The great transformation was being effected in the whole country. The lords of Berne, understanding, doubtless, that their hands were not the right ones for the task, had wisely intrusted to Farel the care of providing for the spiritual wants of the people. Unfortunately it was not a very easy matter. ‘He looked round on all sides for faithful ministers, but could hardly find any.’ The nomination of Caroli by the Bernese magistrates had annoyed him. He was afraid that men who preached in its purity the cross of Christ would not be accepted. ‘They do not care much for those who preach Jesus Christ purely, and they praise to the skies braggarts and hypocrites.’ However, he was not disheartened. ‘Write,’ said he to his friend Fabri, ‘beseech, come to our aid; send us competent men.’ One circumstance, unhappy in itself, facilitated Farel’s work. Persecution was driving many evangelical Christians out of France; and these men, full of love for the faith which they had confessed in their native land, rejoiced in the opportunity of preaching it in the beautiful valley of the Leman. Farel, who was at that time the real bishop of these churches, was indefatigable in his inquiries. As soon as he had found any pious ministers, he recommended them to the lords of Berne, and the bailiffs settled them in the various parishes. But as there were not ministers enough for all, the same pastor had frequently to preach in three different churches. A few priests were called to the ministry, who did not seem to be mere deserters, with Christ on the lips only. These were, in addition to those already mentioned, Tissot, Gredat, Goudot, Meige, Malingre de la Molière, Motin, and Jacques d’Yverdon. Some others also took charge of souls. Dubois was sent to Payerne, Du Rivier to Moudon, Le Coq to Morges, J. Vallier to Aubonne, Melchior d’Yvonant to Rolle, Morand to Nyon, Furet to Coppet, Colomb to Concise, Masuyer to Cossonay, Epilon to Yvonant, and Eustache André (also named Fortunat), to Cully.[428] For the most part they were foreigners. Some of them had attended the disputation, and had been gained over by the Christian eloquence of Farel, Viret, and Calvin. But whether they came from the battle of Lausanne or from the ruder battles of France, they all desired to publish the good news of the Gospel; and some of them were inflamed with a zeal so ardent that ‘that one passion swallowed up all others.’ They were well aware that they would have to face a keen opposition; but ‘they were going willingly to offer their heads, to receive all the obloquy which evil-minded men cast on God.’ The following is the formula, somewhat free in character, which the lords of Berne usually employed in their letters to these evangelists:--‘Have ordered that thou, forthwith on receiving these presents, go to our bailiff of ----, who will present thee to our subjects of ----, and then thou wilt exercise the office of minister of the Gospel, according to