About nine o’clock in the morning the curtains were drawn by the Asafeta, followed by a single valet carrying a basin full of caudle.  Hyghens, during my convalescence, explained to me how this caudle was made, and in fact concocted some for me to taste.  It is a light mixture of broth, milk, wine (which is in the largest quantity), one or two yolks of eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and a few cloves.  It is white; has a very strong taste, not unmixed with softness.  I should not like to take it habitually, nevertheless it is not disagreeable.  You put in it, if you like, crusts of bread, or, at times, toast, and then it becomes a species of soup; otherwise it is drunk as broth; and, ordinarily, it was in this last fashion the King took it.  It is unctuous, but very warm, a restorative singularly good for retrieving the past night, and, for preparing you for the next.

While the King partook of this brief breakfast, the Asafeta brought the Queen some tapestry to work at, passed bed-gowns to their Majesties, and put upon the bed some of the papers she found upon the adjoining seats, then withdrew with the valet and what he had brought.  Their Majesties then said their morning prayers.  Grimaldo afterwards entered.  Sometimes they signalled to him to wait, as he came in, and called him when their prayer was over, for there was nobody else, and the bedroom was very small.  Then Grimaldo displayed his papers, drew from his pocket an inkstand, and worked with the King; the Queen not being hindered by her tapestry from giving her opinion.

This work lasted more or less according to the business, or to the conversation.  Grimaldo, upon leaving with his papers, found the adjoining room empty, and a valet in that beyond, who, seeing him pass, entered into the empty room, crossed it, and summoned the Asafeta, who immediately came and presented to the King his slippers and his dressing-gown; he at once passed across the empty room and entered into a cabinet, where he dressed himself, followed by three valets (never changed) and by the Duc del Arco, or the Marquis de Santa Cruz, and after by both, nobody else ever being present at the ceremony.

The Queen, as soon as the King had passed into his cabinet, put on her stockings and shoes alone with the Asafeta, who gave her her dressing-gown.  It was the only moment in which this person could speak to the Queen, or the Queen to her; but this moment did not stretch at the most to more than half a quarter of an hour.  Had they been longer together the King would have known it, and would have wanted to hear what kept them.  The Queen passed through the empty chamber and entered into a fine large cabinet, where her toilette awaited her.  When the King had dressed in his cabinet—­where he often spoke to his confessor—­he went to the Queen’s toilette, followed by the two seigneurs just named.  A few of the specially—­privileged were also admitted there.  This toilette lasted about three-quarters of an hour, the King and all the rest of the company standing.