I have always been interested in the English Civil War, ever since I was a child. I remember watching a film aged around seven, but before that my interest had been started through films and interest in the Kings and queens of England, which led me to Charles I’s life dealing with his aggressive Parliament. I would plough through books and watch television programmes about it. Then about four years ago, I heard about a society who actually fought the battles. I travelled around the country with my dad, watching them and I thought it was fantastic. It was one thing to read about this, but to watch a siege you read about and see exactly what it was like was another thing. Imagine just standing and hearing all the sounds of war, which you could not have began to imagine before with a book. When you enter the officers mess, smelling the tobacco and the leather buff coats, smelling the smoke from the cannons and muskets, feel the sweat from wielding a huge pike against an enemy soldier, watching the battle from battlements above in the rain. Sealed Knot Well why not go a step further and see what it was like to fight? I joined the Sealed Knot in 1997. I joined the Sealed Knot, which was one of two organisations I had watched, purely because I got talking to some soldiers at one of their re-enactments. After I had called for more information, showing an interest in joining, I was invited to a local pub for a drink with the regiment which I would join. When I arrived at the pub, there were around fifteen men all dressed in their 17th century attire. Amazingly enough, we walked past them when entering the pub, only finding them after they were pointed out - I would have to improve my eye if I were to go into battle! After getting to know everyone, I received through the post a list of musters for the re-enactments that year. I only received the first training session or first taste of what it would be like when I attended my first battle. I was told what attire I had to buy and what I was not permitted to wear, being a simple soldier. Obviously armour was impossible to buy at that point, so I relied on the regimental stock. I did buy better shirts and breeches when at my fist battle. At each muster, there are travelling stalls, which sell everything to do with clothes and books, medals and curiosities. First Battle My first battle was what re-enactors call a “major” and this meant a large battle, with a few thousand people taking part! The whole thing would last the weekend and Bank Holiday. We mustered next morning to train and run through the drill. It was a sunny day and we walked out to the field wearing a white shirt, white wool doublet, grey breeches and white wool stockings. I wore back and breast armour, with a helmet. I was a pikeman and as such carried the large clumsy wood pole, which was topped with a rubber spike. It was between 15-18 foot long and rested on my right shoulder. Our regiment was Lord Newcastle's Whitecoats, due to the white wool coats we wore and we were a Royalist regiment. After applying to join, I was told which was my local regiment, without a choice of Royalist or Parliamentarian - naturally I was not disappointed when I found out my allegiance was with the King! We did a series of manoeuvres including marching with the pike, running and charging with it, so it was held level and pointing in front of you. It was sweltering in the thick covering we wore. Day of Battle When time came for the day of battle, we all mustered and marched through the other regiment’s camps, to a field adjacent of the main site. This field was hemmed by a large hedge, hiding what was beyond. I had no idea what to expect and was a little nervous. We lined up and the Colonel spoke to us before we left, giving us orders and reminding us to do the regiment honour; inter-regiment rivalry was great. We were also told that we were scripted to win this one and that we should at first lose, then gain ground to win. At this point I realised that when we got out there, everything was run by a strict script. We were reminded not to take enemy regimental colours, which were not scripted to be taken. That was a little disappointing! After my first battle, I was more determined not to surrender if I could help it and I fear I disobeyed the script a few times, refusing to give up and attacking a standard bearer who was not scripted to die, trying to take his colours. I also walked around after the battle in my costume as I had seen others do after earlier battles. We then moved off and walked through a gap in the hedge. The effect was enormous when I stepped through and looked at the expanse of field, which opened up in front of me. There were no reminders of modern day, just thousands of people dressed up in 17th Century costume. I was amazed as I looked right down the field and saw people everywhere lined up for battle in their regiments. It was just like what I had read about. The thing I remember apart from the number of people was the standards, each different and waving around. It was also sweltering today and we were reminded to get water from the women whenever we could. We then marched out and took up our positions. I was excited now as I waited to see what was going to happen next. We faced an enemy of pikemen wearing redcoats. I remember the Parliamentarians were short of men, so we had to lend them some of the Kings Lifeguards; this was agreed before battle. Some of the more experienced lads of our regiment then pondered whether we now faced the men who Parliament had borrowed. I glanced around as horsemen rode round the field, taking up their positions. Then I pushed up my helmet as it kept slipping down my forehead and obscuring my view; it was far too big. After a while, the battle commenced. I cannot remember if any signal was given, it was too hot and I was too eager! The facing men marched towards us, levelling their pikes, so we were faced by a hedgehog of spikes. Our officers then bellowed orders to line up and we marched towards them with our pikes levelled too. Because I was new, I was at the back. Push of Pike As we both clashed together, our pikes were forced vertical and it came to push of pike, meaning both sides pushing each other until one gave way. From the back of our line we had to lean and push on the person in front, they doing the same, trying to force the enemy to fall back. Obviously you couldn’t do much if you were at the front, getting crushed by both sides! We then fell back and the regiment was scattered for a time, until the officers began shouting and forcing us back together. There was lots of noise from shouting and cannons, horses and clashes of weapons. We looked for our standard, for we had to form up behind it. After forming up, I found myself in the wrong place, I was in the front line!! I levelled my pike, staring at the line of