Polenz, John

Polenz, John a Polish prelate of some note, flourished in the first half of the 16th century. He was of noble parentage, and having decided to give himself to the service of the Church. studied theology in the University of Cracow, and in Germany and other Continental high schools. He also visited Rome. After filling various minor ecclesiastical offices, he was made bishop of Saalland, a province at that time paying fealty to Poland, but under the secular rule of prince Albrecht of Brandenburg. In 1522 this prince, who had refused homage to the new king Sigismund, went to Germany, in company with bishop Jacob Dobeneck and bishop Polenz, to secure the independence of Poland and to accept the Protestant doctrines at the Diet of Nuremberg, which they finally did in 1524. Bishop Polenz died shortly after this event. See Krasinlski, Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the

Reformation in Poland, vol. 2; Alzog, Kirchengesch. 2, 327, 328; Theiner, Herzog Albrecht von Preussen, etc. (Augsb. 1846). SEE PRUSSIA. (J.H.W.)