Symphorianus Pollio

Pollio, Symphorianus, originally called Altbiesser or Althiesser, was a native of Strassburg, and was for some time in clerical work at Kosheim, near Strassburg. In 1507 we find him as one of the priests attached to St. Stephen's church at Strassburg. He was thereafter at St. Martin's in Strassburg, and being very popular as a preacher was appointed, in 1522, by the Chapter as interim preacher at the Cathedral. The Chapter hoped he would counteract the influence of Matthias Zell, but as he preached quite as evangelically as Zell, he was soon sent back to St. Martin's. When, in 1524, he married his housekeeper, the Chapter tried to deprive him of his living, but by the help of the burgesses he continued in St. Martin's till the church had to be taken down in 1529. Thereafter he officiated as pastor of the church "Zu den guten Leuten," outside the city walls, and was still there at the Visitation of 1533. The date of his death is unknown (G. H. A. Kittelmeyer's Die evangelischen Kirchenliederdichter des Elsasses, Jena, 1855, p. 17 ; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie xxvi. 395, &c). In the early Strassburg hymn-books there are paraphrases of the Lord's Prayer and of the Magnificat by Pollio. The latter is:—

Mein Seel erhebt den Herren mein. The Magnificat. In Ordenung und ynhalt Teütscjier Mess un Vesper, Strassburg, 1524, and thence in Wackernagel, iii., p. 509, in 4 st. of 10 1. The translations are: (1) "My soul doth magnyfie the Lorde," by Bisop Coverdale, 1539 (Remains, 1846, p. 565). (2) "My saule dois magnifie the Lord." In the Gude and Godlie Ballates, ed. 1568, f. 73 (ed. 1868, p. 125). [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)