Cardiff Rose Swordsmen Guild
Costume Guidelines -

Swordsmen

These are to provide goals and direction for Guild costuming, and have been designed to give our group a distinctive and authentic appearance. New purchases must be made in accordance with Guild requirements, but older costume elements that don't meet these guidelines may be "grandfathered" if acceptable - so don't panic! Existing costume should gradually change to meet these new standards, depending on the guildmember's rank, finances, and interests.

We portray a late-Elizabethan or Early-Stuart era local militia or Trained Band from the Welsh Border/Cardiff area. Militia members would gather for training at the local "Artillery Garden", where they would practice swordplay, shooting muskets and cannon, and drilling with pikes. Trained Bands would sometimes go on manuevers and practice battles with other militia units.

Swordsmen, also known as "Targiers", wear costume similar to the other Militia Ranks, with a rapier, parrying dagger, targe or buckler, and either boots or low shoes. Fencing was very popular as a sport and display event, and many men carried swords. Minimum equipment consits of a rapier-style sword and a pair of gauntlets. Improved equipment adds a parrying dagger or main gauche, metal targe (round or oval shield) or buckler, possibly dressier costume than the other arms.

School of Defense demo in the UK	Targier from 1588 London Trayned Band procession _The Armada Campaign 1588_ Osprey ISBN 0-85045-821-8