[[33]] Soto y Aguilar gives interminable accounts of the festivities to celebrate the entrance of the Queen into Madrid. The entertainments lasted nearly a month. Novoa says that on the 27th November the King himself took part in a "masquerade" on horseback, as in old times, running in a pair with his first minister and favourite, Don Luis de Haro: "all the nobles and gentles in the realm taking part in this show, which in liveries and splendid appointments surpassed all others. It was indeed a day of marvellous brilliancy. A proclamation was issued by sound of drum, by which the King gave leave to men of business and capitalists trading abroad for them to fit out eighty ships and trade with them in his ports and those of his allies, but not with the French Catalans or Portuguese. Politicians talked much of this, thinking it would be of the greatest advantage to the country." The chronicler, however, says that no advantage was taken of the permission, as merchants thought that the ships would be seized for the King. This shows how completely confidence had been lost in the honesty of Philip's Government, even by his friends.
[[34]] Cartas de Sor Maria.
[[35]] Aersens van Sommerdyk.
[[36]] Florez relates that at this sumptuous christening the little Infanta Maria Teresa was god-mother, and in drawing off her glove she dropped a very precious bracelet of brilliants. A lady in the crowd picked it up and offered it to the Infanta, who even thus early had learnt the haughty traditions of her house, to take nothing from the hand of anyone but certain officials, made a sign that the lady was to keep the bracelet, Reinas Catolicas.
[[37]] He usually speaks of her in the earlier years as "my niece," not as "my wife," or "the Queen," and very frequently mentions her and his daughter together as "the girls."
[[38]] Record Office MSS., S.P. Spain 42.
[[39]] See Hopton's summary of his proceedings in Spain. Record Office MSS., S.P. Spain 42.
[[40]] MSS. Simancas, Estado, 2526; Canovas, del Castillo, Estudios del Reinado de Felipe IV.
[[41]] Simancas MSS., Estado, 2526; Canovas del Castillo.
[[42]] Simancas MSS., Estado, 2526; Canovas del Castillo.