livery and maintenance

In England, the traditional marks of a man's relation to his lord; livery being the uniform of the lord and maintenance the help a lord would give his followers in legal cases, often by illegal means or coercion of the courts. The practice led to widespread corruption and abuses of the legal system and Henry VII passed a series of acts against it but these largely amounted to little more than a system of licenses. Until the advent of a standing army in the 17th century kings depended on their lords having strong retinues, and so could do little to act against their followers.