Legendary tale of the Giant Gambrinus of Steenvoorde

Then, one fine summer's day, she rose at the same time as the sun, went to call her father and said to him in a tone that was both prayerful and commanding:

"Father, I want to be married on Saint Leger's Day, not to sieur GOBLIN, grand chancellor of the Châtellenie de CASSEL, as you understand it, but to a knight who will manage, after drinking my weight in beer, to lift with one hand the brilliant mount on which I shall sit".

To these words, MODRED le JUSTE could only reply with a nod, such was his whim that it far exceeded anything he had ever imagined. So he sent messages from castle to castle to spread the news.

As fate would have it, a group of Lords happened to be staying with the Lord of WATOU, a few leagues from STEINFORT. The lords were enjoying the good beer they were so fond of. As soon as MODRED's messenger had delivered his dispatch to the lord and his guests, they took leave of the lord as quickly as possible, and set off in haste for STEINFORT, with the happy prospect of this marriage in the back of their minds. Among these knights, there was one who could fulfill the conditions set by GUENIEVRE. He alone represented the profile needed to achieve this feat.

He was built like an oak. The protruding muscles of his limbs had the circumference of a beer barrel. His shoulders, six feet three inches broad, supported a head whose rugged features inspired sympathy. Dark brown hair surrounded a ruddy face, in the middle of which protruded a nose curved to the point, like the tendrils of a hop plant running along its thread. His brown eyes sparkled with courage, and an equally twisted moustache graced a face that exuded bonhomie. His name was JEAN PRIMUS, Duke of BRABANT, more commonly known as "GAMBRINUS".

By the time they got within sight of the church steeple, daylight was beginning to fade, and their first concern was to find lodgings for the night. The inn on the outskirts of STEINFORT, along the road leading to KASSEL BERG, seemed hospitable, and they settled in. In the course of the night, the innkeeper ran out of beer, as the knights' thirst was so hard to quench.

GAMBRINUS had the largest number of barrels around him, and was awakened the next day by AYMAN, a former pirate turned brewer, who had come in search of them. Once the bell had rung ten times, the suitors presented themselves before the castle gates.
From there, they were ushered into a large hall. Moments later, MODRED the JUST, his wife and daughter took their seats. He invited them to a hunting party in the woods of BEAUVOORDE and to a feast where the game would be eaten and washed down with a stream of beer.

GAMBRINUS shone particularly brightly in the afternoon, killing numerous stags and wild boars. Indeed, he demonstrated his skill with bow and arrow, as well as with the slingshot.

In the middle of a thicket, the killers flushed out a huge, raging boar. All the courtiers retreated, except for GAMBRINUS.

Using his slingshot, he hurled a stone with such force and skill that the wild boar fell to the ground with a cracked skull. This event caused quite a stir, and confirmed the knight's courage, albeit with a great deal of sensitivity.

He was on the lookout and getting ready, when a doe came out of a bush. GAMBRINUS immediately asked that no one aim at it, and fired a shot into the air to scare it away. This delicate gesture greatly pleased GUENIEVRE, and she thanked him with a promising smile that no one had ever seen on her lips before.

The next day was spent resting and preparing for the festivities. Dawn broke very early on the horizon, and the city streets came alive early in the morning.

Saint Léger promised to be particularly beautiful. The first rays of sunlight made the banners emblazoned with the Flanders coat of arms blaze. They adorned the entire square, where clever merchants displayed their fabrics and wares, knowing that people would flock to this exceptional day. From the balconies of STEINFORT's houses, you could make out the undulating shapes of the high crests majestically topping the competitors.

They poured in from all directions, followed by their squires and friends. The Sieur de WATOU was the first to arrive, and the courtyard of the châteaux was soon filled with the coats of arms and crews of all the lords. The most notable arrival was that of the Grand Chancellor de CASSEL, announced by triumphal trumpet blasts. He was preceded by a considerable number of knights, whose gleaming armor underlined their presence.

The sundial marked half past eleven when, at the far end of the courtyard, the last of the knights, our soberly dressed GAMBRINUS, appeared. He lined up alongside his rivals, to the jeers of Sieur GOBLIN.

MODRED le JUSTE welcomed them and made clear the rules of the contest.

After he had clapped his hands twice, a long line of pages arrived from the back of the courtyard, bringing bocks and barrels so that the contest could begin. It was said that 55 pints had to be drunk to pass the second test. At first, the mugs were quickly emptied, and no one stood out. But as the sun climbed higher in the sky and the beer level dropped in the casks, the number of candidates dwindled. Some gave up, poking their heads into their barrels because they were so drunk.

Only Sieur GOBLIN, Sieur de WATOU and the DUC de BRABANT saw the bottom of the barrel after a good hour's hard work. Without wasting any time, a squire brought in GUENIEVRE's horse, feathered in white. The crowd fell silent as the princess sat on her mount. Sieur GOBLIN, given his rank, took precedence and stepped forward first to put his strength to the test.

After a moment's reflection, he gave a loud shout and abruptly lifted the animal. The spectators cheered the knight, who already believed himself to be the victor. He passed in front of the grandstand where MODRED le JUSTE congratulated him. He then went on to taunt the other two contenders, looking down on them as if he were choosing a beast for his herd. Then it was Sieur de WATOU's turn to stagger forward. Before accomplishing his feat, he wanted to greet the princess, but his head jerked back and he lost consciousness against the horse's hooves. The squires threw water on him to wake him up and make way for the last competitor. Everyone agreed that GOBLIN was the winner, because no one thought that GAMBRINUS could do better. When he reached the mount, he made no speeches and, without hesitation, to everyone's astonishment, lifted GUENIEVRE.

This feat accomplished, he continued to carry his load to ensure victory, and headed for the stands where Abbé JEROME was to pronounce the nuptial blessing. The latter was delighted by the hero's gesture and blessed him. Then he urged him to allow GUENIEVRE to put his foot back on the ground, so scared was he. Everyone had noticed his fright, for whenever a competitor submitted to the test, he quickly signed himself and closed his eyes, murmuring prayers.