The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

KING MATTHIAS USED TO WALK MANY TIMES DISGUISED THROUGH HUNGARY
TO SEE IF LAW AND JUSTICE WERE PREVAILING. HE WENT DISGUISED ONE DAY
AS A POOR MAN TO BUDA BECAUSE HE HEARD THAT THE SUPREME JUDGE THERE
WAS A TYRANT. AS HE WAS WALKING ALONG SOME MEN YELLED, "HEY
BIG NOSE, COME HERE." SOME MEN GRABBED HIM AND TOLD HIM HE HAD TO
CHOP A HUGE PILE OF FIREWOOD ALONG WITH SOME OTHER MEN. THE WOOD
WAS FOR THE JUDGE'S FIREPLACE. SO MATTHIAS WORKED ALL DAY AND WHEN
NIGHT CAME HE GOT NO FOOD OR SALARY. THE NEXT DAY THE ROYAL
HERALDS ANNOUNCED THAT THE KING WAS ARRIVING IN TOWN. THE JUDGE
GAVE A BIG BANQUET FOR THE KING. AT THE BANQUET THE KING ASKED
ABOUT THE HUGE PILE OF FIREWOOD. THE JUDGE SAID, "THE PEOPLE DID IT
FOR LOVE." SO THE KING GATHERED EVERYBODY AROUND AND MADE SOME
MEN PULL DOWN THE PILE OF LOGS. THREE OF THE LOGS HAD THE
NAME MATTYS CUT ON THEM. THE KING TOLD EVERYONE HOW HE HAD BEEN
FORCED TO WORK AND RECEIVED ONLY THREE LASHES AS PAYMENT. FOR
PUNISHMENT HE TOOK THE JUDGE'S HOME AND MADE IT THE PRISON FOR THE
CITY. THE KING LET THE OTHER MEN GO FREE AFTER THEY HAD PLEADED WITH
HIM.

Submitter comment: DR. DAMIN HEARD THIS STORY IN HUNGARY WHERE MATTYS IS ONE OF THE MOST
BELOVED RULERS OF HUNGARY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-00-1964