enemy opposite. If their pike touched my body, I would have to fall to the ground dead. My pike soon clashed with those opposite as we tried to push each other away. As they got nearer, I was concentrating on one enemy soldier and I knocked his pike away, each time he tried to touch me. I came close to him, but then another two came at me. It was getting difficult, when I felt a hand grab my shoulder. I turned and saw the regiment behind me; they had retreated. I was standing alone fighting an enemy regiment. The older man who grabbed my shoulder smiled and suggested I retreat, as the odds were too great!! Man Down! We then formed up and charged in the opposite direction, causing another scrum where I was in the middle. I was crushed up against the others; my hand still gripping my pike, was jammed out at a right angle. Soon came the cry, “Man Down!” We all quickly parted and spread out to allow the man who had fallen to get up. This stopped him from being trampled. Again we came together in a scrum and I was lifted off the ground by the force and carried where the scrum went. My pike was clashed and entwined with others until it shattered and broke. When the enemy fell back, I held half a pike. Much easier to carry and wield, but useless! I was given another, but this time it was to face cavalry who were charging round us. The women ran up the line, handing a water bottle to us and I took an impatient swig, before we were herded back into line. The officers always wanted their regiments to look the best, so were impatient in trying to get the best out of us. I was exhausted and soaking with sweat. The front line knelt and pointed their pikes diagonally upwards, while I held mine vertical. This created a wall of spikes, which horses would not attempt to enter. The cavalry troopers stomped towards us and reeled round to ride past us, swiping their swords at our pikes. It was surprising to me, for we were protected and felt practically nothing. I hoped that the battle was nearly over. Soon we were told we could march off the field, our bodies ached. The more experienced re-enactors were used to it, but for me and the other new lad, we were exhausted. After the Battle After the battle, we walked out into the town, through the field and past the sentries, which guarded the entrance to the camp. Everyone we passed sat, walked and drank in their costume and as I walked through a narrow lane which was hugged with bushes at either side, it made me think which century I was actually in! We followed a well-dressed gentleman in his cape and hat with red feathers waving as he walked. His spaniel followed while he linked arms with his wife, who was dressed in a flowing silk dress, her hair arranged in 17th century ringlets. As I turned, I saw soldiers walking past with their tankards, laughing and joking. Talk was also in 17th century tongue most of the time. It was another world! At the end of the day, I had seen at first hand, what it was like for a pikeman in battle, learned how that battle would progress and be fought and most importantly, what objectives would be imperative. This was invaluable to me, for without experiencing a re-enactment, I would not have known and been able to feel what battle was like for a Civil War soldier, when writing articles and stories today. I knew how exhausting it was in the heat with all the armour, which was not complete. We did not have enough armour to go around, just like the actual war itself. I learned how fighting in a battle felt, how nerve-racking it must have been and how confusing it was at times. Imagine trying to give orders or know what is going on elsewhere, when you command a regiment who is engaged with the enemy. It showed to me how important standards and drums were in the noise and clouds from the muskets. Standards are always visible and drums easier to hear than a human being’s voice. You have to act quickly in getting into formation and can’t afford to winge or think about how tired you are. You also realise why the regiment needs to work together as a team. We all fought with precision, knowing what we would do and when. We relied on each other and this showed how vitally important drills and training were. If a new regiment had not had much training, then it was difficult for them against one who had. Unless you have fought in one, re-enactment provides you with experience you can never gain from books or films. It is truly a thrilling thing to remember. Good Points and Restrictions But discussing the good points of re-enactments leads onto the limitations. Re-enactments, I believe, are slightly too restricted to feel entirely realistic. For one, as we were fighting and began to win, we were told once that we had to fall back. We were meant to lose at first, so we simply let the enemy overcome us. I agree that certain points need to be agreed beforehand by officers, for example tactics and how the battle will progress. But the taking of standards was expressly forbidden unless scripted. This was wholly ridiculous, when in one instance I saw an enemy standard bearer standing on his own, while his regiment was pushed back. The others and myself failed to attack the easy prey as per orders and he was left, unrealistically, standing safe! Actually, deciding who is to win is not as important as it is made out to be. I am aware that the crowd are being told, that about 350 years ago the Royalists won this battle they see. But surely they could be told that, to make it more realistic, they would have to see who triumphs today. This would stop the charade of withdrawing when one regiment is winning instead of losing. You would also lose the strict formality and open up the offers and opportunities to rout an enemy and gain trophies. Instead of each officer knowing they could not attack to their left or they had to move against such and such a regiment, they could fight as opportunities presented themselves. This opens up the final result and makes it more appealing and realistic to re-enactor and public alike. Above all I enjoyed the experience and it provided me with invaluable knowledge and insights. I will not forget the time I spent and would recommend re-enacting to anyone interested in the Civil War, or military history. The whole thing is a great opportunity to experience what you can’t get from a book. It allows you a full spectrum on the history, which is a good thing. For me, to write my novel about the English Civil War, I use my own experiences from the battle. Writing from gained experience and knowing things first hand of a battle, which took place back then, is the very best way of translating it to words. Back to Table of Contents -- King or Parliament #1 Back to King or Parliament List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Mark Turnbull. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com