Comparative legal cultures is today an important field of research for legal historians worldwide. In this volume, prominent legal scholars from several European countries as well as from the United States and Australia contribute not only with chronological surveys but also with interesting field studies to current discourses about courts in Europe from the early modern period of time.

Kjell Å Modéer is professor emeritus in legal history and Martin Sunnqvist, LL. D., is a district judge (Malmö City Court) and adjunct senior lecturer in legal history and procedural law. They are both active at the Law Faculty, Lund Univer­sity, Sweden.