retaining

• retaining was the employment of private armies by the nobility. they gacve them livery, maintenance, and indenture. this was previously allowed to exist as it helped the King delegate control of certain areas to trusted nobles. however, at the war of the roses, they caused lawlessness and were used as a force against the king.
• both E6 and H7 wanted to limit retaining but not eliminate it. in 1486, E6 passed a statute allowing retaining only for "lawful service". meaning it was banned except for domestic servants, legal advisors, and estate officials. however, he had no intent of enforcing this and only did it for PR. he turned a blind eye to his friends
• alternatively, H7 convicted all wrongdoers no matter their closeness, he enforced it strictly and made parliament swear to not retain illegally, and made the nobles agree to a recognisance to not use retainers unlawfully
• in 1504, H7 introduced a statute that excluded "lawful service" from the new retaining system. the new system meant men could employ retainers for the king's service alone if they got a license endorsed by a privy seal, and the whole retinue was put up for royal approval