FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are you called the Sealed Knot?
How is your society different to other re-enactment societies?
Who were the Earl of Northampton's Regiment?
What's the difference between the regiment and the society? Which am I joining?
How do I join?
Is there a cost involved?
What do I get for my money?
What's in it for me?
Who can join? Is there an age limit?
Can I bring pets?
Can I try it first before I join up?
Do I have to dress up?
Can you lend me kit?
Where do you get your costumes from?
Why is your uniform green and red?
Where do you do your events?
What happens at an event?
What is a muster?
Where do you sleep?
Will I be expected to turn up to every event?
Is it dangerous?
Are all battles based on real battles that happened?
How do you know what's going on, and who's won?
How do you know when you're dead?
What if I don't know what role I want to take?
Do you do events all year round?
Do you meet up out of the main season?
How do I find out if anyone lives near me?
Where can I meet you for drinks?
How will I find out the details of forthcoming events?
How do I access all areas of your Forum?

Why are you called the Sealed Knot?

The Sealed Knot Society is named after a secret Royalist group formed during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, in 1652, with the aim of restoring Charles II to the throne of England from his exile in France. When the modern Sealed Knot was formed by the late Brigadier Peter Young it was at first a small group of friends at a party portraying Royalists, but within a few months there were 200 members.

How is your society different to other re-enactment societies?

The Sealed Knot Society is the oldest and largest re-enactment society in Europe. It was formed in early 1968 by the late Brigadier Peter Young, a respected military historian and WW2 veteran. Over the years it has grown to a membership of several thousand. Current and ex-members have gone on to form alternative re-enactment societies covering other historical periods, not just the mid-17th century. The Sealed Knot is a registered charity, and in 1983 was granted its own coat-of-arms by the College of Heralds. Over the years it has taken part in a huge number of television programs, both fictional and factual, by supplying both extras and advisers, most recently for the acclaimed documentary-drama "Blood On Our Hands" for Channel 4 shown in February 2005 and in ‘Midsommer Murders: Dark Rider’ in 2012. The Earl of Northampton’s regiment has participated in both of these productions. The Sealed Knot has become an established and respected part of Britain's cultural heritage, performing almost every weekend of the year, whether in schools, village fetes, parades, country houses, castles or large parks.

Who were the Earl of Northampton's Regiment?

The regiment was formed by the 2nd Earl of Northampton Spencer Compton in the summer of 1642, as soon as it became apparent that the relationship between King and Parliament had irreconcilably broken down. Spencer Compton was a lifelong friend of the Royal Family with experience of war in continental Europe, and felt it his natural duty to support the King. Recruits were drawn mainly from Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, the areas in which the Earl owned extensive estates. Fierce competition with a Parliamentary neighbour, Lord Brooke, meant that some of the very first clashes in the crisis involved these two individuals and took place in the Warwick area, months before the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642. The Earl's four eldest sons (James, Charles, William and Spencer) all fought in the Regiment, which was based at Banbury following the Battle of Edgehill. The garrison held Banbury through two major sieges and only surrendered in May 1646 after the King had given himself up to Parliament.

What's the difference between the regiment and the society? Which am I joining?

Unlike some other large re-enactment groups, with the Sealed Knot you are joining the society. However the society is made up of a large number of regiments, both Royalist and Parliamentarian, and even if you do not take a military role you must still submit your membership through your chosen regiment. Regiments are grouped together into brigades called Brigades (Royalist) or Associations (Parliamentarian), and these brigades form the two armies of the society. All events are organised by a particular host regiment, or occasionally a group of regiments, but approval to stage an event is issued by the Sealed Knot. This ensures that business is conducted in accordance with health and safety regulations and other legal requirements, and that there is no conflict with other Sealed Knot activities planned for the same dates. The Earl of Northampton’s Regiment is part of Ruperts Brigade of the Royalist Army.

How do I join?

Please contact our Regimental Adjutant. Details can be found in the Contact Us page. You will be sent an application form and some details about the Regiment and the Society for new members. Return the form with a cheque for the appropriate fee to the Adjutant, with a covering letter indicating which arm of service you are interested in, and within a couple of weeks you should receive your membership card!

