Crossword-Solution: STAROSTS 8 letters, 1 clue 🏆 scrabble score: 8

The Starosts inflicted punishment with arbitrary power; they beat and threw into horrible jails, not only the peasant, but even the citizens of the country towns who rented their houses or fell into their hands.

Close to it is the only hill for several miles around, and on the top of this little hill are the ruins of a castle where the lords of Barnow, or Barecki Starosts, used to live.

But as the royal authority became of less and less account--still existent, more because it refused to die than because any remnant of power remained to it--the Waywodes, and in the flat land the Starosts, snatched at the chance of taking the Jews under their protection; they were one and all so filled to overflowing with the milk of human kindness.

Two Starosts--those of Tulste and of Old Barnow--drew up in battle array, one at each side of the town, and each sent a message to the following effect to the Jewish community: "If you do not choose me as your protector, I shall at once put you and your possessions to fire and sword." The unfortunate Jews had not much time granted them in which to deliberate; they quickly gathered together all the ready money that they could, and bought the protection of both.

Every village has its mayor, called _golova_, and its _starosts_, whose number depends on that of the population, there being usually one for every ten families.