A}iti(juitics. 



275 



occupation from its foundation till the present day. This 

 castle was built by Hugh de Lacy, and is erected on a basaltic 

 dyke on the rocky shore ; it had therefore the sea, which 

 washed its feet, as a protection on half its circumference, 

 and possibly had a moat on the land side. Its position was 

 one of great strategic importance, and was the key to the 

 north-east corner of Ireland; no invader could afford to pass 

 it and thus destroy his base of action. A town soon gathered 

 around it, and was ancient, or middle-aged, before Belfast 

 existed or attained to the extent and dignity of a village. 

 The history of this castle is full of stirring events and stormy 

 vicissitudes, of capture and re-capture. 



l-AKKiClvFtKtiUS t.-\bTLt. 



William III. landed close to this castle in order to 

 commence his operations against James II. The spot is still 

 shown. 



The last episode occurred about a hundred and forty 

 years ago, when the French, under Thurot, took the castle, 

 plundered it, then demanded and received supplies from 

 Belfast, and sailed away on the approach of the English rein- 

 forcements; but the triumph was short, and the "Mareschal" 

 was taken off the Isle of Man. The attack on the castle was 

 led by the Marquis d'Estrees, "who, seeing a child rush 

 between the combatants, seized the lad, and breaking in a 

 door with the butt end of a musket, placed the child in the 

 hall of the house which happened to be that of the boy's 



