As for the members of the councils, they let things take their course. If they did issue any proclamation for the purpose of repressing these disorders, little attention was paid to it. Besides, they did not insist on its being obeyed. They attempted, however, to establish a Church of some kind. The minister, Henri de la Mare, had not dared, in spite of the order which he had received, to preach and administer the supper on Easter Day, for fear of offending Farel and Calvin. But, like the former superior of the Franciscans Jacques Bernard, he had abstained from joining in their protest. These two men were intrusted by the council with the functions of the three banished ministers. At the same time the lords of Berne were requested to send the ministers Marcourt and Morand, who did not come till afterwards. The magistrates also ordered the restoration of the baptismal fonts which had been taken down, and which were thenceforth to be used at the baptism of children. Then they had proclamation made, with sound of trumpet, that everyone would have to conform to what had been decreed touching the supper, baptism, festivals, etc. But De la Mare and Bernard were not men powerful enough to fill the place of Farel and Calvin. They were far from enjoying high consideration, and were frequently exposed to the criticism and even to the rebukes of their hearers. Porral especially made loud complaint of their preaching. The council took their part; and one Groli having accused Bernard of not preaching according to the Word of God, the critic was condemned ‘to beg for mercy at the hands of God and of the law, _with both knees on the ground_.’ Had this happened in the time of Calvin, it would have been a very godsend for those who delight in slandering that great man; but the punishment was inflicted by his adversaries on one of his partisans. The question, however, remains ever the same; and this act of compulsion in the sphere of religious opinion was even more censurable because it was the act of the very men who had driven away the reformers for having attempted to infringe on their liberty. There were, however, some cases more quietly settled. An influential citizen, the former syndic Porral, having also criticised the preachers, the council did nothing more than threaten him with its _indignation_; he had not _to go down on his knees and beg for mercy_. [Sidenote: THE REFORMERS AT BERNE.]