said great men of the seventeenth century.[644] We think otherwise in the nineteenth. It is nevertheless true that the people frequently disappoint the expectation formed of them, and deceive themselves. Every age has presented terrible examples of this. The people allow themselves to be easily influenced, and they rush headlong in the footsteps of those whom they have chosen for guides. This was what took place at Geneva. The syndics inquired of the people whether they wished to make use of unleavened bread at the supper, as was done at Berne, ‘without further dispute.’ The majority was in favor of unleavened bread, although they probably did not very clearly know what it meant. The syndics then informed the general council ‘that Farel, Calvin, and their colleagues had refused to obey the command of the magistrate; and inquired whether they would dismiss them or not.’ The ‘greatest voice,’ that of the majority of the people, in accordance with the resolution of the Little and the Great Councils, determined that they must leave the city within the next three days. ‘Thus was it ordered, the greater number in the council overcoming the better part.’[645] Such a course adopted against the most eminent men at that time in Geneva, the only ones whose names have come down to posterity, and carried out without giving them a hearing, was one of those violent measures to which bad governments sometimes have recourse--a _coup d’état_. [Sidenote: ORDER OF EXPULSION.] Further, this same council deposed the secretary who had read the articles of reformation. This secretary was Claude Rozet, who had received the oath to the confession of faith on the famous day of July 29, 1537. While banishing the three ministers, they wished to inflict a blow on at least one layman, and they made choice of the man who, in his official capacity, had established in Geneva the _articles of reformation_.[646] Orders were given to make known to the reformers without delay the decree of the people, and the head usher was appointed, without further ceremony, to discharge that office. This man, having reached Calvin’s house, told him that he was enjoined by decree of the general council ‘to preach no more in the town, and to take his departure within the next three days.’[647] The reformer calmly made answer, ‘If we had served men, we should certainly be ill repaid; but happily for us we serve a greater master, who pays servants even what he does not owe them.’[648] The usher went next to Farel’s house. His reply to the announcement was, ‘Well and good; it is well, it is from God.’ In these words of the reformers there is a peace, firmness, and grandeur of soul which immediately strike those who read them, which some historians have called heroic,[649] and which no one has a right to call feigned.[650] Meanwhile the council was busied with other matters.