Why Did The Cleric Have Spells?

[Remathilis]

It's been awhile since I looked at the rulebooks, but didn't the BECMI cleric have to wait until 2nd level to learn a spell?

Yup, they were the last version which did so. All AD&D versions had spells at first level AND bonus spells to boot!

(rumor has it because cleric was rarely played due to bountiful healing potions. So they jazzed them up to get more people to play them at Cons. The more things change...)