nicholas rolin was the chief minister of duke philip of burgundy for nearly 40 years. he became one of the most powerful men in europe. at the height of his career, he made a spectacular donation to charity. [bell ringing] the hotel-dieu or god's hostel, a hospital for the poor was founded by chancellor rolin in beaune, close to the duke's capital at dijon. the initials of nicholas rolin and his wife guigone de salins and their coats of arms appear in the stained glass and the floor tiles of the buildings making it clear that the hospital was a gigantic memorial to the donors. "on this sunday, august 4, 1443 "neglecting all human cares "and in the interest of my salvation, "in recognition of the goodness of our savior, "i found and donate irrevocably in the town of beaune a hospital for the poor and the sick." such acts of piety were often performed by the rich for the good of their souls but seldom on this massive scale. contemporaries viewed rolin's wealth with hatred and his professions of charity and spirituality with cynicism. it's one of the mysteries of the time