CHARA 
ccount of the Reign and Character 
of Maximilian II. Emperor .of 
Germany ; from Wraxall’s History 
of France, 
F Europe has ever seen the throne 
occupied by a sage and a phi- 
sopher, it was in the person of 
aximilian II. In benevolence 
id humanity his contemporaries 
mpared him with Titus; and in 
e simplicity of his manners, re- 
unciation of pleasure, and severe 
ischarge of every moral obliga- 
on, we are reminded of. Marcus 
atoninus. Formed for peace, he 
luable possession to all his sub- 
cts; and to allay, by his interpo- 
tion, or authority, the animosities 
Yroduced by difference of religious 
ief. Suspected of leaning to- 
ards the new opinions, he yet 
eadily ‘maintained, in his heredi- 
ry dominions, and in the empire, 
e purity of the Catholic faith ; 
r ever permitted the Protestants 
break down the barriers opposed 
their farther progress, by his pre- 
ecessors. THis mild and beneficent 
mper, illuminated by reflection, 
duced him to regard all violence, 
matters of conscience, as equally 
njust and impolitic. He stands, 
this particular, strikingly opposed 
his cousin, Philip If. king of 
pai; whose bigotry and intole- 
¥Yol, XXXVIT. 
deavoured to dispense that in- 
ira 
CT E RS. 
rance produced the revolt of the 
Netherlands, and pursued heresy, 
throughout Europe, with fire and 
sword. To render Maximilian one ~ 
of the most illustrious, as he indis- 
putably was one of the most amiable 
princes, whom Providence has rais~ 
ed up for the felicity of mankind, a 
more martial and enterprising dis- 
position was alone wanting. His 
exposed situation on the Hungarian 
frontiers, and the perpetual inroads 
of the Turkish sultans, during the, 
sixteenth century, demanded a so- 
vereign possessed of military talents, 
and personal activity in war, The 
operation of this defect, in his cha- 
racter, was, however, confined to 
Hungary ; while his virtues dispens- 
ed happiness and tranquillity over 
all the other people, subjected to his 
government. He was beloved by 
the Austrians, idolized by the Bo- 
hemians, and regarded, throughout 
Germany, by the : Catholics and Pro- 
testants, as the common parent and. 
protector of his subjects, of every 
denomination. 
The restless ambition and pre- 
tences of John Sigismund, prince 
of Transylvama, who had broken 
the truce, and invaded Upper Hun- 
gary, necessitated the emperor, at an 
early period of his reign, to con- 
voke a diet, and to demand supplies - 
of men and money. They were 
granted with an alacrity and cele- 
*Ad rity 
