Biography of Sarah Udall Maid

Sarah Udall Maid was born to Father Udall.

Pepy's Diary. 02 Jan 1665. Thence to the Swan [Map], and there did sport a good while with Herbert's young kinswoman without hurt, though they being abroad, the old people.

Pepy's Diary. 09 Jan 1665. Thence I to Westminster, to my barber's, and found occasion to see Jane, but in presence of her mistress, and so could not speak to her of her failing me yesterday, and then to the Swan [Map] to Herbert's girl, and lost time a little with her, and so took coach, and to my Lord Crew's (age 67) and dined with him, who receives me with the greatest respect that could be, telling me that he do much doubt of the successe of this warr with Holland, we going about it, he doubts, by the instigation of persons that do not enough apprehend the consequences of the danger of it, and therein I do think with him. Holmes was this day sent to the Tower [Map]1, but I perceive it is made matter of jest only; but if the Dutch should be our masters, it may come to be of earnest to him, to be given over to them for a sacrifice, as Sir W. Rawly [Raleigh] was.

Note 1. For taking New York from the Dutch.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Mar 1665. Thence abroad, carried my wife to Westminster by coach, I to the Swan [Map], Herbert's, and there had much of the good company of Sarah and to my wish, and then to see Mrs. Martin, who was very kind, three weeks of her month of lying in is over.

Pepy's Diary. 15 May 1665. Thence to the Swan [Map] at Herbert's [Map], and there the company of Sarah a little while, and so away and called at the Harp and Ball, where the mayde, Mary, is very 'formosa' [handsome]; but, Lord! to see in what readiness I am, upon the expiring of my vowes this day, to begin to run into all my pleasures and neglect of business.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Jul 1665. After dinner to the Duke of Albemarle's (age 56) again, and so to the Swan [Map], and there 'demeurais un peu'de temps con la fille' [spending a little time with the girl], and so to the Harp and Ball, and alone 'demeurais un peu de temps baisant1 la [spending a little time kissing her]', and so away home and late at the office about letters, and so home, resolving from this night forwards to close all my letters, if possible, and end all my business at the office by daylight, and I shall go near to do it and put all my affairs in the world in good order, the season growing so sickly, that it is much to be feared how a man can escape having a share with others in it, for which the good Lord God bless me, or to be fitted to receive it.

Note 1. TT. baisant somewhat abiguous. May mean more than kissing.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Oct 1665. So I walked through Westminster to my old house the Swan [Map], and there did pass some time with Sarah, and so down by water to Deptford, Kent [Map] and there to my Valentine1.

Note 1. A Mrs. Bagwell. See ante, February 14th, 1664-65.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Nov 1665. Thence I to the Swan [Map], thinking to have seen Sarah but she was at church, and so I by water to Deptford, Kent [Map], and there made a visit to Mr. Evelyn (age 45), who, among other things, showed me most excellent painting in little; in distemper, Indian incke, water colours: graveing; and, above all, the whole secret of mezzo-tinto, and the manner of it, which is very pretty, and good things done with it. He read to me very much also of his discourse, he hath been many years and now is about, about Guardenage; which will be a most noble and pleasant piece. He read me part of a play or two of his making, very good, but not as he conceits them, I think, to be. He showed me his Hortus Hyemalis leaves laid up in a book of several plants kept dry, which preserve colour, however, and look very finely, better than any Herball. In fine, a most excellent person he is, and must be allowed a little for a little conceitedness; but he may well be so, being a man so much above others. He read me, though with too much gusto, some little poems of his own, that were not transcendant, yet one or two very pretty epigrams; among others, of a lady looking in at a grate, and being pecked at by an eagle that was there.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Nov 1665. So it being not dinner time, I to the Swan [Map], and there found Sarah all alone in the house.... So away to the Duke of Albemarle (age 56) again, and there to dinner, he most exceeding kind to me to the observation of all that are there. At dinner comes Sir G. Carteret (age 55) and dines with us.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Mar 1666. Thence I to Westminster, to the Chequer, about a little business, and then to the Swan [Map], and there sent for a bit of meat and dined; and after dinner had opportunity of being pleased with Sarah; and so away to Westminster Hall [Map], and there Mrs. Michell tells me with great joy how little Betty Howlett is married to her young son Michell, which is a pretty odd thing, that he should so soon succeed in the match to his elder brother that died of the plague, and to the house and trade intended for him, and more they say that the girle has heretofore said that she did love this little one more than the other brother that was intended her all along. I am mighty glad of this match, and more that they are likely to live near me in Thames Streete, where I may see Betty now and then, whom I from a girle did use to call my second wife, and mighty pretty she is.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Apr 1666. Easter Day. Up and by water to Westminster to the Swan [Map] to lay down my cloak, and there found Sarah alone, with whom after I had staid awhile I to White Hall Chapel, and there coming late could hear nothing of the Bishop of London's (age 74) sermon. So walked into the Park to the Queene's chappell, and there heard a good deal of their mass, and some of their musique, which is not so contemptible, I think, as our people would make it, it pleasing me very well; and, indeed, better than the anthem I heard afterwards at White Hall, at my coming back. I staid till the King (age 35) went down to receive the Sacrament, and stood in his closett with a great many others, and there saw him receive it, which I did never see the manner of before. But I do see very little difference between the degree of the ceremonies used by our people in the administration thereof, and that in the Roman church, saving that methought our Chappell was not so fine, nor the manner of doing it so glorious, as it was in the Queene's chappell.

