The Peace With Austria Renewed — New Articles Added
The peace with Austria having been renewed this year, twelve new articles were added. The commissioners on both sides met at Vienna. The Ottoman commissioners were Ahmed Aghá, of the horse-guards, the deputy of Alí Páshá, the governor of Buda, and Gashir Ghurajeiyan. Those of the emperor Mathias were his first and second ministers, the treasurer or chancellor of the kingdom of Hungary, besides some other persons of note. The treaty of peace between Austria and Turkey was entered into, as will be remembered, at Sidova, with Murád Páshá, and was to be maintained for the space of twenty years. The revised or renewed treaty was dated, according to the Christian era, in the year 1615; but according to the Moslem era, the 1st of Jemadi II. 1024.
The First of the twelve new articles annexed to the treaty of Sidova, bound both parties to maintain the peace for the period stipulated upon in that treaty. Second. The various articles mentioned in the treaty of Sidova were to remain in full force. Third. The frontier lines, as well as the grounds of complaint between the villages situate on these frontiers, were to be examined and settled. Further: The discontent manifested by one hundred and fifty villages attached to Osterghún were also, according to this article, to be examined. It was agreed to by both sides, that sixty villages in the district of Osterghún should be subjected to the Ottoman government, and four months were allowed for the settling of this point. Fourth. The prisoners taken by either party during the negotiations which were carried on at Sidova were to be set at liberty. A list of all the fortresses which Ahmed Ketkhodá had erected since the commencement of the peace was ordered to be given in; and all the palankas erected by both parties, contrary to the articles of the peace, were to be examined within the first four months, and erased. Sixth. Neither of the contracting parties was to harbour or encourage false or hypocritical persons, but to inform against them. Seventh. The churches belonging to the Christians within the Turkish dominions were to be repaired; and the gospels were to be read according to custom. Eighth. The uninhabited portions of land on the frontiers were declared to be free for the use of the peasantry of the province to which such portions belonged, and by this article they were allowed to settle on them without hindrance. Ninth. Traders belonging to either country were to be allowed to pass and repass from the one to the other, provided such traders were furnished with proper passports from their respective authorities. Into whatever district or province they should enter or pass through, they were, by this article, obliged to show their passes; and the commander of that place or district, and the head of the excise, were either to affix their seals to them, or endorse them, but without any fee or reward. It was further provided by this article, that if the roads by which such traders travelled were unsafe, they were to be furnished with a proper escort; but they were to pay all dues and imposts punctually. Tenth. Merchant-vessels coming to Turkey from any of the dominions of the Roman emperor (i. e. the emperor of Austria) or from Austria with merchandize, were not to be allowed to do so unless they came under the imperial flag, and were furnished with sufficient documents besides. If, in opposition to the spirit of this article, any should venture to do so, the agents and consuls of its respective governments were to be authorized to seize him. Traders coming in ships to Turkey from any of the above-mentioned dominions, or from Spain, or from any other nation carrying the imperial flag, were in like manner to be allowed to do so on paying the Ottoman government three per cent., and two per cent. to their respective consuls, on all such wares and merchandize as they might buy or sell. The consuls or agents were not only to settle all matters for such traders, but were also to be at full liberty to arrest any one of them who might have neglected paying into the government treasury his lawful dues. If any dispute should happen to arise between merchants about money, it was provided by this article, that the cazí of the place or city where such dispute had taken place should have power to decide the question; but with this proviso, that the sum about which the dispute arose was not more than four thousand pieces of money: if above this sum, the litigants were to be obliged to refer the matter in dispute to the military judge of Constantinople. Eleventh. After this treaty was again settled and signed, all letters, messengers, or other persons coming or going from or to either country belonging to the contracting powers, were to be respected by the authorities on the frontiers; and if the roads were unsafe or dangerous, a sufficient escort was to be provided. Twelfth. It was decreed by this article, that from this time no voivodas or servants of governors were to enter any of the frontier villages; but the inhabitants themselves were, nevertheless, to pay or deliver, according to law, whatever amount of dues they might owe.