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]