Pepy's Diary. 13 May 1666. Lord's Day. Up, and walked to White Hall, where we all met to present a letter to the Duke of Yorke (age 32), complaining solemnly of the want of money, and that being done, I to and again up and down Westminster, thinking to have spent a little time with Sarah at the Swan [Map], or Mrs. Martin, but was disappointed in both, so walked the greatest part of the way home, where comes Mr. Symons, my old acquaintance, to dine with me, and I made myself as good company as I could to him, but he was mighty impertinent methought too yet, and thereby I see the difference between myself now and what it was heretofore, when I reckoned him a very brave fellow.

Pepy's Diary. 11 Jul 1666. Thence to Westminster Hall [Map] and there staid a while, and then to the Swan [Map] and kissed Sarah, and so home to dinner, and after dinner out again to Sir Robert Viner (age 35), and there did agree with him to accommodate some business of tallys so as I shall get in near £2000 into my own hands, which is in the King's, upon tallys; which will be a pleasure to me, and satisfaction to have a good sum in my own hands, whatever evil disturbances should be in the State; though it troubles me to lose so great a profit as the King's interest of ten per cent. for that money.

Pepy's Diary. 10 Oct 1666. So to the Swan [Map], and 'baise la fille' [Note. kissed the girl], and drank, and then home by coach, and took father, wife, brother, and W. Hewer (age 24) to Islington [Map], where I find mine host dead. Here eat and drank, and merry; and so home, and to the office a while, and then to Sir W. Batten (age 65) to talk a while, and with Captain Cocke (age 49) into the office to hear his newes, who is mighty conversant with Garraway (age 49) and those people, who tells me what they object as to the maladministration of things as to money. But that they mean well, and will do well; but their reckonings are very good, and show great faults, as I will insert here. They say the King (age 36) hath had towards this war expressly thus much

Pepy's Diary. 12 Oct 1666. So to the Swan [Map], and there sent for a piece of meat and dined alone and played with Sarah, and so to the Hall a while, and thence to Mrs. Martin's lodging and did what I would with her. She is very big, and resolves I must be godfather.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Nov 1666. Thence by water to Westminster, and there at the Swan [Map] find Sarah is married to a shoemaker yesterday, so I could not see her, but I believe I shall hereafter at good leisure.

Pepy's Diary. 30 Nov 1666. Here I had a noble and costly dinner for them, dressed by a man-cooke, as that the other day was, and pretty merry we were, as I could be with this company and so great a charge. We sat long, and after much talk of the plenty of her country in fish, but in nothing also that is pleasing, we broke up with great kindness, and when it begun to be dark we parted, they in one coach home, and I in another to Westminster Hall [Map], where by appointment Mrs. Burroughs and I were to meet, but did not after I had spent the whole evening there. Only I did go drink at the Swan [Map], and there did meet with Sarah, who is now newly married, and there I did lay the beginnings of a future 'amour con elle' [Note. Love with her] ....

Pepy's Diary. 03 Dec 1666. Thence at noon home, and there find Kate Joyce, who dined with me: Her husband and she are weary of their new life of being an Innkeeper, and will leave it, and would fain get some office; but I know none the foole is fit for, but would be glad to help them, if I could, though they have enough to live on, God be thanked! though their loss hath been to the value of £3000 W. Joyce now has all the trade, she says, the trade being come to that end of the towne. She dined with me, my wife being ill of her months in bed. I left her with my wife, and away myself to Westminster Hall [Map] by appointment and there found out Burroughs, and I took her by coach as far as the Lord Treasurer's (age 59) and called at the cake house by Hales's (age 66), and there in the coach eat and drank and then carried her home.... So having set her down in the palace I to the Swan [Map], and there did the first time 'baiser' the little sister of Sarah that is come into her place, and so away by coach home, where to my vyall and supper and then to bed, being weary of the following of my pleasure and sorry for my omitting (though with a true salvo to my vowes) the stating my last month's accounts in time, as I should, but resolve to settle, and clear all my business before me this month, that I may begin afresh the next yeare, and enjoy some little pleasure freely at Christmasse.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1666. Thence to the Swan [Map], and there I sent for Sarah, and mighty merry we were.... [Note. Missing text 'but contra my will were very far from hazer algo (doing anything)]

Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1667. So to White Hall, where the King (age 36) at Chapel, and I would not stay, but to Westminster to Howlett's, and there, he being not well, I sent for a quart of claret and burnt it and drank, and had a 'basado' or three or four of Sarah, whom 'je trouve ici', and so by coach to Sir Robt. Viner's (age 36) about my accounts with him, and so to the 'Change [Map], where I hear for certain that we are going on with our treaty of peace, and that we are to treat at Bredah. But this our condescension people do think will undo us, and I do much fear it.