The Seven Champions of Christendom, by W H G Kingston.
________________________________________________________________________
A most unusual book, especially from this author, erudite though he is.
The seven champions are the Patron Saints of England, Scotland, Ireland,
Wales, France, Italy and Spain. These rove about Europe and beyond,
slaying Enchanters, Dragons, and other nuisances, accompanied by their
Squires, who, although they put on weight and become obese, help as best
they can, and carry their masters' trophies for them.
That they all knew one another and were living at the same time is a
novel idea, but it all adds to quite a good story, however whimsical.
It is alleged that the book is no more than an edited transcription of a
book written at the end of the fifteen hundreds. It may well be, but it
stands quite well on its own for what it is--an amusement for the
children: that, and no more.
________________________________________________________________________