nly
for poetical eloquence, but also for the pulpit, are not uncommon
among them. Gornicki, ob. after 1591, Czarnkowski, Odachowski, and
others, but especially the first named, were considered as the most
distinguished orators of the age. The eloquence of the pulpit was
exhibited in its highest eminence by Peter Skarga, court preacher of
Sigismund III, whom his cotemporaries used to call the Polish
Chrysostom; and by the learned Jesuit Wuiek, who also translated the
Bible into Polish.[32] The sermons and orations of both of them,
besides numerous other theological productions, were published at the
time. Other theological writers of some distinction were, among the
Catholics, Stanislaus Karnkowski, archbishop of Gnesen, Bierkowski,
who was Skarga's successor, Bialobrzeski, Kuczborski, the Jesuit
Rosciszewski, and others; among the Protestants, Seklucyan, the
translator of the Polish Bible for Protestants;[33] Koszutski of
Zarnowec, Radomski, Gilowski, and Budny, one of the leaders of the
Unitarians, who also translated the Bible into Polish from the
original languages.[34] We must remark, that the Polish theological
literature of this period evinced much less of a polemical spirit than
might have been expected, in an age when that of the neighbouring
countries, Bohemia and Germany, abounded in controversial books and
pamphlets, replete with unchristian bitterness and doctrinal rigidity.
For productions of this character we have to look in Poland to the
following period. The wise moderation of the two Sigismunds, and of
Stephen Bathory, seems to have had a prodigious influence on the minds
of the nation, to pacify them and keep them within appropriate limits.

History, especially national history, was justly considered as one of
the subjects most worthy of human attention. History is the great
school, in which nations appear as the pupils, experience as the
teacher; and the fate of mankind depends on a wise application of the
great moral lessons which they daily receive. Most of the Polish
historians of this ago preferred however the Latin language; but their
productions are too intimately connected with Poland to be separated
from its literature, and may, therefore, be named here. The Polish
chronicle written by Matthew of Miechow, body physician to Sigismund
I, and published in 1521, was the first historical work printed in
Poland. Martin Kromer, bishop of Ermeland or Warmia, called the Livy
of Poland, Wapowski, Guagn