Viscount Saye & Sele and Lord Brooke (for whom “Old Saybrook” is named)

1. Viscount Saye & Sele and Lord Brooke(for whom “Old Saybrook” is named) The town of Old Saybrook takes its name from Connecticut’s original colonial land grant which, in turn, was named for two of its fifteen aristocratic founders -- Viscount Saye and Lord Brooke. William Fiennes, the First Viscount Saye and Sele (1582–1662) was born at his family’s Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire. He helped colonize Providence Island (later called Providence Plantations and now the state of Rhode Island) as well as the colony of Connecticut -- its first name having been “Saybrook,” after Viscount Saye and another of the aristocratic founders, Robert, Lord Brooke. Viscount Saye was thoroughly aristocratic, and his plan for governing the America colonies called for establishing a hereditary aristocracy. Nonetheless, he was also a Puritan and frequently opposed the policies of King Charles I. For often outwitting royal advisers with fine points of the law, Saye came to be known as “Old Subtlety.“ He stood with Cromwell’s Army against Parliament, but during the English Civil War always held out hope that the King would concede to the popular demands. When Charles was beheaded, the Viscount went into a quiet retirement. Robert Greville, the Second Baron Brooke (1608–1643) was a “Round-head” General in the English Civil War and a co-founder of Connecticut. He was involved in the foundation of Saybrooke, which takes its second syllable from his name. In the civil war Lord Brooke commanded Parliamentary forces in Warwickshire and Staffordshire and was considered the rightful successor to the Earl of Essex before he was killed in battle in 1643. Poet John Milton eulogized Brooke as a friend of toleration. (Slideshow begins automatically after a few moments. Or use Arrow keys manually.)

4. Viscount Saye & Sele and Lord Brooke(where “Saybrook” comes from) The town of Old Saybrook takes its name from Connecticut’s original colonial land grant which, in turn, was named for two of its fifteen aristocratic founders -- Viscount Saye and Lord Brooke. William Fiennes, the First Viscount Saye and Sele (1582–1662) was born at his family’s Broughton Castle in Oxfordshire. He helped colonize Providence Island (later called Providence Plantations and now the state of Rhode Island) as well as the colony of Connecticut -- its first name having been “Saybrook,” after Viscount Saye and another of the aristocratic founders, Robert, Lord Brooke. Viscount Saye was thoroughly aristocratic, and his plan for governing the America colonies called for establishing a hereditary aristocracy. Nonetheless, he was also a Puritan and frequently opposed the policies of King Charles I. For often outwitting royal advisers with fine points of the law, Saye came to be known as “Old Subtlety.“ He stood with Cromwell’s Army against Parliament, but during the English Civil War always held out hope that the King would concede to the popular demands. When Charles was beheaded, the Viscount went into a quiet retirement. Robert Greville, the Second Baron Brooke (1608–1643) was a “Round-head” General in the English Civil War and a co-founder of Connecticut. He was involved in the foundation of Saybrooke, which takes its second syllable from his name. In the civil war Lord Brooke commanded Parliamentary forces in Warwickshire and Staffordshire and was considered the rightful successor to the Earl of Essex before he was killed in battle in 1643. Poet John Milton eulogized Brooke as a friend of toleration. (To Stop Slideshow, press ESC. Close Tab or Window, or click BackArrow to return to Louise’s Gallery.)