His mistake in law, if it was a mistake, was shared by some of the first lawyers and first councillors in England.

There was a battle before him, but not a hopeless one.

"_Modicae fidei, quare dubitasti_" he writes about this time to an anxious friend.
But in truth the thickening storm had been gathering over his head alone.

It was against him that the whole attack was directed; as soon as it took a different shape, the complaints against the other referees, such as the Chief-Justice, who was now Lord Treasurer, though some attempt was made to press them, were quietly dropped.

What was the secret history of these weeks we do not know.