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"How I Joined the King's Army & Earned 6 Pence A Day"

Until the 17th century there was no such thing as a standing army in England.  Consequently, the campaigns of the 14th and 15th centuries saw the raising of temporary armies which were disbanded on the completion of operations.  And archer served in one of these armies by either having been conscripted into the ‘levy’, raised by ‘Commissions of Array’ or recruited into a ‘retinue’, great or small, of a member of the nobility or gentry in a force raised by ‘Contract of Indenture’.—English Longbowman 1330-1515 by Clive Bartlett.

Some archers were resident household attendants.  Some were bound by written indenture to serve their lord for life in peace and war [the yeoman farmer who’s lands or rents were between £2 and £5 per year].  Or maybe attachment to the lord was shown simply by the acceptance of his fees and the wearing of his badge and livery [the professional archer].  Some would even have been criminals serving in exchange for a “Charter of Pardon” ...

Our archers were divided for the first retinue competition into groups serving three Earls who fought at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.  These were the Earls of Oxford, Warwick and Northampton.  After an eight week competition ending in July 2006 the Earl of Northampton’s retinue won the competition.

The second retinue competition took the form of two teams competing for the Earls of Arundel and Huntingdon (who also fought at the Battle of Crécy).  After a six week competition ending in September 2006 the Earl of Arundel won the competition.

The third retinue competition was competed between King Edward III’s retinue and Prince Edward of Wales retinue.  After an eight week competition ending in April 2007 it ended in a draw!

The fourth retinue competition introduced mercenaries along with the three way Prince of Wales, Earl of Northampton and Earl of Arundel competition.  After an eight week competition ending in August 2007 this was won by Earl of Northampton’s for the second time (although different team) along with Kevin winning the first mercenary competition.

- To see the retinue leagues etc click Here

The Fifth Retinue League

The Fifth Retinue League is based on the exploits of real and legendary outlaws.  The three retinues are now outlaw gangs named after their fictional leaders—Adam Bowyer, Gilbert Fletcher and Thomas Stringfellow.

We don’t have real life biographies like the Earls from the Battle of Crécy but we do have the genuine 100% surviving Royal Warrant pertaining to their apprehension.  Click on the image on the left to read it.

Just like the 1981 Terry Gilliam film Time Bandits each week our gangs will be travelling around the Middle Ages trying to complete a game based on that week’s real or legendary outlaw.  Teams will be bolstered by mercenaries however one of the mercenaries will be working for the sheriff and actively trying to scupper their teams chances.  Likewise each retinue will have a regular team member who is also working for the sheriff.

League points are awarded for a win, second place and third place with bonus points at the end for those gangs who can successfully identify which of their team members and which mercenary is working for the sheriff.