The Boteler Cup

The Boteler Cup, a mid-17th century silver-mounted coconut cup,

unmarked circa 1662,

the plain coconut bowl with three strap supports, the silver rim with scratch initials 'B' over 'WE' and inscribed 'William Boteler at The Crispin and Crispianus over against St. Andrews Church 1662', on a raised tapering circular foot, height 13.5cm.

Provenance:

A Private Collection.

Alastair Dickenson Ltd.

William Boteler was a Colonel of Horse in the New model Army during the English Civil War. By the end of the war he had been appointed Major-general for Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Zealous and uncompromising in his hostility to his religious and political enemies. Boteler was a severe persecutor of Quakers in Northamptonshire. In 1656 he advocated that James Nayler should be stoned to death for blasphemy. Boteler was also aggressive in his persecution of Royalist in his area, unlawfully imprisoning the Earl of Northampton for failing to pay his taxes.

He replaced William Packer as commander of Cromwell's regiment of horse. In 1665 he was arrested on suspicion of plotting against Charles II. Ref Wikipedia.