[8] Histoire de Guillaume III.—Tom. II. p. 87, 88.
[9] Ibid.—Tom. II. p. 88, 89. Histoire du Pays Bas. Tom. III.
[10] Histoire de Roy Guillaume III. Tom, II. p. 89.—Amsterdam, 1703.
[11] The great and prominent fault of King James II., and which formed the head and front of his political offences, was no doubt his arbitrary government, and the decided preference which he gave to Catholics in preference—nay, to the total exclusion of Protestants from all emoluments in the State, and furthermore enforced by bills of pains and penalties, and attainders! Upon this fatal rock his fortunes were wrecked, and he lost his throne. Since this time the converse of the proposition has been unhappily and unwisely but too often acted upon. But let the past be buried in oblivion, and mutual animosities be forgiven and forgotten! A bright and happy period seems now about to arise to give peace and tranquillity to a country too long depressed by civil and irreligious jars; the sun of peace seems, with bland promise, about to illumine the horizon of hitherto distracted Erin, by snapping asunder the bonds which have for ages manacled a brave and noble people; and it is fondly believed and hoped that a long desired great and liberal measure shall in no long space of time be effected by the "Roy le veult" of a great and mighty king, the most generous, enlightened, and accomplished prince, who ever adorned the throne of Britain, and who well indeed may be called Pater Patriæ, the father and the benefactor of ALL his people!
[12] "The armorial escutcheon of Ostend bears a chevron sable on a gold ground, charged with three keys, sable blazoned on the dexter and sinister chiefs, and on the middle base point of the shield. The supporters a seaman and a mermaid."—Les Delices des Pays Bas.
[13] See "Grotius Annales et Histoires des Troubles du Pays Bas," lib. X. p. 491. See also the "Cardinal Bentivoglio," lib. III. p. 6. And see "Histoire des Provinces Unies, par M. Le Clerc," vol. I. p. 215, 229, Amsterdam, folio, 1723. In these three works will be found a full account of Spinola's attempt on Ostend, and the reader will be tempted to exclaim:—Unhappy Belgium! whose beauteous domains have been doomed to blaze beneath the torch of war, from the days of Tiberius down to those of Napoleon!
[14] Haggard, in falconry, means a hawk or falcon not taken in the nest, but after she had been inured to liberty, and preying for herself. Haggard-hawks are hard to be tamed and brought under discipline. The haggard-falcon is also called Peregrine-falcon, passenger and traveller, from its wandering more than any other sort of its kind; it is strong, courageous, hardy, and persevering. This bird is distinguished from the common falcon as being larger, &c. &c. The haggard-falcon, when wild and unreclaimed, takes the greatest liberty of all other birds, living either by land or sea; and formed of such absolute power, that wherever she comes all flying fowl stoop under her subjection.
[15] The pilot fish, called in ichthyology, Gasterosteus Ductor.
[16] Charabbonier means the driver, or waggoner, of a Flemish waggon.
[17] It is usual for the douaniers, or custom-house officers, of Flanders, to attend at the gates of the different cities, who search, by means of prodding with a foil, all merchandize coming into or out of town, in order to detect any goods that may prove to be contraband, or smuggled.