HIS Majesty of Great-Britain having, as you have been already informed, surprized the States and people of the Hague with his suedain Arrival into that place, which prevented not only the Burghers from appearing in their Arms, but the Lords of that Countrey from performing the great Testimony of their Rejoycing, at his coming among them, by playing their Fire-works, and making other pub­lick Demonstrations of his safe and happy Arrival; they besought the King, though much against his Inclination, as coming to do Business in their Countrey, To permit that a Day might be prefixed, and his Majesty be gra­ciously pleased to do them the honour, to make his publick Entrance into the Hague; which he yielded to, and ordered to be performed on the 5th of February, S. N. Which began at three of the Clock that Afternoon: Which was carried on, and contained that Variety and Greatness of Splendour, as to exceed any thing of that Nature these many Ages.

There were erected three very Costly Triumphal Arches, imbellished with Gold, Rich Carvings and Curiosity of Phantasies in Painting: That before the Palace very Regular and Noble, larger than any of the Gates of London, and not unlike, in Form, to that of Temple-Bar, and had the King's Effigies on Horse back, Gilded, and set upon the Top, the whole painted in Frisco; and had a great Portar and two smaller ones on each side: The others were in different Forms, with diverse Latine Devices or Motto's under them, relating to the King and this present Occasion.

The King went out of the Back-Gate of the Pallace, and fetching a Round in his Coach, with his Attendants, came into the further end of the Hague, riding quite through the Town, passed through all the Tri­umphal Arches, the Streets being lined with the States soldiers, and crowded with innumerable Throngs of People; And made their Cavalcade in this like Order.

There preceeded a Party of the King's Horse-Guards, with Trumpets and Kettle-Drums: After them a Body of Switzers, not much unlike our Yeomen of the Guard: And were followed by his Majesties Footmen in excellent Order; Then came one of the King's Coaches, with six Horses, carrying his Grace the Duke of Ormond, with some other English Noblemen therein: Which was succeeded by another of His Majesties Coaches, filled with the Nobility: in the third, which was extra­ordinary Rich, rode his Majesty, and the Heer Overkirk, with many Pages on both Sides: After which came the Coach of his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, with Pages and Footmen, in very rich Liveries: And was followed by that of the Earl of Devonshire and Earl of Dorset, twelve Footmen running by the Side of their Horses, with four Pages: And the Lord Dursley, His Ma­jesty's Envoy Extraordinary to the States General, in his Coach; With that of Mr. Johnson, the King's Envoy Extraordinay at the Court of the Elector of Brandenburgh, closed the Rear; which making some Interval. There were a great many Coaches of the Nobles, Lords and States of that Coun­trey, with a great Appearance of the Ministers of Foreign Princes, Allies there, made a Noble Cavalcade. The Burghers, being in the Nature of our Trained Bands, marched in all their Gaiety, and made a Handsome Appearance; And when the King entred the Palace, were drawn up, and made several good Vollies; and many great Guns, brought thither on this Occasion, proclaimed aloud the Rejoycing for this Inesteemable Be­nefite of the King's Presence. When it came to be dark, the Fire-Works, which were very Curious and Divertising, began to Play. In short, the Night concluded with Ringing of Bells, Boon-fires and Illuminations, with Can­dles set behind Transparent Painted Devices and Pictures, in divers of the Windows in the Streets of the Town. The Duke of Brandenburgh was just then arrived, and the Elector of Bavaria expected in two days: And all concluded with the greatest Order and Regularity imaginable.

Before the Court there is the Effigies of our King on Horse-back, richly Embellished all over with Gold, and on each side the Arch are Eight Sta­tues of Copper above the Pedestal of the King's Horse, and there is wrote, ‘POPƲLI SALƲS.’

And round about the Cornish is wrote, ‘Pio, Foelici, Inclit [...] Gulielmo Tertio, Triumphanti, Patria Patri; Guber­natori P. C. J. P. Restauratori Belgii Faederati; Liberatori Angliae; ser­vatori Scotiae, Pacificatori Hiberniae, reduci.’

The Substance whereof in English is thus: ‘To the Pious, Happy, Triumphing, William III Father of his Countrey; Restorer of the United Provinces of the Netherlands; Deliverer of Eng­land; Preserver of Scotland; Pacifier of Ireland, returned hither.’

And there is Painted a Sword weighing down Three Crowns, with this Motto, ‘PRAEMIA NON AEQUANT.’

The Rewards do not equal his Merits.

And there are above One Hundred Motto's beside, suitable to the Pictures.