SK Experiences

We are often asked what it is like being part of the Sealed Knot, so to try provide an answer we have asked some of our newer recruits to write a review of their experiences at an event.

Our first review is from our newest recruit, Chris, and his very first event - the Royalist Army training weekend in April. Chris is a student at Sheffield Hallam university and had not previously had any experience of the Sealed Knot.

A weekend with the Newcastle Regimente of Foote.

I arrived a little ill prepared with only half a tent, and after being introduced to everyone Kate and Tony made sure i had a place to sleep offering me a room in their tent. As a first timer I was kitted out and then shown the basics of handling a pike. We had some time to get to know each other and allow me to settle a bit. Around 11a.m. we started running drills, which i agree sounds a little formal, but honestly it was a lot of fun. Basically it consisted of a couple of small pike pushes and then some skirmishes one side defending a small objective and then reversing and attacking it. Just to really practice and obviously for me to learn more about my role. This lasted just over an hour and then the day was ours, we sat and chatted, drank and had a good laugh. Later in the evening we took part in the pike push competition, conceding the title in the final, but again it was great fun. Then once again time was our own, there was more drink and definitely more laughing. Then came the Newcastles turn on guard duty, this consists of watching the gate and ensuring members entering know where they are going. Showing the level of team spirit within the regiment pretty much everyone sat around the guard tent until our shift was over, again with more drink and chatting. We finished our shift and the stayed up under the stars until the early hours drinking port, which is a tradition, singing and chatting.

Sunday started at around 9a.m. after breakfast we got kitted up and marched onto the field for some practice before the Battle. Then after dinner it was time to meet with the rest of the army, and proceed onto the site where the capture the flag exercise was taking place. As there were only Royalists present, it was regiment against regiment. Points were gained by capturing the flag, returning to base and then hiding it for a period of time. And unless you were there i can not emphasise how much fun it was. Although I’m told the events with Parliament are bigger, i still felt in the middle of a Battle and it was amazing. It lasted around an hour and a half. We won capture the flag, with by far the better tactics. Then we marched back to camp for the trophy presentation and promotions. Once this was done there was a little gathering of the Marquis of Newcastle's Tertio , which is five regiments, including the Newcastles Regimente of Foote, that on occasion group together The senior office gave a small talk and some announcements were made in relation to up an coming events, and congratulations were made for the victory. Then I got changed back into my clothes we packed camp at rather a leisurely pace and around 3:30p.m. I said my goodbyes and set off for home.

I expected to arrive and be a little separated from the group being new, but that couldn’t be more wrong. The Newcastle regiment consists of the nicest bunch of people i have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I felt like i had been there for years, even if my skills told a different story. Not once was i criticised for not understand or being as quick as the veterans. I was well looked after and not once was I left out or made to feel unwelcome. If you enjoy history and have ever wondered what it would be like to have been there, drinking alcohol, tea or soft drinks, meeting new people, making friends for life, having a good laugh and just generally enjoying yourself. Then I would recommend coming and joining the Newcastles for a weekend and experiencing what i have tried to capture in words for real. You won't regret it. I'm definitely now a White Coat for life. 

And we didn't even have to bribe him! Many thanks to Chris for agreeing to write us some thoughts just after his first event.

Our second review is from Simon, another new recruit. Simon was previously a member of the Sealed Knot with another regimente in his teens but circumstances meant he had to stop. Some twenty years later Simon has rejoined with Newcastles, along with his family who hadn't encountered the Knot before.

The Hill family experience in Newcastle’s Regimente of Foote

It had been over 20 years since I last wore a Morion helmet and carried a pike in anger, as a member of the Sealed Knot.

I have always had a keen interest in military history, and especially for the English Civil War period of the 17th century.

As a single lad of 16 years of age, I had spent 4 years as a member, in the mid Eighties. Personal circumstances had prevented me  from continuing with my membership, but I had always remembered, with much fondness, the great social occasions that were Major Musters, and Sealed Knot events in general. The clashing of steel, the smell of black powder, the roar of musket fire and cannon shot, the thundering sound of horses charging, singing around the camp fire until the small hours of the morning and much merriment involving vast quantities of ale!

Having searched the web, found Newcastle’s Regiment of Foote web site, and made contact with Kate Mathews, I decided to take the Kings shilling once again, and in August of 2009 along with my family, I made my way to York race course for the last Major Muster of the season, a re-enactment of Marston Moor. This is the most important of Civil war battles for our regiment, as we were virtually wiped out to a man, in a desperate last stand, to enable the Royalist army to retreat off the field having suffered a heavy defeat.

I already knew that my enthusiasm was enough to mean that I desperately wanted to re-join on a permanent basis. This weekend was all about how my family would react to the experience and spectacle of a 17th Century battle reenactment, and how they would integrate with the other members of the Regiment. Any worries I had were dispelled immediately.

On arriving on the Saturday, we were met by Kate and taken to our tent for the weekend, which was kindly provided by the Regiment.

After being introduced to other members we were given some clothes to change into. I had taken some kit along that I had kept from my previous membership, and to my amazement I was still able to fit into it! We all changed and then were encouraged to join in with the social activities that were already taking place. Within moments we all felt comfortable and were made very welcome.
For me, it felt as though I had never been away, and I slipped straight back into reenactment mode! For Linda and Jacob this was a totally new experience and I must take this opportunity to once again thank everyone for the way they were made to feel at home. I can honestly say we felt as though we had known everyone for years!

One Birthday/cocktail Party, 2 Battles (involving over 1500 participants) and many, many drinks later, we were on our way back to 21st century, mundane reality. I had forgotten just how deflated I used to feel at the end of a Civil war weekend, but what an experience we had been treated to! The entire event was everything I had wished for, new friends, fantastic memories, huge amounts of fun, lots and lots of beer and a wonderful feeling of “coming home”, back to the hobby that I really loved (if that makes sense).

Since our first Muster we have taken up full membership with Newcastle’s and the Sealed Knot, and have now been to numerous and varied events including battles, parades, memorial services and regimental social events. We feel like seasoned veterans already, and have made many new friends within the regiment and the wider society.

If you enjoy an interest in our history and an enthusiasm to keep it alive for future generations, have a liking for a great social life, or just want to make new friends and experience something that is totally different from normal modern day life, then this is definitely the place for you! As a family, we are now life long members

Simon, Linda, Jacob and Morgan.
GOD SAVE THE KING!

Many thanks to Simon for his review!

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