Non-Military

SKMS (Medics): The indispensable Sealed Knot Medical Service consists of a variety of medical professionals from doctors, nurses (qualified and students) and firemen to first aiders (First Aid at Work being the minimum requirement). While we always hope we won't need their services, it is comforting to know that they are there when we do need them. The Medic corp are supported by members of regiments who hold the right qualifications and have registered with the SKMS in case they ever need to call on them. If you can offer just one day a year to the SKMS, you'll be making a huge and very much appreciated contribution.

As well as normal kit, you would need a medics uniform of black tabbard with the Cross of St Chad on it and red sash (provided by SKMS), a black coat of appropriate design and materials, a plain shirt (the same as soldiers wear), plain black breeches (same as soldiers wear) with red leg ties, your usual Sealed Knot footwear, and black felt hat with reinforced crown or helmet with padding and lining, with a red hatband.

Water Carriers: Not an authentic role, but usually described as the most important role on the field of battle after the medics. Water carriers are supplied with covered water bottles to provide this essential fluid to the rest of the army during a battle and on march, as most are during the stummer we couldn't fight without them. If you want to take to the field in a fighting role, it can be very useful to first go on the field as a water carrier as it teaches you battlefield awareness as you have more of an opportunity to see everything that is going on, how important it is to drink water, how to spot somebody who isn't drinking enough - and how important water carriers are!

Civilians: We have two types of public camps: soldiers' camps, and living history camps, and an event can be one or the other or a combination of the two. Soldiers would have fairly basic tents (the regiment have a number that can be pitched for the use of any of the regiment, plus some members have their own which they are happy to loan out), and would spend their time on camp sleeping, drinking (obviously not alcohol during a re-enactment!), eating, dicing, playing cards or other games.

The living history camp can contain camp followers, civilians, clergy, and tradesmen whose skills are required by the regiment. Some of these roles are acted, however we do have some genuine traders in the SK such as blacksmiths. The camp is not necessarily a representation of the 'baggage train' behind the army, we are also trying to portray life in the 17th century and as we can't transport a village or town around with us, the next best thing we can provide are period tents. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to be re-enacting at a statley home or castle where we can populate rooms with the appropriate characters, if not our living history camp has to be representative of many areas of life: from King Charles to a beggar, from Queen Henrietta-Maria to a washer woman, from barber-surgeons to preachers, we try to provide a variety of members of 17th century society.

Front of House (FoHPs): FoHPs provide cameos before and during battles: these consist of actors (most of whom have no formal training) from the SK, but anyone can join in with the cameos, which are pre-arranged. Roles include lords and ladies, soldiers and civilians, preachers and sinners - and even the odd whipping and hanging! We also have strolling player-type actors, who stay in character for most of the day interacting with the public. Whilst this can be very daunting the first time you do it, there are plenty of 'old hands' about to help you through your stage-fright until you fell confient enough to take on a bigger role.

Musicians: You don't have to be able to play when you first sign up, many people take up an instrument after they have already joined. Our musicians use instruments that are replicas of ones from the 17th century. Musicians can also take to the field with the regiment, although they are usually exempt from being attacked! If you want to join the musicians either on a march or in living history, we have some excellent musicians who will be able to advise you on what to play and how to play it. Soldiers' kit can be worn but musicians would normally be in civilian clothing. There is a Regimental Fife Book of period music, compiled by members of the Sealed Knot, of traditional songs of the time. If playing the instrument with the marching army or on the field, you will need to be dressed as a man although women can wear the women's kit whilst playing on a living history camp.

Other than drums, wind instruments were played in the 17th century such as the natural trumpet for cavalry, and shawm, bombarde, renaissance bagpipes, fife or recorder for infantry. They need to be in materials appropriate for the 17th century, and in the living history environment they can be complimented by the lute, cittern, renaissance guitar, fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, early harps of various types, drums, tambourine, etc. Instruments like fifes and smaller recorders were usually carried in leather tubes slung from the waist.

Living History: These people are non-combatant members of the regiment who represent the families of the soldiers, providing food and water and attending to the wounded, and also craftsmen and women. It is possible to be part of a living history or soldiers' camp and be in a regiment, however the Living History Group is also a seperate arm of the Sealed Knot, putting on their own events as well as attending SK musters adding an extra depth to our re-enactments.