Uniforms? None! Other than weaponry (and the accoutrements that pertain thereto), soldiers in the Trayned Bandes wore their own civilian clothing. This offers members the opportunity to portray people of different classes in life, from the wealthy merchant -- it was fashionable for London men of substance to serve -- to the poor apprentice. At most, soldiers might have been issued a snapsack to carry their possessions on the march, and a leather buff-coat with cloth sleeves. Officers can be recognised by the tawny-orange sash each wears. Ladies have seperate rules, below.

If we are to portray properly people of the mid-17th century, we must therefore properly dress the part. These clothing and equipment rules will be updated as new information becomes available. Patterns for all clothing (men or women) are available from Reconstructing History. A list of approved suppliers of clothing and equipment will be available soon. Before purchasing or constructing anything, contact an officer! Much research has been done (not seen in detail in these pages) which will benefit the new member immeasurably. The most important thing to remember when buying re-enactment gear is this: if in doubt, ask. We will be happy to provide advice, patterns, help or recommend suppliers. We'll try to lend you clothing and equipment until you can get your own.

Clothing for men consists of a hat (montero or monmouth cap for common soldiers, a felt hat for the more affluent), linen falling collar, doublet or coat, breeches, cloth hose, and shoes. Lace trim or metal braid can be applied, for the affluent.

Let us begin from the ground up.

Shoes

Leather latchet shoes must be black or brown, below the ankle, with exposed tongue and one pair of lace holes only, with a cut-out (lachet). Laces must be leather or linen. Officers may wear "bucket" or turn-top boots with butterfly leathers and spurs.

Hose

Must be of one colour. Odd pairs are not to be worn. Hose are to be of linen or wool, and must be cut-hose, not knit. A short pair of knit stockings may be worn over cut-hose for comfort. Modern cotton socks and ribbed seaman’s socks may not be worn, as they are totally inappropriate. Boothose may only be worn by officers wearing boots.

Breeches

Breeches must be wool, unpatterned and undecorated, open bottomed or narrow bottomed and tied with linen or wool tape. Short and narrow sash garters may also be worn, to keep the hose up. Officers may have decorative embellishments, within reason.

Shirts

Shirts must be square cut, unyoked, white or unbleached linen. Collars and falling bands must be worn, and must be constructed with yokes, so as to lay properly against the neck and shoulders. Wrists must have small ball type buttons or cloth toggle.

Soldiers’ Coats

Coats were not issued to the Trayned Bandes until much later in the War. Since we portray summer 1642, soldiers are expected to wear appropriate civilian outer garments.

Doublets, Coats, and Cassocks

Outer garments must be constructed of wool, of an appropriate cut, finish, and lining. Cassocks may be worn in cold weather, at the discretion of the officers.

Headgear

In the seventeenth century it was considered extremely vulgar to go bareheaded and so hats are an important part of a re-enactor’s wardrobe. Approved styles for the Blew Reg't are the Monmouth Cap, Montero hats, and broad-brimmed, high-crowned black felt hats, and may differ depending on the activity at hand; in any case, the quality of the hat will be determined by the Bandesman's station in civilian life.

Bags and Snapsacks

Snapsacks are the only approved method of carrying items for officers and men. Shoulder-bags (like AWI-era haversacks) are used only by pitiful vagrants and tinkers, and are right out.

Buff-coats

One of the only "uniform" characteristics of the Trayned Bandes were buff-coats: Leather sleeveless coats, laced down the front. It is arguable, however, that the Bandes were ever issued these items; we may presume that soldiers provided their own. Moreover, Trayned Bandes buff-coats were not the substantial "soft armour" buff-coats worn by the cavalry in the 30 Years' and English Civil Wars. Instead, they were probably 6-8 oz leather jerkins with cloth sleeves. Wear of buff-coats is not required, but encouraged.

Gloves

Gloves must be long-cuffed, supple leather. Welder's gloves are too heavy, and inappropriate. Gloves must be worn by pikemen on the field, and while fencing.

Ladies' clothing information will be forthcoming.

Soldiers and officers must possess their own weapons and equipment.

A musketeer must have a matchlock or dog-lock musket, of .68 or .75 caliber, with fish-tail butt. Also, a bandoleer of twelve or more charges, a priming-flask, shot pouch, and match. Cartridges carried in a bag are grudgingly approved for those portraying raw recruits. Musketeers will provide their own powder and sufficient match to carry them through an event.

A pikeman must have a pike 15' long. He may have a display pike, with sharp iron head and "cheeks" three to four feet down the shaft. For tactical scenarios, the pike must have a rubber head (see an officer for details). Prior to the Civil Wars, pikemen wore armour (consisting of helmet, breast-and-back, and tassets), but after the 1630s it became less and less common, such that the Blew Reg't does not require its purchase or wear. If he wishes, however, the pikeman may purchase and wear armour.

Every infantry soldier must have a good sword. Monck called for a "good stiff tuck, not very long." (Tuck is derived from the ‘Estoc’, a C15th thrusting sword used in single-combat fights in the champ-clos) In reality they were a short, cheap and nasty weapon and were used in confined melee. Their main use was in threatening civilians, brawling, or chopping firewood.

Add a good snapsack, and you're in business!

All equipment is personal equipment. The Reg't does not and will not "own" tents or anything else.

Each member must possess her own eating and drinking utensils, of wood, ceramic, horn, or metal. See an officer for details. Cooking gear is nice to have; if you're into cooking, see an officer about getting the right equipment. Glass is nice, and appropriate for the social rank of a person associated with the Trayned Bandes.

Tents must be of solid construction, of an appropriate style to the 17th century. Even the simplest of tents were not issued to common soldiers, including the Trayned Bandes, until the formation of the New Model Army, and those were only issued to members of the artillery train. Soldiers on the march were instead billeted on the local populace, or assigned a plot of God's green earth to sleep upon. Moreover, our impression is that of a group of people brought together on drill day in the Cittie of London. We would have staggered home to sleep. But, being a modern reenactment of same, we recognise that tents will be necessary. Those New Model Army tents were 7x7x7 wedge-type tents, made of canvas. Any other tent must be approved by the officers on a case-by-case basis.

Furniture for the camp must be researched before construction. Baskets and cloth sacks are good for the beginner to carry utensils and spare clothing.

A list of approved sellers of clothing, weapons, and accoutrements is forthcoming. Again, before purchasing or constructing anything, contact an officer! Much research has been done (not seen in detail in these pages) which will benefit the new member immeasurably.