Clothing
A rough guide to the clothing worn by members of the regiment.
Basic Soldiers Clothing
- Blue Bonnet
- Linen Shirt
- Green Soldiers Coat
- Russet Brown Britches or Trews
- Knitted Woollen Hose
- Soldiers Shoes or Latchets
This is just the minimum worn. Leather Gloves are also used, as are a belt pouch and belt. Pikemen need to purchase a helmet (new members can usually borrow this) whilst musketeers need additional equipment.
Musketeers Equipment
A musketeer, in addition to the basic equipment listed above, uses the following:
- Musket - Either Matchlock or Flintlock
- Bandoliers - A Belt of Individual powder charges worn across the shoulder.
- Powder Flask - Used for the storage of priming powder
- Pricker - A thin metal pin used for clearing out touch-holes
- Wadding - Scraps of cloth or cotton used as a 'cushion' between powder and ball.
- Musket Balls - A ball of lead, stone or even wood used as ammunition
- Cleaning Kit - A modern collection of tools and oils used to keep your gun in order.
For our use, we forgo the ball (we wouldn't want to kill anyone!) and instead use just powder and wadding. In place of the more traditional cotton wadding, we tend to use toilet paper, as this has much the same effect and is easier to acquire. Muskets are effectively a smooth bore shotgun, so a shotgun licence and black powder licence is needed, and The Sealed Knot has its own safety procedures and test to pass for a musketeer to be able to buy and use a musket at our events.
Officers
Officers have better quality clothing than the rank and file, as their position and added wealth both demands and allows. Better footwear, lace and braid are the obvious changes, as well as better weapons. Different Polearms denote rank, with Halberds going to Sergeants, Partisans going to Junior officers, and Halfpikes covered in cloth for senior ranks. A good quality sword is always an indication of wealth. Finally, all officers wear a sash of silk to denote both rank and alliegance, red for royalist, and blue for parliament.