THOMAS KNYVETT
(Sir Thomas Knyvett)
The demonstration was on August 8, 1643. There are several important aspects to this quotation. First, it shows that a peace movement is not only a creature of modern times. Second, that women were actively involved in political protests and demonstrations in 17th century England. Last, that the police of the time behaved as brutally as many police forces do in later centuries in putting down and surpressing demonstrations.
Sir Thomas Knyvett (also Knevitt or Knivet or Knevet), of Buckenham, Norfolk was a young English nobleman who was a close associate of King Henry VIII shortly after that monarch came to the throne. According to Hall's Chronicle, Knyvett was a frequent participant in the jousts and pageants of the new king's glittering court and was made Henry's Master of the Horse in 1510.