Is there a cost involved?
Yes, but it'll prove to be value for money! Prices for 2012 are as follows:

Family Membership - £54.00 (2 adults plus all children under 18)

Individual Family Membership - £38.00 (1 adult plus all children under 18)

Individual Membership - £36.00 (1 Adult over 18)

Young person (16-24) - £30.00 (16 & 17 year olds will need parental consent)

These figures include a £4.00 new members enrolment fee. On top of this from your second year there is a Regimental Subscription of £8 for a family or £6 for an individual or young person, but the Regimental Subscription is waived in your first year. Membership fees are approximately half these figures if you join after 1st August, as there's only a few events left in the year. Eventually you'll have to buy all your own kit too, but not at first.

What do I get for my money?

Membership gets you access to a whole year of Sealed Knot events. You can turn up to as many as you like. If you regularly attend all the Regimental displays in addition to the larger Society events you could attend around 20 different events in a year! You also get a free campsite and very often reduced or free entry to the various stately homes we may be performing at. You also get the glossy Society magazine "Orders of the Daye" every two months, which includes full details of forthcoming events, news, articles of historical research and discussion pages.

What's in it for me?

You will have a great time in great company experiencing a unique hobby! Membership is in the thousands, is drawn from all walks of life and is very family-oriented. The Earl of Northampton's Regiment has more than 100 members of all ages and from very diverse backgrounds. Most of us regularly attend for the reason that you will not experience friendships anything like those you will make in this hobby in any other pastime. Before long you will find that the main reason you turn up is not for the displays, but for the great company of the Regiment. The Regiment becomes an extension of your family, with lifelong bonds formed through an amazing shared experience. The great truth about the Sealed Knot is that a stranger is simply a friend that you haven't met yet!

Who can join? Is there an age limit?

Anyone can join! There are no restrictions and absolutely no-one is discriminated against. There is a minimum age limit on the battlefield of 16, and in addition any members under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also a member.

Can I bring pets?

Yes! Whether it's a rat, ferret, cat, dog, hamster, budgie or parrot, you are welcome to bring it as long as you look after it responsibly. Some sites we visit may on rare occasions have restrictions on dogs, for example, but you will be notified beforehand in the published event details if this is the case. If you own a horse and wish to bring it to perform with the cavalry there are strict rules regarding this, and you would need to consult first. There are various tests required of cavalry riders.

Can I try it first before I join up?

Absolutely! We would not expect anyone to fork out the full expense of joining without having a go first, if you are in any way unsure. Temporary Membership passes are available for any particular event, they cost £12 for an individual and £17 for a Family, and cover you or your family for that whole weekend's activities. Contact our Adjutant (see Contact Us page) for more details about obtaining a Temporary Membership. If you then join fully in the same year you will get that £12/£17 discounted from your membership fee.

Do I have to dress up?

If you intend taking an active part in the displays then yes, you do have to wear the funny 17th century clothing. But that's part of the fun! It's all about escapism. Get away from your mundane 9 to 5 existence for a weekend, send yourself back 350 years and get to know some wonderful new friends while wearing strange clothing! There are dress regulations for public displays, but on the campsite you can wear whatever you like of course. However most of us find that when you're sat around a campfire on a cold night, drinking, singing and swapping stories, the thick wool of the 17th century clothing is much warmer than most modern items of clothing!

Can you lend me kit?

Yes, the Regiment does keep a selection of spare clothes to lend to new members. And if the Regimental spares run out then there's usually a kind member or two who can lend you what you need from their own kit. One thing we are generally unable to lend though is footwear. As a general rule, plain black, brown or sandy colour leather boots are acceptable at first so long as they have a simple pattern and no logo showing. Cheap desert boots are usually easy to buy in your local high street and will do to begin with, but really your first investment with the kit should be some authentic footwear.

Where do you get your costumes from?

At most large events you will find Traders Row. Here you will find a bewildering range of kit for sale, not all of it of a high standard and not all authentic. The first few times you go shopping you should go with an experienced member of the Regiment. There are traders that sell items of clothing off the peg, and others that sell the materials and patterns if you have the skill to make your own. Our Regimental Quartermaster also keeps a small supply of the wool for the uniform. As a rough guide a plain soldier's coat off the peg is around £60-£70, breeches (the funny short trousers) £40, shirts £20. Authentic footwear can be anything from £40 to £150 depending on who you buy from and how much hand-stitching was involved. There are other traders that make the weapons and armour, again with varying degrees of quality. Always consult with experienced colleagues before making any major purchases! Twice a year (March and October/November) there is also the Original Re-enactor's Market, which takes place near Coventry. There is also a Living History Market (also twice a year in Feb/Oct time) that has stock of all the clothing, weapons and armour you could possible want. For a whole weekend you will find hundreds of traders selling a vast range of kit covering all periods of history, all under one roof. Quite amazing, some of it!

