According to Wikinfo:

The name "Albion," in reference to the white cliffs (Latin alba means
"white"), was used by Pliny the Elder, Ptolemy, and other writers of
the first century The Marquis de Ximenés, an 18th century diplomat, is
credited with coining the phrase La perfide Albion, or "perfidious
Albion", which is still heard from the French -- also an affectionate
term, in its own way. It is also used by the Irish about the English
but in a less affectionate manner, suggesting a degree of
untrustworthyness.

Dear Bryan,

Marquis Augustin Louis Marie de Ximénèz [also: Ximenes] was a French
poet of Spanish descent. He was born in Paris in 1726 and died in
1817. He served in the army as a young man, but as a result of his
friendship with Voltaire, he turned to writing in 1746. Ximénèz later
became a supporter of the French Revolution. His literary ambitions
were bigger than his talent, but he nevertheless experienced success
with the drama "Don Carlos" (1756), "Lettres portugaises en vers
libres", or "Sur Vinfluence de Boileau sur Vesprit de son siècle"
(1787). His collected works were published in 1772. Chosen poetic
writings were published in 1806.

The expression "perfide Albion" derives from Ximénèz' poem "L'ere des
Francais", written in October 1793, which contains the line:
"Attaquons dans ses eaux la perfide Albion" - "Let us attack the
perfidious Albion in her own waters". As Ximénèz supported the
Revolution, and since England was among the main enemies of
Revolutionary France then, it is obvious why the author used those
words.


Sources:

Projekt Runeberg: Nordisk familjebok - Uggleupplagan. 33. Väderlek-Äänekosk
http://www.lysator.liu.se/runeberg/nfcm/0289.html

William C. Waterhouse: "Re: 'perfidious albion'". Online posting,
<humanities.classics> via Google Groups, 1999/06/23
http://groups.google.de/groups?hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&selm=7krdto%24158e%40r02n01.cac.psu.edu

Kouyu: "Re: Murió otro". Online posting, <es.rec.deportes.futbol> via
Google Groups, 2004-09-09
http://groups.google.de/groups?q=g:thl102682346d&dq=&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&selm=41409191.1010609%40yakity.ak

Wikipedia Holland: Albion
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albion

Search terms used:
XIMENES albion
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=XIMENES+albion&btnG=Suche&meta=
"Attaquons dans ses eaux la perfide Albion"
http://groups.google.de/groups?q=%22Attaquons%20dans%20ses%20eaux%20la%20perfide%20Albion%22&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&sa=N&tab=wg
"Attaquons dans ses eaux la perfide Albion"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22Attaquons%20dans%20ses%20eaux%20la%20perfide%20Albion%22&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&sa=N&tab=gw
Ximenés  "perfide Albion"
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=Ximen%C3%A9s++%22perfide+Albion%22&btnG=Suche&meta=
"de ximenez" augustin
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=%22de+ximenez%22+augustin&btnG=Suche&meta=
ximenes "augustin louis"
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=ximenes+%22augustin+louis%22&btnG=Suche&meta=
ximenez "perfide albion"
://www.google.de/search?hl=de&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=ximenez+%22perfide+albion%22&btnG=Suche&meta=


Hope this answers your question!
Regards,
Scriptor

Scriptor

Once again you have excelled!

I am impressed at your ability to find stuff in the 'de' version ...
It would never have occurred to me.

I can now understand why a Spanish sounding gent should have sounded
off against us Brits in French.

They sought him here, they sought him there,
The Scarlet Pimp was EVERYWHERE!

I have heard:

  L'Albion perfide (they reverse their nouns)

While in France, 

  although 'rosboeuf'(sp?) is my favourite.