Nathaniel Fiennes

second son to Will. Fiennes Vicount Say and Sele, of whom I have made mention before, was born at Broughton in Oxfordshire, educated in Grammar learning in Wykeham’s school near Winchester, admitted perpetual Fellow of New Coll. at his first entry therein, because he was a Founders kinsman, an. 1624 aged 16 years; where continuing about 5 years, departed without a degree, and went to the Inns of Court, or to travel, or both. In 1640 he was elected Burgess for Banbury to sit in that Parliament which began at Westm. in Apr. the same year, and again for the same place, to sit in that, that commenc’d the 3 of Nov. following: wherein shewing himself very busie and zealous for the Cause, had a Commission given to him to be Captain of a Troop, and afterwards to be Colonel of a Regiment, of Horse, under Robert Earl of Essex the Capt. Gen. of the Parliament Forces raised to fight against the King. Afterwards shewing himself a zealot for the Covenant, and professing himself in all respects to be a thorough-paced Parliamenteer, was made Governour of the Garrison of Bristow, when first taken in for the use of the Parliament. Where, being no sooner setled, but he used many insolencies and barbarities, too many here to be named: among which was (1) His causing the Kings Proclamation, forbidding all Sea-men and Marriners, and all Officers of his Navy, to take employment under Robert Earl of Warwick, lately made Admiral of the Kings royal Navy by the Parliament, to be burnt in the publick market-place there, 4 March 1642, by the hands of one of the City Sargeants, being then the chief market-day, notwithstanding he connived at the publishing it the day before. (2) In causing to be murdered, under the notion of Plotters against the Parliament, two eminent Citizens of Bristow, Rob. Yeomans and George Bowcher (notwithstanding his Maj. sent letters in their behalf, to have their lives spared) to the extream horror and amazement of all honest men, and the great grief of his Majesty, who could not choose, but look upon it as the most barbarous act which the impudence and cruelty of the said Rebellion had produced against him. (3) In his, and his murtherous, Crews, contempt and profanation of Gods holy Worship and Service, and permitting the rending of Surplices, tearing the book of Common-Prayer, breaking down Organs, exterminating the whole Liturgy out of the Congregations, &c. (4) His discountenancing and driving away the orthothodox Ministers and substituting in their places, the most infamous and notorious Schismaticks that he could pick out of Bristow and other places, as Joh. Tombes of Lemster, (Edm) Cradock, .... Bacon, .... Walter, .... Simonds, and one Mathew Hazard; whom tho I name last, yet deserves to have precedency of all the rest, as being a main Incendiary in the Rebellion, violently egged on by his wife, whose disciple the silly man was. But at length the said City of Bristow being by Col. Fiennes surrendred to Pr. Rupert for the use of his Majesty, 27 July 1643, he was thereupon called into question, and articles were drawn up against him by the restless proceedings of Will. Prynne and Clem. Walker. So that he being tryed for his life for the same, before a Council of War, sitting at S. Alban, in Dec. the same year (notwithstanding he had made a large defence for what he had done in open Parliament on the 5 of Aug. going before) he was sentenced to lose his head for a Coward by the name of Nath. Fiennes alias Fines, alias Fenys, alias Fienes; but by the intercession of his father and others of his relations, he was pardoned, and by the palpable flattery and prevarication of Merc. Britannicus alias March. Nedham, he was justified for what he had done as to that matter: See more in the Works of W. Prynne. Afterwards, tho he the said N. Fiennes was not trusted in any military matter, yet he became an active man in the Parliament, and was made a Commissioner in several matters. But when he saw the Cause of the Presbyterians decline, especially upon the purging of the House of 40 of them (whereof he was one) by Col. Tho. Pride, he struck in with the Independents, took the Engagement, became great with Oliver, a Member of all, or at least of most of the Parliaments held between the dissolution of the Rump Parliament, and the return of his Maj. King Ch. 2, was made one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, after Oliver was installed L. Protector, one of his Privy Council, Lord Privy Seal in June 1655, a Member and Speaker of the other House alias House of Lords; and tho before he had shew’d himself an Antimonarchist, yet then, when he saw what Oliver aimed at, became a lover of Kingship and Monarchy, purposely to gain honor, and riches for the establishing a family which he, and the rest of the godly party aimed at. His Works are these.

