《明史·列传·卷八十四》
世宗大为恼火地说 ：夏言本是一个卑微的小官，因为孚敬倡议郊礼一事得到提升，竟敢怠慢无礼，上机密奏章不使用我赐给他的银章，现在命令他归还前前后后我发给他的亲笔敕令。 
帝大怒曰： 言自卑官，因孚敬议郊礼进，乃怠慢不恭，进密疏不用赐章，其悉还累所降手敕。 
Emperor Shizong was very angry and said: "Xia Yan was originally a small official. Because Fu Jing initiated the suburban ritual, you were promoted. How dare you neglect your duties and disrespect the emperor? You did not use the silver seal I gave you to submit confidential reports. I order you to return all the handwritten orders I have issued to you."