Why is your uniform green and red?

Unfortunately we do not know for certain what colour uniform the original Earl of Northampton's Regiment wore. In all likelihood the coat colour, at least to begin with, was probably red. However several Royalist foot regiments were famed for their different colour coats (e.g. Rupert's Bluecoats, Newcastle's Whitecoats), which set them apart from the red coats of the New Model Army of Parliament, and so the Sealed Knot decided in the early days of the society that Northampton's coat colour would be green to match the colour of our battle standard, which is known to have been a plain green flag with a George Cross in the corner. It is also known that some red material was used to clothe the troops of the Regiment, and so we now have bottle-green coats and brick-red breeches, a very distinctive combination of which we are proud.

Where do you do your events?
All over the UK, and occasionally overseas too! Over the years our events have taken place in virtually every corner of the British Isles, from Kent to Cornwall, Anglesey to the Wash, Northern Ireland to the north of Scotland. We enjoy affiliations with fellow re-enactors in North America, continental Europe and Australia, and so occasionally you will find members of the Sealed Knot taking part in events in the USA, France, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy to name a few of the countries visited. Back home our major events normally take place in large country parks or the grounds of stately homes or castles, while smaller events are often staged at town or village festivals up and down the country, school fetes, museum displays, or small talks to groups of school children.

What happens at an event?
This depends on the type of event and the size of it, but the following is a typical example of a major muster weekend: You might turn up on Friday evening, quickly find your Regiment (the gate guard will check your membership then point you in the right direction), pitch your tent or caravan, then set about having a few drinks with colleagues from the Regiment. There is usually a large Beer Tent at the major events, so you might visit the Beer Tent to sample some real ale, listen to the band that might be playing that evening, or meet friends from other regiments.

On Saturday morning there may be some training taking place if you are a new member, but there will also be time to go shopping on Traders Row. Musketeers normally have to disappear for a while at 11am to collect their allocation of gunpowder. The armies will begin to form up ready for the battle just after lunch. Exact timings vary at each event, but normally about half an hour after form-up you will be marching onto the battlefield ready to fight! The battle itself may last up to an hour-and-a-half, so you should ensure you are suitably fed and watered before you go on the field, although there is normally plenty of water offered to you during the battle. At the end of the battle you will march off, hot and sweaty, back to your camp. Time for a wash and change out of the sweaty gear before the evening's partying starts! We try to arrange a Regimental get together for tea-time, usually around our flag-pole or campfire. This gives the old hands a chance to meet any new faces that may have just joined, and gives new people a chance to meet the veterans. After an hour or two together as a Regiment, people usually start to drift off, perhaps to the Beer Tent for the gig being played there, maybe to parties at other regimental campsites, or just to smaller cosier parties in someone's caravan awning. We try to keep the noise down after midnight because of the large number of families in the Society.

On Sunday morning the Regiment forms up at 10am (usually nursing a few hangovers!) for Regimental drill practice or Brigade drill practice if scheduled. The battle normally takes place about the same time as the first day, but the script may have changed. You will be notified of any changes to times or key script details. Then, after the battle it's time to pack up, say your goodbyes (until the next weekend!) and then the long drive home.

Where do you sleep?
We are always allocated camping space by the organisers. You will need to supply yourself with adequate camping gear such as a tent (make sure it's waterproofed!), sleeping bag, airbed, cooking items, or caravan. You could also book into a local motel (a good option for families to begin with) but you will miss out on a lot of the partying if you do this. There are normally food traders on-site but don't rely on it, so make sure you at least have drinks and a loaf of bread to see you through until you can get to the local supermarket the next morning.

Will I be expected to turn up to every event?

NO. This is your hobby, and like any hobby you give it as much time as you are able. Of course we would hope that as a new member you will become a regular attendee, learn the skills and take the tests needed to go on the battlefield as a full participating member. But we all have other commitments in life and know that they can take precedence. We only expect you to give it what time you can.

Is it dangerous?
 Asking if re-enactment is dangerous is asking if DIY is dangerous. The answer is positively no, if you follow sensible safety procedures and use your tools correctly. So, to ensure our safety, the Sealed Knot insists on rigorous training of our members in the safe and correct use of the weapons and gunpowder we use.

