Finally! Solved my problem
Well it's Windows XP
Answers to Game Fan's questions:
The best way to rise votes is donating lots of money to the church and/or the poor. But you have to give some 100 thousands.... the other way is to bribe (in the bath) or to give a feast.
My questions:
What is the use of the guilds?
How does the convoi or the war fleet help?
How to get influence fast?
What is the game's goal, becoming Alderman?
I remember I became 1st council once.....
Very important advice by Lecher:
The pirates donate ships (hehehehehe), if you read: "Pirates attack Stettin" (for example) load the autosave and send a heavy armed ship with lots of crew to Stettin. Save and set "active defense", in most cases you will win the battle (otherwise reload) and gain incredible ships (55+ payload, or sloops with 300 men crew and many weapons, should not dismiss the crew or unload the weapons as this is only a bug!)