[Sidenote: OPPONENTS OF COMPULSION.] The citizens thus lightly banished from their native land by the council could hardly believe their own ears. What! they had delivered Geneva, ‘and will Geneva drive them away?’ Is it resolved that they must forsake their homes, their families, their friends, to go and eat the bread of the stranger? They murmured aloud and stoutly stood out against this strange edict, confident in their strength and their number. ‘There was no obedience at all;’ no one thought of packing up. ‘The hostile band was of such a character that the lords dared not execute their own decree.’ Complaints and threats grew louder from day to day. The most influential men exclaimed--‘The present syndics were elected by means of underhand dealings and intrigues. They have violated our franchises and made an attack on our liberties. There are three or four among them who do just as they will with the ordinary council, and even with the great council. We must take the government of the republic out of the hands of these two councils, and henceforth everything must be managed by a general council. These gentlemen want to reign over us as princes; but it is the people, it is we ourselves, who are princes.’ These powerful malcontents, among whom De Chapeaurouge distinguished himself, sought even to gain over those of their friends who had already taken the oath, and addressed to them the most vehement reproaches. Many of the latter were shaken, and sought to excuse themselves. They laid the blame on the secretary of the town. They reprimanded him (_l’impropéraient_) and blamed him for getting them to swear without knowing what they were doing. Some even of those who had sworn ‘adhered to the rebels.’ All these malcontents excited one another more and more, and they thought of nothing but of securing for themselves at the next election the place of the syndics. The authoritative act of the council was to bring about the revolution.