“ In 1624, owing probably to his temporary friendship with the duke of Buckingham, he was advanced to the rank of a viscount, but notwithstanding this he remained during the early parliaments of Charles I. champion of the popular cause, and was in Clarendon’s words “the oracle of those who were called Puritans in the worst sense, and steered all their counsels and designs.” Afterwards his energies found a new outlet in helping to colonize Providence Island, and in interesting himself in other and similar enterprises in America. ”

“ He was a thorough aristocrat, and his ideas for the government of colonies in America included the establishment of an hereditary aristocracy. His eldest son James (c. 1603–1674) succeeded him as 2nd Viscount; other sons were the parliamentarians Nathaniel Fiennes (q.v.) and John Fiennes. The viscount of Saye and Sele became extinct in 1781, and the barony is now held by the descendants of John Twisleton (d. 1682) and his wife Elizabeth (d. 1674) , a daughter of the 2nd viscount. Saybrook (q.v.) in Connecticut is named after Viscount Saye and Lord Brooke. ”