On the stone porch of a house near the center of the city of Bruges, there is an immense inscription in stone setting forth Winthrop’s feats. Some say the story is only folklore because humans were never able to spin stones into gold. Others speak with passion and swear to every part of the story’s truth as though Winthorp himself had asked for his defense. The story with which most agree is about how the city was reclaimed from the vicious ruler. During a time period in which many people in Bruges were peasants and leased land from lords, the king sided with the landowners and increased the taxes on the peasants. This displeased them, but without many other options, many forsaked their own food and went without firewood (continued Thursday).