Born into a Polish magnate family in 1499, Jan Łaski, Latin name Johannes à Lasco, anglicised form John à Lasco, was predestined for a distinguished political and theological career. His uncle was the Grand Chancellor of Poland and Archbishop of Gniezon, Primate of the Polish church. Later a Dean and Royal Secretary himself, à Lasco was in close contact with the most prominent humanists of his time and occupied himself with the writings of the Reformers. His family’s political problems but also his interest in the Reformation saw him travelling to Wittenberg, and then to Leuven, where he joined the Reformist theologians. Following a marriage that constituted a transgression of the celibacy of the Catholic church, he had to flee Leuven and went to Emden in East Frisia, where, as Superintendent, he laid the foundations for the structures of the Reformed Church that still apply today.