FIENNES, NATHANIEL (c. 1608-1669), English poli tician, second son of William, first Viscount Saye and Sele, was educated at Winchester and at New College, Oxford, where as founder's kin he was admitted a perpetual fellow in 1624. After some time spent on the continent, where he came into touch with Calvinist leaders he returned to Scotland in 1639, and established communications with the Covenanters and the Opposition in England, and as member for Banbury in both the Short and Long Parliaments he took a leading part in the attacks upon the Church of England. He was one of the commissioners appointed to attend the king to Scotland in Aug. 1641; and was nominated one of the committee of safety in July 5642. In the Civil War he commanded a troop of horse in Essex's army, was present at the relief of Coventry in August, at Worcester and at Edgehill. In Feb. Fiennes was sent down to Bristol, arrested Colonel Essex the governor, executed the two leaders of a plot to deliver up the city, and received a commission himself as governor on May r, 1643. On the arrival of Prince Rupert (July 22) Fiennes capitu lated. He was tried at St. Albans by the council of war in December, was pronounced guilty of having surrendered the place improperly, and sentenced to death. He was, however, pardoned, and subsequently exonerated. He held various appointments under the Commonwealth. He took no part in the Restoration, and died at Newton Tony in Wiltshire on Dec. 16, r669. Fiennes married (r), Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Eliot, by whom he had one son, afterwards 3rd Viscount Saye and Sele; and (2), Frances, daughter of Richard Whitehead of Tuderley, Hants, by whom he had three daughters. Fiennes was the author of a large number of pamphlets, some of which have been reprinted in the series of Thomason and Somers tracts.