Starting Out

Q: What’s the difference between the Regiment and the Society? Which am I joining

A: Although you must put your membership through a Regiment whether be Royalist or Parliamentarian you are considered a member of the Sealed Knot Society.
Your Regiment is usually the Regiment that is local to you when you join, but should you decide to change Regiments then you are still seen as a member of the Sealed Knot.
Many people make life long friends in their Regiment and even though people move all over the country they stay in the same Regiment and meet up at battles.
A host Regiment or Regiments can hold a battle, but the Sealed Knot Society must issue approval of the staged events so all regulations applied to the Sealed Knot Society are looked into. This is done for the safety of the public and our members.

Q: What do I get for my money?

A: Members enjoy a range of benefits that comes form their membership. These include
Access to all the Sealed Knot events during the year. If you add this to your Regimental displays then your could be looking at least 15 events a year.
Free camping at Sealed Knot Battles and yes we do include caravans.
Often reduced or free entry to various stately homes that we could be performing at.
The Sealed Knot Society bi monthly magazine ’Orders of the Daye’ full of articles on history, discussion, the odd competition and information on upcoming events. What we call our warning orders.
Access to the members only area of the Sealed Knot website.
Also our Bi monthly magazine within the Regiment ‘The Hibble Scribble’ which contains articles and such forth on our own Regiments doings.

Q: What’s in it for me?

A: The Sealed Knot provide a unique hobby in great surroundings with many new people who come from all walks of life.
Not only do you have as much an energetic day as you wish, learn a little history by just absorbing it from those around you, but you’ll find that you’ll make many new friends that can and will last a life time.
Earl Rivers Regiment has over 50 members ranging from children to our more experienced members. (They’d kill me if I said older participants) We come from all walks of life and find we have one thing in common. We love our hobby and enjoy it with the people around us. Especially some of the stories they can tell!
The fact that this ranges to the whole of the Sealed Knot is true. You’ll be surprised by how many people you know after one year with us that you would not have thought to talk to before.

Q: Who can join? Is there an age limit?

A: Absolutely anyone can join the Sealed Knot. There are no restrictions and there is no discrimination.
Although you do need to be 16 to go on the battlefield and those under 16 need to have a parent or guardian responsible for them who also needs to be a member.

Q: Does it matter if I would have been Parliamentarian?

A: Congratulations if you know your family history that far back. It is of no importance of where your family stood during the English Civil War to us. But then most families were divided by their loyalties during this unsettling time as it was.

Q: What if I really want to join a Parliamentarian Regiment?

A: If after reading our website, talking to us or meeting up with us you decide to be on the Parliamentarian side then fair play to you.
You can find Parliamentarian Regiments on the Sealed Knot website and hopefully we’ll see you on the battlefield or in the beer tent after.