doctrine, government, rites, or ceremonies of the
church, or to maintain schools or seminaries for the education of
youth, in principles contrary to those of the established church, was
a contempt of the ecclesiastical laws of the kingdom; of pernicious
consequence; and served only to continue and widen the unhappy schisms
and divisions in the nation. In June the parliament was prorogued to the
same month of the following year: then the duke of Ormond embarked for
England, leaving the administration in the hands of sir Richard Cox,
lord chancellor, and lord Cutts, the commander-in-chief of the queen's
forces, who were appointed lords-justices during the duke's absence.

CAMPAIGN ON THE MOSELLE.

During these transactions in Great Britain and Ireland, the allies had
not been remiss in their preparations for the ensuing campaign. The duke
of Marlborough had fixed upon the Moselle for the scene of action; and
magazines of all sorts were formed at Triers. On the thirteenth day
of March the duke embarked for Holland, where he prevailed upon the
states-general to contribute their troops for the execution of his
project. Having concerted with the deputies of the states and the Dutch
generals the necessary measures for opening the campaign, he set out for
Maestricht in order to assemble his army. On the fifth day of May the
emperor Leopold died at Vienna, and was succeeded on the imperial throne
by his eldest son Joseph, king of the Romans, a prince who resembled his
father in meekness of disposition, narrowness of intellect, and bigotry
to the Romish religion. On the fifteenth of June the English troops
passed the Maese, and continued their march towards the Moselle, under
the command of general Churchill; and the duke set out for Cruetznach,
to confer with prince Louis of Baden, who excused himself on pretence
of being much indisposed. Marlborough visited him at Castadt, where in
a conference they resolved that a sufficient number of German troops
should be left for the security of the lines of Lauterburg and
Stolhoffen, under the command of general Thungen, and that prince Louis
of Baden should march with a large detachment towards the Saar, to act
in concert with the duke of Marlborough. The confederate army passed the
Moselle and the Saar in the beginning of June, and encamped at Elft in
sight of the enemy, who retired with great precipitation, and intrenched
themselves in the neighbourhood of Coningsmarcheren. The d