232 MIASTO
of Poland, Sc then the acts are translated into Latin Sc sent to his Matie. But if the mat-
ter in Contraversie does not exceed f. 1000 or 75 lib. sterling, then they will not admit an
appeale....
The Salaries allowed them out the Cities Chamber are as follows: to each burgermeis-
ter yearely 2000 dollers, to each Rahtsherr 1000 gilders Sc to each schoppenherr 400
gilders. They are in all 4 burgermasters, 19 Rahtsherrn, 24 Schoppenherrn, 1 syndicus, 1
sub-syndicus, 6 secretaries wth severall Clerkes and instigators, wch alsoe receive their
salaries out of the Cities Chamber.
The Revenues of the Cities consist in the Lands Sc houses belonging to it, the accize of
Beere, the Costomes upon goods imported Sc exported, Sc the Profit of their Great Mill.
The first of these is knowne onely to the senate, wch they keepe very Private, nor will
they let the Common-councell knowe what it is though often with much earnestness
desired.
The accize of Beere, wch is 3 gilders 16 grosz or 5s 3d sterl. per barrell comes to about
50,000 dollers yearely.
The customes are two fold. The first called pfahlgeld, the origin of which was for mon-
nies to buy Piles or long Posts of wood wch are ramd into the river to preserve the Haven
from being choaked up with sand or mudd Sc this comes to about 21 / 2 p Cent whereof one
halfe belongs to the King of Poland, the other halfe to this Citie. The other is called zulag,
wch is an imposition upon all goods Sc now by this senate made arbetrarie, yet its com-
monly one halfe more than the pfahlgeld Sc the King hat no part thereof... What these
Customes may come to yearely I cannot learne, but I guess them to bee about 70 thou-
sand dollers. Their great Mill wch is within the towne hath 18 wheeles Sc serves the
whole Citie both for brewing Sc Bakeing. It brings inn yearely about 40 thousand dollers
wch comes alsoe into the publicque treasurie. And yet, notwithstanding those large rev-
enues, they are much in Debt, wch they contracted in the last warr with Sweeden, Sc
ended An^0 1660. I am assured from a very good hand they pay now yearely above 15
thousand pounds sterling for monnies they have at, & yet they allow but 41 / 2 to 5 p Cent
for it.
The Common councell or hundred men have noe iurisdiction, but without them noe
law can be made, or nullefied, nor any taxes imposed upon the Burghers.
The Burghers are generally but of indifferent Estates, they living heigh and Splendid.
The greatest part of their wealth is in their houses Sc Granaries for Corne. I do much
question if wee can finds 60 burghers in the whole Citie that are worth one with an other
tenn thousand pounds sterling.
The ships now belonging to Dantzig are not above 9 or 10 merchant men, Sc one is a
manner built wch will be better than any of the other being above 200 lasts burthen and
is to carrie 20 Gunns.^8In many Polish cities, the main institutions of municipal self-government
were closely reflected in those of the Jewish kahal (commune), which usually
functioned alongside them. Like their Gentile counterparts on the City Council,
the Jewish Elders operated a closed electoral system which was carefully
designed to perpetuate the power of its authors. A complicated system of elec-
toral colleges ensured that the rosbion (Elders), tuvim (Meliores or Betters), and
kahal (Governors) of the new commune would always be chosen from the circle
of the old one. In the Jewish case, the proportion of enfranchised tax-payers and