ROPITAL, MICHEL DE L', was b. at Aigueperse, in Auvergne, in 1505, studied law at Toulouse, and first made himself known as an advocate in the parliament of Paris, and after discharging various public functions became chancellor in 1560, during the minority of Francis II. France at this time was torn by contending factions. The Guises, in particular, were powerful, ambitious, and intensely Catholic; and when one of the family, the cardinal de Lorraine, wished to establish the inquisition in the country, Hopital boldly and firmly opposed him, and may be said to have saved France from that detestable institution. He summoned the states-general, which had not met for 80 years, and, being supported by the mass of moderate Catholics, be forced the Guises to yield. His speech at the opening of the assembly was worthy of his wise and magnanimous spirit: "Let us do away," said he, "with those diabolical words of Lutherans, Huguenots, and papists—names of party and sedition; do not let us change the fair appellation of Christians." Ile induced the assembly to pass an ordinance
abolishing arbitrary taxes, regulating the feudal authority of the nobles, and correcting the abuses of the judicial system. In the following year he secured various benefits for the persecuted Huguenots; but politico-religious passions were too fierce and vindic tive in France in those days to be satisfied with anything hut Wood; and in spite of the most, strenuous efforts which Hopital could make, the nation was plunged in the horrors of civil war, ending rather in the success of the Guises, the political vltramoutaues of their clay. The old patriot, who loved France too well to be either Huguenot. or ultra montane, went into retirement, where he heard the news of the massacre of St. Bar tholomew, a crime against both the unity of France and the rights of conscioice, which broke his heart. He died Mar. 15, 1573.