Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 02.djvu/335

Backwell seal in 1677 to each of the goldsmiths who had lent money to the exchequer, 'of a yearly rent for ever upon the revenue of the excise, equal in value to the interest of their debts after the rate of 6 per cent, per annum,' must have removed the money embarrassments of Backwell, and, as the whole debt was discharged in the reign of William IV, his heirs ultimately suffered no pecuniary loss by the transaction. The statement of Mr. Hilton Price that Backwell removed to Holland in 1676 and died there in 1679, is contradicted, not merely by the pedigree printed in Libscomb's 'History of Buckinghamshire,' which gives the year of his death as 1683, but also by the fact that he was a member for Wendover in the parliament of 1679, and in the Oxford parliament of 1680. Backwell was chosen an alderman for Bishopsgate ward in 1657, and from a list given in Northbrook's 'History of London' it appears that a new alderman was chosen for that ward in 1681; but possibly the change may have been connected with the disputes between Charles and the city. The tradition that Backwell took refuge from his creditors in Holland and died there seems to have had its origin in a statement of Cole (MSS. xxxviii. 389) that he heard the two maiden daughters of Tyringham, grandson of Edward Backwell, say in their father's lifetime at Tyringham, that 'Alderman Backwell, on some failure of the government security, was forced to retire to Holland, where he died, and being embalmed was brought over to England and buried at Tyringham.' As Tyringham Backwell died in 1754, or only seventy years after the death of his grandfather, the main substance of his daughters' statement is doubtless correct: but as there is no record of a failure of government security after 1677, he had no reason for remaining after this in retirement in Holland, and possibly at the time of his death was there merely on business. John Backwell, eldest son of Alderman Backwell by his first wife, succeeded to the property of Tyringham through marriage with Elizabeth, only daughter of Sir William Tyringham. John Backwell's son Tyringham married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Francis Child, banker, by whom he had two sons, Barnaby and William, both of whom became partners of Child. The latter son in 1756 began a bank of his own in Pall Mall.

 BACON, ANN (1528–1610), mother of Francis Bacon, was the second daughter of  [q. v.]. Her mother was Ann, daughter of John Cawnton, of London, esquire. Her eldest sister was Mildred, second wife of William Cecil, Lord Burghley; of three younger sisters, Katharine became the Avife of Sir Henry Killegrew; Elizabeth, the wife of (1) Sir Thomas Hoby, (2) Lord Russell, son of Francis, earl of Bedford: and Margaret married Sir Ralph Rowlett 27 June 1558.

Ann was born in 1528, and had the same liberal education as her elder sister Mildred, and indeed all the remarkable household, under the vigilant eyes of a father 'eminent in the whole circle of arts and learning.' When her father was appointed tutor to young Edward VI, Ballard and subsequent authorities allege that his daughter Ann was associated with him as governess. She very early won repute for learning, being reported to read Latin, Greek, Italian, and French 'as her native tongue.' It was probably in 1556-7 that she married Sir Nicholas Bacon. Anthony, the first child of this marriage, was born in 1558; the younger son, Francis, was born on 22 Jan. 1560-1.

Lady Bacon's religious faith grew with her years, and all her extant letters testify to her puritan fervour. Before her marriage, she is believed to have translated into English some sermons of Bernardine Oçhine; and the little volume entitled 'Foureteene Sermons of Barnardine Ochyne. . . translated ... in to oure natyue tounge by A. C.' (1550?), and dedicated to the translator's mother, has been attributed to Ann Cooke. The fourteen sermons were reprinted in the collection of Ochine's sermons issued by John Day, the printer. In 1564 Lady Bacon was occupied with a translation from the Latin of Bishop Jewel's 'Apologie of the Church of England.' She received permission from the author to publish the work (1564), and benefited by the assistance of her husband's friend, Archbishop Parker. The 'Apologie' was reprinted in 1600. Theodore Beza, who learned of her piety and ability from her son Anthony, dedicated to her his 'Meditations.'

It is as a letter-writer that Lady Bacon appears in her most attractive light. Most of her extant letters are addressed to her sons Anthony and Francis, and have been printed in Spedding's 'Life of Bacon.' Of her solicitude for the spiritual welfare of her