ce and Spain upon
the same head. King William might not have obtained from the English
parliament a ratification of the alliance had not Louis just at this
moment acknowledged the son of the ex-king James as king of England.
This insult roused the spirit of the English people, the House of
Commons approved the triple alliance, and voted large supplies. King
William died just after seeing his favorite project successful, and was
succeeded by Queen Anne, who continued his policy. The Austrian Archduke
Charles was recognized by the allies as King of Spain, and preparation
made for war.

An English army was landed near Cadiz; but the Spaniards showed no signs
of rising in favor of Charles, and, after bringing great discredit
on themselves and exciting the animosity of the Spaniards by gross
misconduct, the English army embarked again. Some treasure ships were
captured, and others sunk in the harbor of Vigo, but the fleet was no
more effective than the army. Admiral Sir John Munden was cashiered
for treachery or cowardice on the coast of Spain, and four captains of
vessels in the gallant Benbow's West India fleet were either dismissed
or shot for refusing to meet the enemy and for abandoning their chief.

In 1703 little was done in the way of fighting, but the allies received
an important addition of strength by the accession of Portugal to their
ranks. In 1704 the allies made an attempt upon the important city of
Barcelona. It was believed that the Catalans would have declared for
Charles; but the plot by which the town was to be given up to him was
discovered on the eve of execution, and the English force re-embarked on
their ships. Their success was still less on the side of Portugal, where
the Duke of Berwick, who was in command of the forces of King Philip,
defeated the English and Dutch under the Duke of Schomberg and captured
many towns.

The Portuguese rendered the allies but slight assistance. These reverses
were, however, balanced by the capture of Gibraltar on the 21st of June
by the fleet under Sir George Rooke, and a small land force under
Prince George of Hesse. Schomberg was recalled and Lord Galway took the
command; but he succeeded no better than his predecessor, and affairs
looked but badly for the allies, when the Duke of Marlborough, with the
English and allied troops in Germany, inflicted the first great check
upon the power and ambition of Louis XIV by the splendid victory of
Blenheim.

This defeat