A fine and rare blue watered silk cape, English, 1660s, of simple semi-circular construction formed from two almost invisible horizontally joined loom widths, edged in silver bobbin lace worked with tulip repeats, cast white metal clasp (probably silver but un-marked), lined in ivory silk, 226cm, 89in long; with two handwritten notes stating that the cape belonged to Mary Grove of Zeals House, a gift of King Charles II, the other that it had belonged to King Charles I (3) It is unclear whether this cape was intended for wear by a woman or man. The delicate clasp is suggestive of a female wearer, as is the narrow diameter of the neck. However it could have been worn by a young man as the the semi-circular cape was de rigueur as part of the gentleman's outfit of the time consisting of doublet, breeches and the curve of a cape to finish the silhouette. Blue was a colour often worn for celebrations or christenings. Provenance: Waddon House, Dorset, the home of the Chaffyn-Grove (Troyte Bullock) family since 1226. Records lodged in the Wiltshire Record Office with reference to other properties include Zeals and Mere (1226-1786), Edgehill (1657-1786), Chisenbury in Enford 1682 and 1739. This family was closely linked with the reigns of Kings Charles I and Charles II via Hugh Grove, who fought on the Royalist side and was beheaded in 1655 and also via Colonel Bullen Reymes (1613-72), who served under the corrupt 2nd Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers, who was Gentleman of the Bedchamber between 1631 and 1634. Bullen Reymes, a famed lute player and consummate gentleman was known as the 'Conscientious Cavalier' and is recorded in the diaries of Samuel Pepys. He was made Surveyor of the Great Wardrobe in 1667 at an annual salary of £300 and was acclaimed at court for his good management. Samuel Pepys wrote that he '...has already saved a great deal of money in the King's liveries and buy linens so cheap that he will have them by the next cloth he hath for shirts.' Pepys' diaries January 29th 1668. There is a record of a marriage settlement between Harry Chafin of Zeals to Anne Reymes (the wealthy widow of Bullen Reymes, the Colonel's son) dated 1697, 1698 and 1699. Waddon is recorded as coming into the Chaffyn-Grove family in 1700. In addition Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) married Hugh Grove's daughter Eleanor of Chisenbury c.1640. She died in 1641. He became chaplain to King Charles II. During the civil war Hugh Grove fought on the Royalist side and took up arms with Penruddock in the abortive insurrection of 1655. With about two hundred followers they occupied Salisbury. They then marched into Dorset and proclaimed for Charles II at Blandford, but not finding themselves joined by the country people as they expected, endeavoured to make their way into Cornwall where they believed they would find support for the King. At South Molton in North Devon they were surprised in their quarters on the night of March 14th by Captain Unton Croke of Colonel Berry's regiment. Penruddock and Grove were captured and sent for trial at Exeter and despite their pleas against the charge of treason, both were executed on the 16th May 1655. Mary Grove (d.1724) was Hugh Grove's daughter in law, being married to his son John in 1686 (d.1699). She was heiress to William Chafin of Zeals.

Good even colour, and strong definition in the moire patternng. slight discolouration along a fold line, a few small marks, generally good. Lining is intact, stained in places and is worn around the neck area. Lace is lustrous and bright. Loop of silver clasp is broken