got an opportunity to discover himself, and obtaining there consent to go along with him in the dead time of the night, mounted her on his steed (which he shoed backward to prevent pursuit) and after many dangers, narrowly escaped, at last they happily arrived in Spain.
CHAP. V.
The adventures of St. Anthony, St. Andrew, and St.
Patrick, the Champions of Italy, Scotland and Ireland.
THE noble Champion, St. Anthony of Italy having (after leaving the other six Champions) travelled over many hills and dales, woods and forests, came at last into the country of Thrace, where, upon the top of an high mountain, stood an impregnable castle, wherein lived a terrible Giant, named Blonderon, that had over the principal gate of his castle, these verses written:
What Champion to this Castle doth repair,
Here lives a Giant bold within this place,
Who pris’ners keeps seven virgins chaste and fair,
Daughters to the noble King of Thrace.
All these who with this Giant fierce will fight.
Shall have a Virgin’s prayers day and night.
Thirst of glory and honourable renown, so tired the breast of the noble Champion, that he thundered at the gate with the pummel of his sword as loud as the cyclops when they formed the armour of Achilles; the Giant being roused at this terrible noise, came running out of the gate with a great oak-tree flourishing about his head, intending with one blow, to crush in pieces the bones of St. Anthony for disturbing him of his repose, but the nimble knight so avoided his strokes, by skipping continually out of his reach, that the Giant,