Re-enactment is not warfare but theatre; our aim is to educate and entertain the public and not to injure each other. All our weapons are made of authentic materials but the swords are never sharpened, our pikes are blunt and the guns only fire harmless wadding.

Of course injuries do occur, as with all physical activities however all combatants receive regular training with their respective weapons to ensure that they are behaving in a safe and controlled manner.

In the unfortunate event that you do receive an injury or have a medical emergency, there are always medics nearby. The Sealed Knot Medical Service is staffed by qualified Doctors and Medics, and provides a valuable First Aid service at all musters. At the larger musters you will see a SKMS aid station set up next to the battlefield. Medics are recognisable on the battlefield by their black uniform with a large white cross on their front and back.

Are all battles based on real battles that happened?

No. On the rare occasions that we get to perform at, or near, original battle sites we do try and script the battle to reflect what happened originally. However most displays are generic demonstrations of typical battles, and are scripted to use the ground in the best way possible. One major problem in re-enacting actual Civil War battles is the lack of cavalry. It is simply not financially possible to recreate anything like the numbers of horse that were originally involved. In the major set-piece battles such as Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby, horse made up at least a third of the armies. In the Sealed Knot we are lucky if we ever have a tenth of the armies on horseback!

How do you know what's going on, and who's won?

A script is normally written beforehand by the host regiment. All officers are briefed before the battle, so that everyone understands where they fit into the big picture. However during the battle itself plans can change very rapidly as the situation demands, so people must look to their chain of command for new orders. Unless the script is based on real events we normally try to have a Royalist victory one day and a Parliamentary victory on the other day.

How do you know when you're dead?

 One of the most frequently asked questions, and one of the hardest to answer! The short answer is "You will know when you're dead!" Normally there are no instructions beforehand about who should die at what time, unless a particular scripted incident demands it. Occasionally you will be told when to die if, for example, we want a spectacular shot from a cannon. And sometimes you may find that you have, unfortunately, been killed right next to the crowd-line only ten or fifteen minutes into the battle; in which case you may well be stuck there as a body for the duration! Most people determine by their own common-sense when they have taken a fatal hit, but it takes a few battles to work out.

What if I don't know what role I want to take?

Don't worry! Until you've actually been in a large battle you are unlikely to know which role you prefer. There are pages on this site that give you an idea of what it's like being a pikeman, a musketeer, artilleryman, drummer or civilian, but we are happy for you to try out every role if you wish, until you find the one you are most comfortable with.

Do you do events all year round?
Yes, of some description or other. The main battle season is between Easter and the end of September, but there is also a one-day battle at Nantwich in January, plus regimental training events and parades out of the season.

Do you meet up out of the main season?

Yes, as often as we can! It may be for the Edgehill memorial in late October (with a tasty sunday lunch!), monthly pub meets, Nantwich, or at banquets! Winter is the season for Sealed Knot banquets, and the Earl of Northampton's Regiment normally hosts one! The banquets are always excellent social occasions with good food, good drink, good music and dancing, and great company! You are very welcome to bring guests who are not members to a banquet; in fact it's a great way of recruiting your friends, as they get to meet the members in a relaxed atmosphere before committing to a membership.

How do I find out if anyone lives near me?

You can contact our Adjutant (see Contact Us) to ask for contact details of any local members. Alternatively feel free to ask in our Forum. We will contact you directly if you wish. We can then arrange to meet you at the pub so that you can get to know us and find out more about what we do.

Where can I meet you for drinks?

 We currently have regular social nights at The Hollybush, Redbourn, Herts on the first Wednesday of the month. Feel free to ask for further details in our Forum or by contacting Gary, our recruitment officer (see Contact Us).

How will I find out the details of forthcoming events?

 You will receive a copy of Orders of the Daye, the society magazine, every two months. You can also find out the latest information and any last-minute updates in our Forum, which is worth checking on a regular basis.

How do I access all areas of your Forum?

 The Forum has two parts: Visitors and Members. We do not wish to be secretive, but some discussions are best kept amongst friends. Therefore registering to use the Forum as anything other than Guest does not automatically grant you access to the Members sections. Our webmaster regularly checks for new registrations, and once she has checked with the Adjutant that you are a genuine member of the Regiment, she will grant you permission to use the Members sections. She will normally then send you an e-mail to confirm that you are now able to use the Members sections. If you have any problems please contact the webmaster: katclark@live.co.uk.
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