This is designed to be a four-day full emersion event covering the Age of the Pike, effectively the late-15th through mid-17th Centuries. Participants will engage in and learn the every-day activities and routine of soldiers or camp followers, with stratifications based upon rank and responsibility, and will be expected to be able to fulfill their designated roles by the end of the event.

The school shall be divided into sections by Arms, with those participants engaging in the role of their choosing, based upon the material goods that they bring to the event. All should have not only sufficient clothing of the period, but the requisite side arms as well.

Foote units will be structured around the "Camarada" of 4-6 men, and organized into "Shot" and "Pikes" forming a single Company.

Horse units will be built around "Lances" of 4, organized into Lancers, Heavy and Light, and Harquebusiers/Pistoliers.

Non-combatants shall constitute "The Camp", under the supervision of the Lieutenant.

It is the intention of the organizers of this event to draw like-minded groups and individuals together to train in and practice the tactics of the Age of the Pike, which require some numbers of men to properly conduct. At the same time we wish to encourage the interaction of different Arms of Service, something not commonly managed at present. It is hoped that this shall form the basis for further events and tactical experiments resulting in more, and better, interaction among the individuals interested in this era.

For further information, those interested are requested to consult our website at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~nebbo/cav/id16.html

It is hoped that this shall answer most of the questions that might arise from this, but feel free to either email me at the address indicated on the web page, of via this forum.

Thank you for your consideration,

Rittmeister Gordon Frye

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Due to some challenges, we are shortening the "Actions in the Low Countries" from a Four-Day Extravaganza to a more sedate and manageable two-day event, April 2 & 3 (with set up on Friday April 1, of course). Other modifications include the curtailment of meal issues by mess, reducing it to a simple breakfast to be issued to individuals. This leaves the provision of victuals for the mid-day and evening meals up to the individual participants as they see fit. Likewise, quartering shall not be by Camarada or Lance, but by choice and furthermore the Train will not be encamped separately from the Soldiers (meaning participants get to camp in their own tents with tent-mates of their choosing, rather than some smelly fellow who has been drilling all day long next to them).

There have been other minor rearrangements as well. For more information, please go to our website:
http://home.earthlink.net/~nebbo/cav/

We are still anticipating some good numbers of participants, including a dozen-plus Horse, as well as the expected Pikes and Shot. We hope it to be a good learning experience for all concerned, including, of course, the organizers!

Cheers,

Gordon

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From all accounts it was a successful event, having people come from all over the State of California for it (several people were planning to come from Nevada but had to cancel at the last moment, unfortunately). But we had a chance to practice period pike and shotte drill gleaned from Elizabethan manuals, and also, we had the opportunity to practice with combined Pike, Shotte AND Horse all together, often using the Horse as the "Enemy". What a blast charging down on unready Foote! But we didn't engage, just rode up to them to get both the Men and Horses used to the idea of being in close proximity with one another.

If you wish further details, I shall be happy to post them upon application.

Cheers,

Gordon

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Here's a Cavalry Patrol heading out on the Zutphen Road...

And a nice pike-square...

And a Harquebusier loading...

Cheers,

Gordon

[ 04-09-2005: Message edited by: Gordon ]

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Thank you for the kind words! And I would be happy to post links to the respective groups involved.

First was the Renaissance Military Society, which sadly doesn't have a great site, but it does have great pictures at least!
http://snjacobson.com/RMS.htm

Most of the organizers are RMS members, including myself. Another or the organizers is an ECWSA man, however, and the leader of Stamford's, a Parliamentarian unit:
http://www.luckhardt.com/ecwsa.html

There were people from a number of other ECWSA units there as well such as Montrose's:
http://home.earthlink.net/~dgshinn/companyinfo.html

and Hampden's, but I don't have their website's address near to hand.

Another group that is brand new and joined us is a Scottish group who portray Douglas's... I know that this is a prickly issue with you, since there are SOOO many extremely poorly done Scottish groups out there, but I am happy to say that not a kilt was to be seen at all (I had however expressly forbidden them, too, LOL!) Plaid, unfortunately, but at least in the form of breeches. They showed up at this, their first major event, looking pretty good considering. And in numbers, too which was also pretty neat. They're trying, though, which is a lot more than most "Scottish" groups out there manage to do, LOL! Here's their website, and you have to give them credit for thinking big...:
www.DouglasCastle.com/KOD.htm

Anyway, thanks for your interest, and I look forward to any other comments you might have.

Cheers,

Gordon

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Hmmm... it seems as though we may well have an acquaintance in common, too: Victoria by name... She speaks very highly of you, by the way! (Assuming we indeed do have the same friend in common, that is, LOL!)

Cheers,

Gordon

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