Frequently Answered Questions

• Why do you do it?
  The great thing about the Knot is that it's not just about history or the battles—it's about making friends and having a good time. Once the fighting is done and the public have left, it's off to the beer tent or chilling out with new friends.
• How much does it cost to join Fairfax's and The Sealed Knot?
  2012 membership fees are
  • Family (two adults and up to four children) £46.50/year + £6.00 joining fee
  • Single parent family (one adult and up to four) £31.00/year + £6.00 joining fee
  • Young person (aged 18–24) £23.00/year + £6.00 joining fee
  • Individual (aged 25 or over) £29.00/year + £6.00 joining fee
  For new members joining after 1st July, membership for the remainder of the year is half price.

  If you join for the first time as a family and go to six musters throughout the summer, each weekend away will have cost you only £8.75, less than most commercial campsite fees.

• What does my membership include?
  All campsite facilities, third-party insurance for your activities on the battlefield, on-site medics at major events, and our bi-monthly colour magazine "Orders of the Daye".
• How old do I need to be to take part?
  To take part in the main battle, for insurance reasons you need to be at least sixteen. However, there are lots of cameo roles for younger members who are interested.
• How old do I need to be to join?
  To join as an individual member in your own right, you have to be at least eighteen years old. However, 16–18 year olds can join with the consent of a parent or guardian. If you are younger than sixteen, you will need to join as a family with a parent/parents or guardian.
• Can I try before I buy?
  Yes! We have temporary memberships available which cover you for a single weekend event and cost £12.00 for an individual or £17.00 for a family. If you do decide to join after this event, the temporary membership fee is deductible from your full joining fee.
• Will I be expected to go to every event?
  No, you can go to as many or as few events as you like.
• How do I get there?
  You will find full directions in the society magazine Orders of the Daye including driving directions, satnav postcode and public transport information. Many members choose to car-share both to reduce the cost of travelling, and to share the blame for navigational disasters.
• How do I choose which events to go to?
  You're free to go to any event you choose. However, in addition to the full list of Sealed Knot events published in "Orders of the Daye", we send out a list of events at which there will definitely be a Fairfax's presence.
• What about uniform?
  When you join, members of the regiment will be able to lend you spare kit/equipment. This allows you to try the various roles and get a feel for which role you enjoy the most. Once you decide to purchase your own equipment, we can help you pick the right kit at the right price.
• Where do I buy kit and equipment when I'm ready to get my own?
  At all major and most mini musters, there are traders who are all members of the Sealed Knot, making and selling all the equipment you could possibly need! Also, there is often second-hand kit available from other members of the regiment which helps to keep costs down.
• I'm not sure what role to choose. Can you help?
  Yes, we have a roles page with lots of info. Most new recruits will try several different roles before deciding which they enjoy most. Some members take part as both musketeer and pikeman depending on what mood they're in!
• Can women only be wenches?
  Women in the Knot can and do take exactly the same roles as men, whether as pikemen, musketeers, cavalry or officers.
• Do I have to camp? Is it free?
  You don't have to camp, and some members stay in local B&Bs. However, most people do stay on the campsite as it is the centre of the weekend's social activity. There is no charge for camping: this is included in the membership fee.
• Will my kids be safe on the camp site?
  Yes! Only Sealed Knot members are allowed into the camp site, and the site has a 24 hour guard/presence at the entrance. There are a lot of families in the society, and the security and safety of children is a priority within the society.
• Do I need to be an expert on English Civil War history?
  No. The historical knowledge of Sealed Knot members ranges from professors of history through to those who don't know when the English Civil War was! Being an expert is by no means a prerequisite for joining, although inevitably if you spend any time in the Knot, you will pick up some seventeeth century history.
• Will you teach me to fight safely?
  Yes, we will ensure you are fully trained in the safe use of any weapons, and know and understand battlefield drill.
• How physical is the fighting?
  There is no doubt that pike can be very physical if you want it to be, but whatever role you take, you can choose how much you want to get stuck in and position yourself within the block to control the amount of contact.
• Isn't it dangerous?
  Although battles can be hectic and physical, safely is paramount and there are few injuries.
• How do I die?
  This might sound like a silly question, but it is an example of the sort of question lots of people have when they first take part and are sometimes too embarrassed to ask. However, at your first event, we will explain every aspect of the battle to you, and you shouldn't worry about asking about anything you're unsure about—we probably had the same question ourselves when we joined!