'Tis a question whether ever there were a Grand Vizier more capable to Govern the Ottoman Empire, then Achmet Pacha. He was very tall, and somewhat full and plump of Body. His Eyes large and wide: His Face well shap'd; his Complexion Fair and Smooth: The Air of his Face Modest, Grave, Affable, and Obliging. He was no Tyrant, mor∣tally hating Oppression, Justice and Equity appear'd in all his Actions, nor did he suffer himself to be sway'd by his own In∣terest. For whether it were that he did not give his Mind to thirst after Riches, or whether it were that his own Estate which was very Great, satisfi'd his desires, he was never known to be Covetous like the rest of the Turks: And this is particularly said of him, very much to his Honor, that of all the Persons, that address'd themselves to him with Presents, to accomplish their Ends, not any obtain'd 'em by that means. His Wit was of a large extent, penetrating and reserv'd: His Me∣mory happy and prompt: His Judgment sound, and always well apply'd: For he still fell directly upon the Point. He spoke little and Modestly, but with that Solidity and Knowledge which it is not easie to describe. The First Years of his Mi∣nistry were very Honourable and Advantageous to the Otto∣man Empire, and his following Atchievements much more.
This Great Personage therefore having observ'd the Happy success of his Father in the Government of Turkey, labour'd to follow his example and tread his Steps as near as he could. He began the War against the Emperor which his Father had projected, and was about to have undertak'n. To which purpose he march'd to Buda, with an Army of Threescore Thousand Men, and besieg'd Neuhausel, which he took in the Year 1663. He rais'd the Siege of Canisia, and carry'd the Fort Serini toward the beginning of the next Year. And de∣signing a farther Progress of the Turkish Armies even to the Walls of Vienna, he caus'd a Bridge to be lay'd over the Ri∣ver Raab: Over which Twelve Thousands Turks had already pass'd; and all the rest of the Army was about to have follow'd, had they not been prevented by the Emperor's Forces, who be∣ing reinforc'd with the Succors of the Allies of the Empire, and particularly the French, cut to pieces the greatest part of the Twelve Thousand Turks, put the rest to flight, and gain'd that Famous Battel, call'd the Battel of St. Godard, from the Name of the Village where it was fought.
The Grand Vizier repair'd the loss of that Battel by a Trea∣ty of Peace as Honourable and as Advantageous as if he had