Panslavism and Germanism. By Count Valerian Kransinski [pp. 486-508]

The Slavonic Nations,
Stanislaus Hosius (or Hosen) was born at Cracow in 1504,
and as his name indicates was of German descent. After receiving as complete an education as his own country could furnish, he repaired to the University of Padua, and from thence
to Bologna. On his return to Poland he entered the Church,
and through the favour of the Queen to whose patronage he had
been recommended, he rapidly rose to the highest dignities in
his native land and in the Roman Church. He was made Cardinal by Pius IV. in 1561, and appointed President of the Council of Trent, in which office his conduct was such as to give the
Pope entire satisfaction. He spent his last years at Rome,
where he died in 1579. Bayle, in his elaborate eulogy of HIosius, pronounces him to be the greatest man that Poland had
ever produced; this is doubtless an exaggerated estimate of the
man, yet all authorities concur in the admission that his talents
were of the highest order, that his piety was sincere, and that
he was adorned with many noble virtues. No Roman prelate of
his times resisted the progress of the Reformation with more
zeal than Hosius, and his activity and ability Were equal to his
zeal. Like Napoleon he dictated to several amanuenses at
the same time; during his meals he often transacted important
business, answered letters which came to him from all quarters,
or listened to the reading of some new work.: With the political and religious history of Europe he was thoroughly acquainted, and kept himself well informed about the doings of each of
the leading Reformers of his day, with a view to counteract his
efforts. In order to oppose the progress of reform, he continually addressed the king, the higher nobility, and the clergy,
and was incessantly active at diets, synods, chapters, and provincial assemblies. Yet amid these manifold public labours he
found time to compose works, which have earned for him the
reputation of being one of the greatest writers of his Church,
and which have been translated into the principal languages of
Europe. He wrote with equal facility in Latin, Polish, and
German, with wonderful versatility adapting his style to the
character and taste of his readers. Thus his Latin works show
the erudite and subtle theologian, while in his German he successfully imitates the sturdiness of Luther's style, condescending
to his broad humour, and coarse but striking expressions, and in
[JULY
506