 The libertines ' downfall began with the February 1555 elections . By then , many of the French refugees had been granted citizenship and with their support , Calvin 's partisans elected the majority of the <unk> and the councillors . On 16 May the libertines took to the streets in a drunken protest and attempted to burn down a house that was supposedly full of Frenchmen . The syndic Henri <unk> tried to intervene , carrying with him the baton of office that symbolised his power . Perrin seized the baton and waved it over the crowd , which gave the appearance that he was taking power and initiating a coup d 'état . The insurrection was soon over when another syndic appeared and ordered Perrin to go with him to the town hall . Perrin and other leaders were forced to flee the city . With the approval of Calvin , the other plotters who remained in the city were found and executed . The opposition to Calvin 's church polity came to an end . 
