Sir Cleges
Encyclopedia
Sir Cleges is a medieval English chivalric romance. It is clearly a minstrel tale, praising giving gifts to minstrels, and punishing the servants who might make it impossible for a minstrel in a noble household. Corrupt officials are central to it.
in hopes of a reward. To admit him, the porter, the usher, and the steward all demand a third part of his reward. The king appreciates the cherries. Sir Cleges demands twelve blows as his reward and explains about the servants. Uther has him give them each four blows and then gives him a castle and many other gifts so that he and his family can live on comfort.
The figure of the Spendthrift Knight shows probable influence of the romance Amadas
.
The miracle of unseasonable fruit appears in many Celtic saints' legends, the tale of Joseph of Arimathea
where his staff took root and flowered every Christmas, and The Cherry Tree Carol.
The "Blows Shared" motif is found in Gesta Romanorum
and many folktales about the world.
Synopsis
Sir Cleges became poor through his generosity. He prayed that God would spare him and his wife and children. He finds cherries ripening in his yard although it is Christmas, and sets out to bring them to Uther PendragonUther Pendragon
Uther Pendragon is a legendary king of sub-Roman Britain and the father of King Arthur.A few minor references to Uther appear in Old Welsh poems, but his biography was first written down by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae , and Geoffrey's account of the character was used in...
in hopes of a reward. To admit him, the porter, the usher, and the steward all demand a third part of his reward. The king appreciates the cherries. Sir Cleges demands twelve blows as his reward and explains about the servants. Uther has him give them each four blows and then gives him a castle and many other gifts so that he and his family can live on comfort.
Manuscripts
Sir Cleges is found in two manuscripts, and textual comparison points to a third, lost original.Motifs
The romance combined many familiar motifs, original only in their unusual combination from different genres, which many authors have found striking.The figure of the Spendthrift Knight shows probable influence of the romance Amadas
Amadas
Amadas, or Sir Amadace is a medieval English chivalric romance, one of the rare ones for which there is neither a known nor a conjectured French original, like Sir Eglamour of Artois...
.
The miracle of unseasonable fruit appears in many Celtic saints' legends, the tale of Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea was, according to the Gospels, the man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus' Crucifixion. He is mentioned in all four Gospels.-Gospel references:...
where his staff took root and flowered every Christmas, and The Cherry Tree Carol.
The "Blows Shared" motif is found in Gesta Romanorum
Gesta Romanorum
Gesta Romanorum, a Latin collection of anecdotes and tales, was probably compiled about the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th...
and many folktales about the world.