and other Gothic noblemen: this small force soon passed the Herculean Straits, and landed on the coast near the present town of Algeziras, where, finding no opposition, and the country almost defenceless, the Saracen general ravaged the neighbouring towns, and returned laden with spoils, to report the success of his first expedition.

Mousa, elated with the flattering prospect, the following year assembled an army of 12,000 men, and Tarif was appointed to the chief command. Having supplied himself with provisions and stores, Tarif once more embarked on the rapid Strait, and landed on the isthmus between Mons Calpe and the continent. The object of this invasion being of a more serious nature than that of the former, he determined to secure a communication with Africa, by establishing a post on the coast; and, duly estimating the strong natural situation of Mons Calpe, gave orders to erect a castle on the face of the hill, which might answer the original purpose, and also cover his retreat, in case he should be unfortunate in his future operations. The superior part of this once magnificent pile at present remains; and, from an inscription discovered over the principal gate, before it was pulled down, the period of its being finished is ascertained to be about the year of our Lord 725.

Tarif, leaving a garrison at the foot of Mons Calpe (which was now called by the Saracens, in compliment to their general, Gibel-Tarif, or the mountain of Tarif, and thence Gibraltar), marched into the country, and surprised many towns, amongst which was Heraclea, or Carteia, situated on the coast of the bay, about four miles distant from Gibel-Tarif.

King Roderic, receiving intelligence of Tarif's approach, assembled a numerous body of troops to oppose his progress. Both armies met, after several skirmishes, near Xeres, in Andalusia, and a bloody conflict ensued. The victory was for a long time doubtful; but the Gothic army being raw and undisciplined, and part disaffected and joining the Saracens. Tarif at

length prevailed, and by this victory was soon in possession of the whole kingdom.

The Goths, or Spaniards as we will now call them, were driven by the rapid conquests of the invaders into the provinces of Asturias, Biscay, &c., where, like the ancient Britons, they maintained a strenuous and respectable opposition. By degrees they reassumed their former discipline and valour, while their conquerors declined into luxury and effeminacy: they made several excursions from the mountains, recovering, after many obstinate actions, great part of the northern provinces. This success encouraged them to attempt the total rejection of the Arabic yoke. Measures were concerted among the chiefs, to act with union and with vigour. The infidels were attacked and routed in successive engagements; and the kingdoms of Asturias, Galicia, Leon, Navarre, and Castile, erected under different monarchs.

Gibraltar, during these transactions, increased in importance, though not in an equal degree with the neighbouring city of Algeziras, which had been built, posterior to Gibraltar, on the opposite shore of the bay, and was then become a fortress of great magnificence and strength. This celebrated city seems totally to have obscured Gibraltar in the histories of those times, since very trifling mention is made of the latter till the beginning of the fourteenth century, when we learn that Ferdinand, king of Castile, in the course of his conquests, first took it (with a small detachment) from the infidels.

Gibraltar could not at this period be very strong, as it fell so easy a prey to the Christians, whose army had been, and at that time was employed in the siege of Algeziras. It does not, however, appear that Ferdinand was equally successful in his operations against that city; for we find, in the year 1316, the Moors of Grenada applying to the emperor of Fez for succour: and, to facilitate their reception, Algeziras and other cities on the coast were put into the hands of the Africans. We may therefore conclude that Ferdinand was

the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt, were landed on the isthmus. The prince then summoned the garrison; but the governor refusing to surrender, preparations were made for the attack. By daybreak on the 23rd, the ships appointed to cannonade the town, under Admirals Byng and Vanderdussen, with those that were destined to batter the new mole, commanded by Captains Hicks and Jumper, were at their several stations. The admiral made the signal to begin the cannonade, which was performed with great vivacity and effect, so that the enemy, in five or six hours, were driven from their guns, especially from the new mole head. The admiral, considering that by gaining that fortification the town might sooner be reduced, ordered Captain Whitaker, with the armed boats, to possess himself of it; but Captains Hicks and Jumper, who lay next the mole, pushed ashore with their pinnaces, before the rest came up; whereupon the Spaniards sprung a mine, which blew up the fortifications, killed 2 lieutenants and 40 men, and wounded 60. The assailants nevertheless kept possession of the work, and being joined by Captain Whitaker, advanced and took a small redoubt,* half-way between the mole and the town. The Marquis de Salines, who was governor, being again summoned, thought proper to capitulate hostages were therefore exchanged, and the Prince of Hesse, on the 24th of July, 1704, took possession of the gates.

Notwithstanding the works were very strong, mounting 100 pieces of ordnance, well appointed with ammunition and stores; yet the garrison, at most, consisted of only 150 men, exclusive of the inhabitants. The marquis marched out with all the honours of war, and the Spaniards who chose to remain were allowed the same privileges they had enjoyed under King Charles II. The loss of the English in this attack was, 2 lieutenants, 1 master, 57 sailors, killed; 1 captain, 7 lieutenants, 1 boatswain, 207 sailors, wounded.

The present eight-gun battery.

