no other way, so he granted what was asked, and with sadder heart he went into the king’s hall.

The king’s steward walked about among the lords and ladies. To Sir Cleges he came and said: ” Who made you so bold as to come here? Get hence with your rags and basket.” ” I have here a present for the’ king.” answered
Sir Cleges. The steward looked into the basket. “Never saw I such fruit at this season of the year.” he
cried. “No, never since I was born. You shall not reach the king, unless you promise me a
third part of what he gives you.” Sir Cleges saw nothing for it but to agree. ‘* Whatsoever the king grants me, you shall have a third part, never fear.”

Up to the throne went Sir Cleges and knelt before the king. He uncovered the basket. The king saw the fresh cherries.  “This is a fair gift,” said he, and he bade Sir Cleges sit down to the feast. When the feast was done the king said, ” Call me the poor man who brought those cherries.”

“I thank you heartily,” said the king, ”for your gift; you have honored my feast and my guests, and you have also honored me. Whatsoever you wish, that I will grant.”

*’ I pray then,” said Sir Cleges, “that you grant me twelve strokes to deal out as I please.” Then answered the king, ” It were better you had wished for land and gold; you have more need of it.” But Sir Cleges asked again for the twelve
strokes, and the king granted them.

Then the knight found the proud steward, and he gave him such a stroke that he fell down ; the
knight gave him three strokes more. ” Take the third part of my reward,” he said.

Out of the hall Sir Cleges went to find the usher and the porter. To each he gave four hard strokes, to teach him better manners for the next poor man who wanted to see the king.

Then the knight went back to thank the king once more for his gift. But the king asked him why he had dealt the twelve strokes to his servants.

” Sire, I could not enter your presence until I promised each of them one-third of whatever you granted me.”

The king sent for his steward, his usher, and his porter. ” Have you had your reward? ” he asked. But they answered only with angry looks at the knight. Then said the king to Sir Cleges: ”What is your name, good man? Tell me
truly.”

” I am Sir Cleges. I was’ once your own knight, great king,” he said.

” Are you Sir Cleges who served me and were so generous and free and stout in fight? ”

” Even so, my king, until poverty overtook me.”

Then the king gave Sir Cleges all that belonged to a brave knight. He gave him a castle and many other gifts, and Sir Cleges rode home to his wife and told her all that had been given to him, and they lived in happiness to the end of