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?
How do I become an Officer?
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?
Does it matter if I would have been Parliamentarian?
What if I really want to join a Parliamentarian regiment?
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. The
original founder members were Sir William Compton (son of the 2nd
Earl of Northampton Spencer Compton), Lord Belasyse, Lord
Loughborough, Col. John Russell, Col. Edward Villiers, and Sir
Richard Willys. The Sealed Knot made 8 attempts between 1652 and
1659 to bring about the Restoration. 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. More than 20 members of the Earl of
Northampton's Regiment took part in filming for this programme.
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 tertios (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.
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 2008 are
as follows:
Family membership - �44.00 (2 adults plus all children under 18)
Individual membership - �29.00 (1 adult plus all children under 18)
Young person (16-24) - �24.00 (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. You will also
receive the Regiment's own monthly newsletter giving details of
Regimental events.
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 �10, 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 �10 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 and cosier 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 �45, 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. 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. The cavalry
were formed first, and they were part of the King's Oxford field
army, most of whom wore red coats. However several Royalist foot
regiments were famed for their different colour coats (e.g. Rupert's
Bluecoats, Newcastle's Whitecoats), which (at least in later years) 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 big Regimental party for
tea-time, usually around our flag-pole. 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, if scheduled, Tertio
drill practice (that is, with the other 3 regiments in our brigade).
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.
What is a muster?
A "muster"
is a military expression for a gathering of troops. The term is used
by the Sealed Knot to refer to any weekend event we are doing.
Musters are normally categorised by size as a Booked Mini Muster
(limited camping space, booking with host regiment essential), a
Mini Muster (up to about 300 members), a Large Mini Muster (up to
about 800 members), or a Major Muster (maximum attendance, 1000-3000
members expected).
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?
This depends on the role that you
take, but generally it is no more dangerous than playing a game of
rugby. Pikemen have the most physically challenging role, and
consequently suffer the most bruises and scrapes, but musketeers can
also take a few bruises from sword hits or musket butts. Artillery crew
will rarely take any knocks, and drummers and civilians do not get
attacked. Our use of gunpowder is strictly and carefully monitored, and
anyone firing it (musketeers and artillery
gun captains) is required to be thoroughly trained and tested, in addition
to possessing appropriate licences issued by the Police. Anyone wishing
to use a sword is also required to submit
to training and testing first, before being issued with a pass card.
All combatants receive regular training with their respective weapons to ensure
that they are behaving in a safe and controlled manner. Furthermore,�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, and then finalised by the senior commanders on the day. 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. Battles usually have
two halves, with a "parley" between the senior officers at half-time.
The rule of thumb is that if you die in the first half you should get
"recycled" by your company so that you can fight on. After the parley,
however, orders will start to be passed that more casualties should be
taken. So a sword cut, pike thrust or shot from a musket that if taken
in the first half merely scratched you may, if taken after the parley,
kill or severely injure you. 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.
How do I become an Officer?
There is no quick route to
becoming an officer - unlike the real armed forces. Promotion in the
Sealed Knot takes time, commitment and aptitude. Every senior
officer started off as a common soldier, but through years of
demonstrating commitment and ability they will have worked their way
up the ranks. Your first promotion would be to Corporal, but even
this may easily take more than two years of regular commitment to be
achieved. Then there's Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major,
Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, General....There are many members of
the Sealed Knot who have given more than 20 years commitment to the
society!
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 two! We have one in North
Wales in January to coincide with the battle of Nantwich, and
another in Essex in March. 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 party 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 Gibraltar Castle, Harpenden, Herts, on the first Wednesday of the month, and at The Jolly Brewers, Bishops Stortford,
on the second Tuesday of the month. Feel free to ask for further details�in our Forum or
by contacting the Adjutant.
How will I find out the details of forthcoming events?
You will receive a copy of The Intelligencer, the newsletter of the
Regiment, normally every month, plus 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 he has
checked with the Adjutant that you are a genuine member of the
Regiment, he will grant you permission to use the Members sections.
He 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: dan@northamptons.org.uk
Does it matter if I would have been Parliamentarian?
Not
at all! Where you might have stood politically if you had lived
during the Civil War is of no importance to the Regiment. All that
matters is that you have fun in the character of a Royalist. In fact
it is sometimes the case that you may be asked to play the part of a
Parliamentarian if there is a shortage of enemy numbers. If truth be
known, then most people in the Regiment would probably have been
Parliamentarians if we were alive 360 years ago!
What if I really want to join a Parliamentarian regiment?
If, after having read this website, asked any questions in our
Forum, and met us at the pub, you have decided you really don't want
to be in our Regiment (or any Royalist regiment), then you can find
details of Parliamentarian regiments by searching the website of The
Sealed Knot. You can also find links to regiments we have close ties
to in our Links page. We have close connections with the
Parliamentarian regiments of the Earl of Essex and the Lord Grey.
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