Lives of the last four princesses of the royal house of Stuart

24 MARY, PEINCESS-ROYAL. [1642.
the party entered liis state coach, a grand-looking
vehicle, lined with crimson velvet, and calculated to ac-
commodate without difficulty a company of eight. This
coach, although elaborately carved, richly gilded and
emblazoned, had neither springs nor glass windows, but
clumsy doors opening between the high wheels ; wheels so
high that the coach had to be ascended by a flight of
steps on either side, each door being furnished with a
leathern convenience for covering and holding the steps,
called a boot. These being supplied with cushions,
furnished side seats, each of them large enough to ac-
commodate two persons.
The good-natured Stadtholder, having ensconced the
two Queens, Henrietta Maria of England and Elizabeth
of Bohemia, in the seat of honour facing the horses, the
young bridegroom and his little bride opposite to them,
and settled Prince Rupert and Princess Henrietta of the
Bhine in one boot, violated all German etiquette by
placing himself and Princess Elizabeth, the eldest daughter
of the Queen of Bohemia, in the other. Thus packed, the
social kindred party drove merrily to Hounslardyck, where
dinner was ordered for them, and the deputies of the
States came to welcome and congratulate them on their
arrival, from the States-general. After dinner they all set
out together for the Hague, where they arrived towards
evening. They were met by a great multitude of all
sorts and conditions of people, who thronged to see them.
All the burgesses of the town were in arms, and the
guards of the Prince of Orange, in military order, marched
before them, and conducted Mary and the queen her
mother, to the palace of the Prince of Orange at the
Hague, where they were to reside. The Princess of
Orange, being in hourly expectation of her confinement,
had not been able to meet them at Hounslardyck, but