The Prince of Hesse remained governor; and as many men as could well be spared from the fleet were left as a garrison. Sir George Rooke afterwards sailed for Tetuan, to wood and water. This being performed, he steered up the Mediterranean, and on the 13th of August, off Malaga, engaged the French fleet, under the command of Count de Toulouse. The action was long and warm; but many of the English ships, having expended a great quantity of ammunition in taking Gibraltar, were soon obliged to quit the line; which gave the enemy a decided superiority. The engagement ended in a drawn battle; and Sir George returned to Gibraltar, where he stayed eight days to refit; and then supplying the prince with what men and provisions he could spare, sailed thence on the 4th of September, N.S., on his way home, leaving 18 men-of-war under the command of Sir John Leake, at Lisbon, to be in readiness to succour the garrison, if there should be occasion.

The courts of Madrid and Paris were greatly concerned at the loss of so important a fortress as Gibraltar, and, considering its recovery of the last consequence to the cause, the Marquis de Villadarias, a grandee of Spain, was ordered to besiege, and endeavour to retake it. The Prince of Hesse, apprised of their intentious, and being further informed that they were to be assisted by a naval force from Toulon, sent advice to Sir John Leake, requesting assistance and supplies. Sir John prepared for this duty; but in the mean time a fleet of French ships arrived, and landed six battalions, which joined the Spanish army. After disembark ing their reinforcements, the French squadron proceeded to the westward, leaving only six frigates in the bay.

On the 11th of October, 1704, the Marquis opened his trenches against the town; and soon afterwards Sir John Leake arrived with 20 sail of English and Dutch ships: hearing, however, that the enemy were preparing to attack him with a superior force, he thought it most eligible immediately to retire and refit, that he might be in

a better condition to supply and assist the garrison, in a second expedition, for which he had very prudently directed preparations to be made at Lisbon in his absence. On the 25th he again put to sea; and on the 29th unexpectedly entering the bay, surprised three frigates, a fire-ship, two English prizes, a tartan, and a store-ship. He then landed the reinforcements, and supplied the garrison with six months' provisions and ammunition, at the same time detaching on shore a body of 500 sailors to assist in repairing the breaches which had been made by the enemy's fire. The arrival of the admiral was very opportune and critical; for that very night the marquis had resolved to attack the place by sea and land at five different points; for which purpose he had assembled 200 boats from Cadiz, &c. Though disappointed in their designs, the Spaniards still entertained hopes of taking the fortress; and supposing the troops would be less on their guard while the fleet was in the bay, they formed the desperate scheme of surprising the garrison, though the British admiral was before the town. The 31st of October, 500 volunteers took the sacrament, never to return till they had taken Gibraltar. This forlorn party was conducted by a goatherd to the south side of the rock, near the Cave-guard (at that time called the Pass of Locust-trees). Fortune, in the beginning, so far favoured the enterprise, that they mounted the rock, and lodged themselves unperceived the first night in St. Michael's cave; the succeeding night they scaled Charles the Fifth's wall; surprised and put to death the guard at the Signal-house and at Middle-hill, where afterwards, by ropes and ladders, they got up several hundreds of the party who had been ordered to sustain them; but being discovered, a strong detachment of grenadiers marched up immediately from the town, and attacked them with such spirit, that 160 of them were killed, or driven over the precipice, and a colonel and 30 officers, with the remainder, taken prisoners. These brave, but unfortunate adventurers, were to have been supported by a body of

| French troops, and some feints were to have been made below to engage the attention of the garrison; but the commanding officers disagreeing, they were left to their fortune.

Sir John Leake was not idle whilst he remained in the bay, but was continually alarming the enemy on their coasts. The 22nd of November he had information, by one of his cruisers, that a strong squadron was fitting out at Cadiz, which would be soon ready for sea; and receiving further intelligence, that a convoy, fitted out from Lisbon for the relief of Gibraltar, was on its way, he prepared to join it off Lagos, in order to protect it past Cadiz; but was confined within the Straits by a westerly wind. The prince, in the mean time, redoubled his exertions to prevent the enemy's designs, who flattered themselves, that on the arrival of their fleet from Cadiz, Sir John would be obliged to retire, and the garrison__surrender to their united attacks. Their fire was continued with additional vivacity, many cannon in the place were dismounted, and the works were materially injured in different parts.

Affairs were in this situation, when part of the long-wished-for succours arrived on the 7th of December;. and two days following, the remainder came in with near 2000 men, with proportionable ammunition and provisions. They sailed from Lisbon under convoy of four frigates, and thought themselves safe on discovering, off Cape Spartel, a fleet of men-of-war, under English and Dutch colours: expecting to meet Sir John, with the combined fleet, at the entrance of the Straits, they endeavoured to join them, but fortunately were becalmed: they then hoisted out their boats to tow the ships, when, perceiving the men-of-war extend themselves in form of a half moon, in order to surround them, they began to suspect some deception, and accordingly made a private signal, which totally frustrated the enemy's measures, who were thereby discovered, and, striking their false colours, endeavoured to fall upon the transports; but these latter, being lighter vessels,