Bastard feudalism

Its distinctive feature is that middle-ranking figures rendered military, political, legal, or domestic service in return for money, office, or influence.

[1] According to Stubbs, a shift in English history took place under Edward I (reigned 1272–1307) when the feudal levy was replaced with royal payment in return for military service by the great magnates who willingly served the king.

To him, bastard feudalism centered not on the financial aspect (the sums involved were mostly negligible) but on the concept of service in exchange for good favour.

Under a weak king, such as Henry VI (reigned 1422–1461 and 1470–1471), the rivalries of magnates might spill over from the courtroom to armed confrontations, thereby perverting justice.

Lacking standing armies, kings relied on noble retinues for the military forces they required to conduct wars or to crush internal rebellions.

However, Henry VII (reigned 1485–1509) managed to largely overcome bastard feudalism by imposing financial sanctions on unruly nobles.