Note 38 — Chapter II · THE JEWISH COLONIES IN POLAND AND LITHUANIA

[Lithuania was administered by starostas as Poland was by voyevodas (see p. 46, n. 1). The starostas—literally "elders"—were originally nobles holding an estate of the crown, which was given to them by the king for special services rendered to him. In the course of time they became, both in Lithuania and in Poland proper, governors of whole regions, taking over many of the functions of the voyevodas. The relationship between the two officers underwent many changes. On the effect of this change upon the jurisdiction of the Jews compare Bloch, Die General-Privilegien der polnischen Judenschaft, p. 35.]