Knevet, Ralph

(1600-1671)

   He was a native of Norfolk and seems to have been closely associated as tutor or chaplain with the family of Sir William Paston of Oxnead, Norfolk. He was rector of Lyng, Norfolk, from 1652 till his death and is buried in the chancel of his church. A collection of sacred poems (no date given) by Knevet, entitled A Gallery to the Temple. Lyricall Poemes upon sacred occasions, by Ra. Kneuett, is in the British Museum. Stratisticon, A Discourse of Militarie Discipline, 1628 (which can be found in The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet) is a plea to the military men who were training in Norfolk at the time to better prepare themselves for battle. Some of his other publications: Rhodon and Iris, a Pastoral, as it was presented at the Florists' Feast in Norwich, 1631; Funerall Elegies consecrated to the Immortal Memory of the Right Hon. Lady Katherine Paston, 1637. Some of his other poems: "Hypocrisie," "Sanctification," "Self-Love," "The Antiphon," "The Apologye," "The Apparition," "The Newyeares Gift," "The Tempest," "The Transmutation," "The World," "Weakness."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. English Poetry, Second Edition Bibliography (http://collections.chadwyck.co.uk/html/ep2/bibliography/g.htm). English Poetry: Author Search. Chadwyck-Healey Ltd., 1995 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.html). The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The Shorter Poems of Ralph Knevet: A Critical Edition. Amy M. Charles. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Press, 1966.