Henry VII and Retaining
Retaining involved magnates taking men into their service, generally involving the payment of fees and sometimes the granting of a distinctive badge or uniform (livery).
This practice served the king, in that it allowed him to recruit armies more easily, by making contracts with leading magnates who then provided their retinues for service with the king's army for a specified time. However, it did allow magnates to retain what were, in effect, 'private armies' and, at this could be very detrimental to public order.
Thus, kings grew increasingly concerned to contr…
