# Sir Oliver Buttesthorn — The White Company character guide

> Sir Oliver Buttesthorn in The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Oliver, Oliver, Old Sir Oliver

**First appearance:** 0006-v-how-a-strange-company-gathered-at-the-pied-merlin

## Snapshot

A corpulent knight with a roar like a bull and a passion for clams and scallops, Sir Oliver Buttesthorn is Sir Nigel's oldest and loudest comrade.

## Who they are

Sir Oliver Buttesthorn is a mountain of a man whose fury over a missed feast is as legendary as his courage in battle, and whose friendship with Sir Nigel dates back to their shared campaigns in France. He is quick to wrath and quicker to forgive, especially when a good pie or a noble pigeon is involved. His earthy appetites and boisterous loyalty provide a comic counterpoint to Sir Nigel's austere chivalry, and his presence reminds readers that even great warriors are made of flesh and gravy.

## Relationships

### [Sir Nigel Loring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_nigel_loring)

_friendship_

Sir Nigel and Sir Oliver are fellow knights and close friends, sharing a deep bond of chivalric brotherhood.

### [Sir Nigel Loring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_nigel_loring)

_friendship_

Sir Nigel and Sir Oliver are fellow knights and close friends, sharing a deep bond of chivalric brotherhood.

### [Sir Nigel Loring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_nigel_loring)

_friendship_

Sir Nigel and Sir Oliver are fellow knights and close friends, sharing a deep bond of chivalric brotherhood.

## In the story

### [How the Yellow Cog Sailed Forth from Lepe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xv-how-the-yellow-cog-sailed-forth-from-lepe)

Commands the forecastle guard; his spear with the boar's head arms is planted near the prow.

### [How the Yellow Cog Fought the Two Rover Galleys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xvi-how-the-yellow-cog-fought-the-two-rover-galleys)

Leads his men-at-arms from the forecastle into the thick of the fight.

### [How the Yellow Cog Crossed the Bar of Gironde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xvii-how-the-yellow-cog-crossed-the-bar-of-gironde)

Complains about the ship's motion disrupting his meal and makes a vow to St. James of Compostella for safe passage.

### [XVIII: How Sir Nigel Loring Put a Patch Upon His Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xviii-how-sir-nigel-loring-put-a-patch-upon-his-eye)

Accompanies Sir Nigel, teasing him about the eye patch; later rides with him to the prince's audience.

### [XIX: How There Was Stir at the Abbey of St. Andrew's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xix-how-there-was-stir-at-the-abbey-of-st-andrew-s)

Accompanies Sir Nigel; asks the prince about the Spanish dish 'olla,' causing laughter.

### [How Sir Nigel Wrote to Twynham Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxv-how-sir-nigel-wrote-to-twynham-castle)

Visits Sir Nigel, angry at being passed over for the jousting, threatens to send cartels to Chandos, Felton, and the prince, but is calmed by Sir Nigel.

### [How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxv-how-sir-nigel-hawked-at-an-eagle)

Supports riding down upon the camp, noting the savory smell of cooking.

### [How Sir Nigel Took the Patch from His Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxvi-how-sir-nigel-took-the-patch-from-his-eye)

Suggests eating; cheers Sir Nigel's resolve; throws his mace in support.

### [How the White Company Came to Be Disbanded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/chapters/xxxvii-how-the-white-company-came-to-be-disbanded)

Grapples with the prior of Santiago and both fall over a cliff; he is reported among the fallen.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters/sir_oliver_buttesthorn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_white_company_se/characters