Nicholas Oudart (active 1640), Secretary to Sir Edward Walker, Garter King of Arms

Sitter associated with 1 portrait
Born in Brabant in the Low Countries, Oudart was a lifelong servant of the crown. He was employed as secretary to Sir Edward Nicholas. After Parliamentary force took Oxford and Nicholas escaped to France, Oudart continued to send him reports written in invisible lemon-juice ink. He served under Charles I during the king's imprisonment and later joined Mary of Orange and Charles II in exile. Nicholas's papers include a damning description of Oudart as one who 'gettes his desires' through 'obsequious eye service' rather than 'sufficiency or integrity'.