The Sealed Knot
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The Sealed Knot was a secret Royalist association which plotted for the Restoration of the Monarchy during English Interregnum. It is also the name of an English Civil War re-enactment association.
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Royalist association
Its original founder members were:
- John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse (1614-1689)
- Sir William Compton (1625-1663; third son of Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton)
- Henry Hastings, 1st Baron Loughborough (1610-1666)
- Col. John Russell
- Col. Sir Edward Villiers (1620-1689; father of Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey)
- Sir Richard Willis (sometimes spelt 'Willys') (1613/14-1690)
The Sealed Knot made eight attempts between 1652 and 1659 to bring about the Restoration.
The largest revolt was staged in 1655 and is known as the Penruddock uprising. It is named after one of the leaders of the revolt, John Penruddock. The revolt was easily put down by forces loyal to the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell and for his part in the rebellion Penruddock was beheaded in May 1655.
English Civil War re-enactment association
The modern Sealed Knot society is a British historical association dedicated to period costume re-enactment of battles and events surrounding the English Civil War. It takes its name from the original Sealed Knot. It strives for as much historical accuracy as is practicable, to the extent that members' wives and children are drafted in as "camp followers". Research into the history of the Civil War is a major secondary activity of the association.
The Sealed Knot society is a registered charity, No.263004, with its own coat-of-arms. It is the largest re-enactment society in Europe and was formed by the late Brigadier Peter Young, a respected military historian and World War II veteran, from a small group of friends at a party portraying Royalists. Within a few month it had 200 members and today has a membership of several thousand.
See also
External link
- Official website (http://www.sealedknot.org)