Cases of Illegal Livery in England, 1390-1530

Bastard feudalism (a set of relationships which allowed the English aristocracy to obtain the service and manpower they required from their social inferiors) has been regarded as both a source of social disruption but also part of the normal fabric of society. Illegal livery, has long been associated with attempts to eradicate the socially disruptive elements of bastard feudalism, but thus far discussions of the cases have been limited in scope. From an examination of the records of the King’s Bench this paper will discuss the distribution, both chronological and geographical, of the cases of illegal livery in England during the fifteenth century.