tycho's elk and dwarf

Tycho was said to own one percent of the entire wealth of Denmark at one point in the 1580s and he often held large social gatherings in his castle. He kept a dwarf named Jepp (whom Tycho believed to be a clairvoyant) sat under the table during dinner. Pierre Gassendi wrote that Tycho also had a tame elk and that his mentor asked whether there was an animal faster than a deer. Tycho replied, writing that there was none, but he could send his tame Elk. When Wilhelm replied he would accept one in exchange for a horse, Tycho replied with the sad news that the elk had just died on a visit to entertain a nobleman at Landskrona. Apparently during dinner the elk had drunk a lot of beer, fallen down the stairs, and died.