William Fiennes was born
in 1582. A close friend of George Villiers,
Duke of Buckingham, he was granted the tile, Viscount Say and Sele.
A Puritan,
Fiennes played a leading role in resisting Charles
I and his attempts
to raise new taxes in 1624. Over the next few years Fiennes was active
in attempted to develop colonies in America.
On the outbreak of the
Civil War Fiennes supported the Parliamentary
army. His son, Nathaniel
Fiennes, fought
against the royalist forces but was disgraced in 1643 when he surrendered
Bristol to Prince
Rupert.
Fiennes sat in the Westminster
Assembly which decided on the future of the Church. He also formulated
the peace terms offered to Charles
I in
1647. He retired from public life after the execution of the king.
Fiennes returned to power
on the Restoration when he was made
Lord Privy Seal. William Fiennes, Viscount Say and Sele, died in 1662.
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