Despite appearances, uniformity and order in the administrative and judicial organization were far from being completely established. Not only was there a great variety of jurisdictions, but there was also a great diversity in the law, for one region would differ radically from another. The towns, nobles, clergy, universities, and the great corporation of stock-raisers (the _Mesta_) all had officials of their own and exemption from royal jurisdiction. At the same time, great _hermandades_, or leagues of cities, were formed for the maintenance of public security against highwaymen or other disturbing elements, since royal activity in this regard left much to be desired, and these also had their separate jurisdictions.[45] The current toward centralization was very strong, however, being aided by the education in the Roman law of the _letrados_, whom the king employed as his officials (for these men were pronouncedly monarchical in sentiment), and by the increase in powers to which the _adelantados_ and _merinos mayores_ were attaining at the expense of the semi-independent elements. The successors of Alfonso X, especially Alfonso XI, furthered this policy of centralization. Royal judges began to appear in the towns, either taking the place of the formerly elected officials, or acting concurrently with them, for the kings took advantage of one pretext or another to make an opening for their own appointees. Another important reform was the division of the _audiencia_ into two sections, one of which remained in Segovia, while the other went on circuit for brief periods in Andalusia. Under Juan II there appeared in the _audiencia_ the official known as the _fiscal_, who at this time was a royal prosecuting attorney, but who later was to become one of the most important all-round administrative officials in Spanish and Spanish colonial government. As an example, too, of the extension of royal jurisdiction may be mentioned the so-called recourse of _fuerza_ in cases of usurpation (by force,--hence _fuerza_) of lands or jurisdiction by the clergy. The trial of these cases was ordered to be held in the royal courts. [Sidenote: Judicial procedure.]