at offence in a man whom Buckingham had always
disliked; and it is impossible to doubt that what followed was the
consequence of his displeasure.

"In drawing up a new charter for the city of London," writes Mr.
Gardiner, "Yelverton inserted clauses for which he was unable to
produce a warrant. The worst that could be said was that he had,
through inadvertence, misunderstood the verbal directions of the
King. Although no imputation of corruption was brought against
him, yet he was suspended from his office, and prosecuted in the
Star Chamber. He was then sentenced to dismissal from his post, to
a fine of L4000, and to imprisonment during the Royal pleasure."

In the management of this business Bacon had the chief part. Yelverton,
on his suspension, at once submitted. The obnoxious clauses are not said
to have been of serious importance, but they were new clauses which the
King had not sanctioned, and it would be a bad precedent to pass over
such unauthorised additions even by an Attorney-General. "I mistook many
things," said Yelverton afterwards, in words which come back into our
minds at a later period, "I was improvident in some things, and too
credulous in all things." It might have seemed that dismissal, if not a
severe reprimand, was punishment enough. But the submission was not
enough, in Bacon's opinion, "for the King's honour." He dwelt on the
greatness of the offence, and the necessity of making a severe example.
According to his advice, Yelverton was prosecuted in the Star Chamber.
It was not merely a mistake of judgment. "Herein," said Bacon, "I note
the wisdom of the law of England, which termeth the highest contempt and
excesses of authority _Misprisions_; which (if you take the sound and
derivation of the word) is but _mistaken_; but if you take the use and
acception of the word, it is high and heinous contempt and usurpation of
authority; whereof the reason I take to be and the name excellently
imposed, for that main mistaking, it is ever joined with contempt; for
he that reveres will not easily mistake; but he that slights, and thinks
more of the greatness of his place than of the duty of his place, will
soon commit misprisions." The day would come when this doctrine would be
pressed with ruinous effect against Bacon himself. But now he expounded
with admirable clearness the wrongness of carelessness about warrants
and of taking things for granted. He acquitted hi