Several Speeches in Parliament, as (1) Speech in the House of Commons, in answer to the third Speech of Lord Geo. Digby concerning Bishops and the City of Londons petition, spoken 9 Feb. 1640. Lond. 1641, in 4 sh. in qu. The beginning is, Mr. Speaker, two things have fallen into debate this day, &c. (2) Second Speech in the Com. House of Parl. touching the Subjects liberty against the late Canons and the new oath. Lond. 1641. in tw. sh. and an half in qu. (3) Speech concerning the proffer of the City of Lond. by the Lord Mayor to disburse 6000 l. towards the suppressing of the Rebellion in Ireland. Lond. 1641. qu. (4) Speech containing unparallel’d reasons for the abolishing of Episcopacy, &c. Lond. 1642. qu. In this is contained his Speech against Bishops before mention’d, and shews that Episcopacy is an Enemy to Monarchy. (5) Speech or relation made in the H. of Com. concerning the surrender of the City and Castle of Bristow, 5 Aug. 1643, with the transcripts and extracts of certain letters, wherein his care for the preservation of the City doth appear. Lond. 1643, in 3 sh. and an half in qu. This was answer’d by Clem. Walker.

True and exact relation of both the [••] ttels fought by his Excellency Rob. E. of Essex and his forces against the bloody Cavaliers. The one of the 23 of Oct. last near Keynton below Edghill in Warwicksh. the other at Worcester, by Col. Browne, Capt. Nath. and Joh. Fiennes and Col. Sandys and some others, &c. Lond. Nov. 9. an. 1642. in two sh. in qu.

Letter to the Lord General (Essex) concerning Bristoll. Lond. 1643. in 1 sh. in qu.

Reply to a Pamphlet intit. An answer to Col. Nath. Fiennes’s relation concerning his surrender of the City of Bristol. Lond. 1643. in 2 sh. in qu.

Other Speeches in Parl. as (1) Speech before his Highness (Ol. Protector) and both Houses of Parl. 20 Jan. 1657, being the first day of their sitting. Lond. 1657. in 3 sh. and an half in qu. (2) Speech to both Houses of Parl. 27 Jan. 1658. Lond. 1659. qu. &c.

Monarchy asserted to be the best, most antient, and legal form of Government, in a Conference had at Whitehall with Oliver L. Protector and Committee of Parliament, &c. in Apr. 1657. Lond. 1660. oct. He also had an especial hand in a certain book called by an ((a))((a)) Clem. Walker, in his Hist. of Independency, pr. 1649. sect. 12. p. 32. author a Legend or Romance, intit. Anglia rediviva, being the Hist. of the motions, actions, and successes of the Army, &c under Sir Tho. Fairfax, &c. published by Joshua Sprigge, as I shall elsewhere tell you, but how true that report is I cannot tell. At length our Author Fiennes retiring, after his Majesties return, to Newton Tony near Salisbury in Wilts. where he had an estate that came to him by his second wife, Frances, daughter of Rich. Whitehead of Tuderley in Hampshire, continued there to the time of his death; which hapning on the 16 of Decemb. in sixteen hundred sixty and nine,1669. was buried in the Church there. Soon after was a monument put over his grave to his memory, as also to his two daughters Frances and Elizabeth, who both died in the flower of their age. This Nath. Fiennes had a younger brother called John, who was a Colonel for the Parliament, and afterwards one of Oliver’s Lords, and tho a Sectary, yet he was no great stickler, notwithstanding guided partly by Nathaniel, but more by old subtilty, the Father. Another there was, who was the fourth brother, named Richard, of whom I know no great matter, only that he had a daughter named Mary, who was married to William, the only surviving son of Nath. Fiennes; which Mary dying in child-bed 23 Oct. 1676, was buried in the Church at Broughton near to the grave of her Grandfather William Vic. Say and Sele.