Courts of Record existed in some towns such as Shrewsbury during the Middle Ages, but many more came into existence under the Tudors, when charters of incorporation were granted to towns including Stratford, Banbury and Evesham. These borough courts were often preferred to the manorial courts for small debt claims connected with commercial transactions, or for damages, in view of the fact that manorial courts could not issue warrants to bring defendants to court. In addition, the borough courts furnished a quicker, more convenient and less expensive method of proceeding than the manorial courts. Moreover, inflation had reduced the value of the fortyshilling limit which normally applied to manorial courts.2 Finally, Stratford’s manorial Court Leet convened only twice a year, in contrast to the Court of Record’s fortnightly meetings.