This was a great blow to his prospects.

His father had not accomplished what he had intended for him, and Francis Bacon was left with only a younger son's "narrow portion." What was worse, he lost one whose credit would have served him in high places.

He entered on life, not as he might have expected, independent and with court favour on his side, but with his very livelihood to gain--a competitor at the bottom of the ladder for patronage and countenance.

This great change in his fortunes told very unfavourably on his happiness, his usefulness, and, it must be added, on his character.

He accepted it, indeed, manfully, and at once threw himself into the study of the law as the profession by which he was to live.