SIGNING UP

The Sealed Knot offers a range of membership options.

Click here for full details.

What equipment will you need?

To start with, simply pack your tent, bedding and any other camping gear you want to bring. Camping is free. We will do our best to lend you the necessary basic 17^th Century clothing and accessories to get you started.

You can expect basic facilities like water and toilets at all events. There will also often be a beer tent and one or more food traders. However, it’s a good idea to bring your own food and drink.

As you get established you will want to have your own kit. If you are brave enough you can make the clothing yourself, with patterns and advice freely available from other members. You can also buy kit from traders at many events. Many of these have websites and provide a mail order service. We strongly recommend taking an experienced member of the regiment with you, to ensure you don’t waste your money on something that is not of an appropriate standard of authenticity or quality.

Details of the basic clothing requirements will be given to you when you join.

What happens when you arrive at your first event?

Events are commonly referred to as “musters”. When you arrive you’ll find a guard post at the entrance to the campsite. You’ll be asked for you membership card which you should carry with you at all times over the weekend. Most campsites are laid out with specific areas for each unit. The guard will ask which unit you are with so they can direct you to our area. Gerard’s are part of the Marquis of Newcastle’s Tertio (“Tertio” being another name for “Brigade” — a group of regiments acting as one unit within the army as a whole).

Once you find our allotted camping area look out for our distinctive blue uniforms and yellow hose (socks); or a blue and yellow flag flying overhead. If you don’t spot a Budgie, please ask around and some kind soul will point you in the right direction.

We’ll help you find a spot for your tent and start on the introductions. Once you’re settled in we’ll run through the plan for the weekend and sort out some kit to get you appropriately attired. After that it’s just a matter of kicking back and enjoying yourself.

We usually only drill on “battle days”. Attendance is obligatory since you must be appropriately trained before you go on the battlefield. Drill also builds the camaraderie that is essential for an effective fighting unit. We have a great reputation and we don’t like to be beaten!

The schedule for a typical battle day starts with drill from around 10am and powder issue (for musketeers and gun crews) around 11am. Sometimes we are called for “early deployment” around lunchtime. Here we present a short drill display and assorted cameos as a warm-up before the main display. It’s a chance to get close to the public and complements the Living History camp which is usually open to the public all day. Form-up for the main event is usually around 2:30pm, with the battle itself starting around 3pm. The length of the battle depends on the size of the event but an hour is typical. After the battle and a few words from the officers you are free to freshen up and resume the party. In the evening, some will head en-masse to the beer-tent or a local hostelry to sing and brag about the day’s exploits; while others will remain on site and just chill.

Click here for membership information and forms.