 Calvin encountered bitter opposition to his work in Geneva . Around 1546 , the uncoordinated forces coalesced into an identifiable group whom he referred to as the libertines , but who preferred to be called either <unk> or Patriots . According to Calvin , these were people who felt that after being liberated through grace , they were exempted from both ecclesiastical and civil law . The group consisted of wealthy , politically powerful , and interrelated families of Geneva . At the end of January 1546 , Pierre <unk> , a maker of playing cards who had already been in conflict with the Consistory , attacked Calvin by calling him a " Picard " , an epithet denoting anti @-@ French sentiment , and accused him of false doctrine . <unk> was punished by the council and forced to make expiation by parading through the city and begging God for forgiveness . A few months later Ami Perrin , the man who had brought Calvin to Geneva , moved into open opposition . Perrin had married Françoise Favre , daughter of François Favre , a well @-@ established Genevan merchant . Both Perrin 's wife and father @-@ in @-@ law had previous conflicts with the Consistory . The court noted that many of Geneva 's notables , including Perrin , had breached a law against dancing . Initially , Perrin ignored the court when he was summoned , but after receiving a letter from Calvin , he appeared before the Consistory . 
