Anthony Knyvett (Black Rod)

Sir Anthony Knyvett (circa 1486 to 1549) held the office of Black Rod in the English parliament from 1536 to 1543.[1]

He was described as a gentleman usher of the privy chamber to Henry VIII, with Roger Ratcliffe, in the Eltham Ordinance of 1526.[2][3]

Anthony was knighted after 15 November 1538, while serving as Porter of Calais.[4][5]

Knyvett was Lieutenant of the Tower of London and is mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs for refusing to continue torturing the Protestant Anne Askew on the rack.[6] He was made Governor of Portsmouth in 1544 and oversaw the building of Southsea Castle in that year.[7][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Sir Anthony Knyvett (c1486-1549)". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  2. ^ A Collection of Ordinances and Regulations for the Government of the Royal Household (London, 1790), p. 154.
  3. ^ London, Society of Antiquaries of (1790). A Collection of Ordinances and Regulations for the Government of the Royal Household, Made in Divers Reigns: From King Edward III. to King William and Queen Mary. Also Receipts in Ancient Cookery. Society of Antiquaries. p. 154.
  4. ^ Shaw, William Arthur; Burtchaell, George Dames (1906). The Knights of England. A complete record from the earliest time to the present day of the knights of all the orders of chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of knights bachelors, incorporating a complete list of knights bachelors dubbed in Ireland. Robarts - University of Toronto. London Sherratt and Hughes. p. 51.
  5. ^ a b Lara. "Question from Rachel - Death of Anthony Knyvett". Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  6. ^ Mason, J. (1848). Martyrologia; or, records of religious persecution. p. 226. Retrieved 1 October 2012. The Lieutenant of the Tower, whom they had threatened to report to the King because he would not rack her to their satisfaction, hastened away to the King before them, and begged His Grace's pardon for deficiency of obedience, pleading compassion towards a woman.
  7. ^ Stephen Brooks and John McIlwain (editor), Southsea Castle, Pitkin Guides 1996, ISBN 0-85372-809-7 (pp.6-7)