ZELL, tsel, MATTHAEUS and KATHARINA: German Reformer and first Evangelical preacher at Strasburg, and his wife. Matthaus was born at Kaisersberg (98 m. s.w. of Stuttgart) Sept. 21, 1477; d. at Strasburg Jan. 9, 1548. He studied at Mainz, Erfurt, and Freiburg (M.A., 1505; Th.B., 1509), and in 1511 began to lecture at Freiburg, where he became rector in 1517. In 1518 he was called as minister to the cathedral at Strasburg. In 1521 he embraced the principles of the Reformation and began to preach in an Evangelical spirit. Against the attacks of priests and monks people and magistracy protected him, while to the bishop's written attacks he replied in Christlichen Verantwortung (1523)-the first historical work dealing with the Reformation in Alsace. In Strasburg the Reformation went forward, priests married, and Zell himself took a wife in that year. When a few months later the bishop banned married priests, Zell answered in his Appellatio saeerdotum maritorum (1524). He was disinclined to theological dialectic and dogmatic formulation, was not in the strict sense a scholar nor was he a politician, and severe discipline did not accord with his ideas. Through this he was enabled to avoid the strifes into which many of the Reformers fell. His plan of life and his Christianity were simple, he was a friend of and beloved by the

people, dealing kindly even with the Anabaptists. His interests covered more than his own city, and his judgments were always in the interests of peace. He was especially interested in Christian education, and issued various writings in dialogue form, collected in Frag and Antwort (1536).

His wife, Katharina, outlived him, and was known as the benefactress of the poor, especially of these who were fugitives for the sake of their religion. Indeed, the pastor's house became in miniature what Strasburg was in a larger sense, the refuge of the persecuted. Katherine's activity was not, however, confined to deeds of charity; she had ability both in discourse and with her pen. She was well read in theology. In the early years of her married life (1524) she wrote a reply to the bishop in defense of her husband, and the same year wrote a consolatory tract to the Evangelical women of Kenzingen. In 1534 she issued with a preface an extract from the hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren, and had this published in parts so that it might be within reach of the very poor. She also issued an explanation of two psalms and of the Lord's Prayer. She carried on a versatile correspondence with such Reformers as Bla,urer, Fagius, Butzer, Pellican, and even with Luther. Her charitable labors she continued till her death in 1562.

(Johannes Ficker.)

Bibliography: There are biographies by: M. Adam, Vitce Germanorum theologorum, pp. 189-192, Heidelberg, 1820; F. Unselt, Strasburg, 1854; E. and E. Haag, La France protestante, ix. 555-558, Paris, 1859; E. Lehr, Paris, 1861; I. Walther, Strasburg, 1864; A. Erichson, Strasburg. 1878; and in ADB, xlv. 17-18. Consult further, besides works on the Reformation: A. Jung, Beiträge zu der Geschichte der Reformation, ii. 28 sqq., 169 sqq., 174 sqq., Strasburg, 1830;, T. W. Rohrieh, Geschichte der Reformation im Elsasa, Strasburg, 1830-32; idem, Mitlheilungen aus der Geschichte der evangelischen Kirche des Elsasaea, iii. 84-154, ib. 1855; J. W. Baum, Capido and Butzer, pp. 196 sqq., Elberfeld, 1860; A. Ernst and J. Adam, Satecketische Geschichte des Elaasses bia zur Revolution, pp. 72-9a, Strasburg, 1897.