[319] Le Grand Dauphin, etc.—Don Diego de Pimental, nephew of the Viceroy of Sicily, and uncle to the Viceroy of Naples, was captured in his ship the St. Matthew, by Admiral Van der Does, of the Holland fleet.—Motley, Vol. II., p. 473.
[320] Nef—Navire.
[321] Alexander, Prince Farnèse, and Duke of Parma, was commandant of the Spanish Army, and was waiting in Flanders for an opportunity of co-operating with the Spanish fleet. He was suspected of having a secret treaty with Queen Elizabeth, (Motley, Vol. II., p. 273-4), but these verses are so very obscure, it is impossible to identify the incidents to which they allude. It may be that they, as well as the last verse of this poem are interpolations from some other ballad, which has got confused with this one.
[322] Mi-été—le milieu de l’été.
[323] Harnois.—signifie l’habillement d’un homme d’armes.
[324] Fil de l’epée—est en usage depuis long temps. Ronsard a dit parlant de Henri III., … “devant le fil de son epée.”
[325] Fronder—Attaquer quelque chose.
[326] Flibot—Terme de marine. C’est un moïen vaisseau qui est armé en course.
[327] Sarcler—Terme de Laboureur. Couper les méchantes herbes avec le sarcloir.
[328] Moufles—Garnie de poulies de cuivre, de boulons, et de cordages pour monter les pièces d’artillerie à l’elesoir.