liberties

In the middle ages, freedom from direct royal jurisdiction, usually granted to border territories in return for protecting the border area from raiders. The privilege was granted in cases such as the Marcher Lords on the Welsh border, or in the Palatinate of Durham where the bishop was granted special privileges as a bulwark against the Scots.

More restricted liberties provided freedom from prosecution in the king's courts. The most famous of these was that of Westminster Abbey, where sanctuary extended beyond its buildings to much of the city of Westminster, but boroughs or even smaller towns, such as Bewdley, also enjoyed such privileges.

As monarchs grew stronger, they resented liberties which served no purpose, as in the case of Wales, but despite efforts by Edward I in particular to subjugate these lordships their privileges remained largely intact until the 16th century.