arthur jousting champ

There was no man so brave, *
nor so strong, either,
nor who could ride so well,
that if Artur came next to him,
he could not take him in his arms
-whether in earnest or in jest-
and lay him across his horse in front of him
and take him wherever he wished
Walewein and even Lanceloet,
Percheval, and the entire company
of the most renowned knights
had all of them been tested
but not one of them could escape
Arthur laying them across his horse
it was that for this reason
That they never allowed the king to joust
or take part in tournaments,
for he would defeat them all
and have the prize all to himself.
and all of their feats of arms would
seem as nothing, of this you may be sure,
when compared to this,
and this is why they asked the king
to renounce these things
and let them pursue renown and praise,
and he would be lord over it all
When, however, a giant would enter the king's realm demanding combat on the condition that Artur himself accept it, he himself wanted to fight it.
No manner of begging could dissuade him from it,
so determined was he to fight himself.
He was also in the habit of traveling alone without the knowledge of his men, and would bring back those rebels' heads to show as proof to his people.
And for this reason all his men feared him.

Torec, by Jacob van Maerlant