Such retainers were not necessarily in the
domestic service or otherwise normally close to the presence of their lord, and included others who wore his
livery (a kind of uniform, in distinctive colours) and claimed his protection, such as musicians and tutors. Some were a source of trouble and abuse in the 15th and early 16th century. Often their real importance was very different from their rank: on the one hand,
sinecures and
supernumerary appointments allowed enjoying benefits without performing full service. On the other hand, "having the ear" of the master can allow one to act as a confidant in an informal capacity; or in some cases, even as a spy, under the guise of an innocent musician. The term is sometimes used in the context of the supporters or followers of a
medieval knight or great lord, such as
Richard, Earl of Salisbury in
15th-century England, which he called upon during the
Wars of the Roses. ==Historical examples==