In the early modern period Dutch citizens could choose from a variety of judicial and infrajudicial forums to settle their disputes. In Leiden these institutions consisted of neighbourhoods, guilds, textile associations, civic militia, church councils, notaries, subordinate courts (a court established for settling matters about easement and other forms of urban servitude, and the so-called peacemaker court or vredemakers), and the official court or vierschaar. These forums dealt with tens of thousands of cases. In order to study the ways in which Leiden citizens used these institutions to put conflicts to an end, computer databases were made. These files were linked and analysed. The book shows that going to court was frequently used as an additional instrument of everyday social control. Many lawsuits were launched in the hope of accelerating the settlement of disputes, preferably without having to fight them through to the end. Generally, plaintiffs were focussed on restoring peace and social balance, rather than furthering their dispute. Most parties needed to live together amicably thereafter. They depended on each other as neighbours or colleagues. Instituting and concluding proceedings could put these relationships at risk. Besides, submitting a case to court was expensive and took a lot of time. All this gave people bargaining counter in settlement negotiations.