Henry Scobell
Encyclopedia
Henry Scobell was an English Parliamentary official, and editor of official publications. He was clerk to the Long Parliament
, and wrote on parliamentary procedure and precedents.
from January 5, 1649, his predecessor Henry Elsyng having resigned, and also held a position as censor of publications, and then was Clerk of the Parliament for life, on May 14, 1649. He was the first editor, from 9 October 1649, of Severall Proceedings in Parliament, an early official newspaper, and the second of Parliament's publications.
In the Rump Parliament
, Scobell found himself in the middle of the clashes leading to its dissolution in 1653. He remained Clerk to Barebone's Parliament.
From 1655 he became Clerk to the Council of State, a large jump in status, in succession to John Thurloe
and sharing the position with William Jessop. Up to then he had been for a period an assistant secretary to the Council.
In 1658, as a preliminary to the Savoy Assembly, he called together elders of Independent churches from the London area, in the house of George Griffith
. He himself was an elder of the Congregational church of John Rowe
, meeting in Westminster Abbey
.
In October 1659 he was one of those calling on George Monck to intervene, in the vacuum of power after the death of Oliver Cromwell
.
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
, and wrote on parliamentary procedure and precedents.
Life
He was initially under-clerk of the parliaments. He became Clerk of the House of CommonsClerk of the House of Commons
The Clerk of the House of Commons is the chief executive of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and before 1707 of the House of Commons of England...
from January 5, 1649, his predecessor Henry Elsyng having resigned, and also held a position as censor of publications, and then was Clerk of the Parliament for life, on May 14, 1649. He was the first editor, from 9 October 1649, of Severall Proceedings in Parliament, an early official newspaper, and the second of Parliament's publications.
In the Rump Parliament
Rump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
, Scobell found himself in the middle of the clashes leading to its dissolution in 1653. He remained Clerk to Barebone's Parliament.
From 1655 he became Clerk to the Council of State, a large jump in status, in succession to John Thurloe
John Thurloe
John Thurloe was a secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell.-Life:...
and sharing the position with William Jessop. Up to then he had been for a period an assistant secretary to the Council.
In 1658, as a preliminary to the Savoy Assembly, he called together elders of Independent churches from the London area, in the house of George Griffith
George Griffith
George Griffith , full name George Chetwyn Griffith-Jones, was a prolific British science fiction writer and noted explorer who wrote during the late Victorian and Edwardian age. Many of his visionary tales appeared in magazines such as Pearson's Magazine and Pearson's Weekly before being published...
. He himself was an elder of the Congregational church of John Rowe
John Rowe (minister)
John Rowe was an English clergyman, minister to an important Congregationalist church in London.-Life:He was born in Crediton, Devon. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Oxford, where he attended New Inn Hall....
, meeting in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
In October 1659 he was one of those calling on George Monck to intervene, in the vacuum of power after the death of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
.
Works
- A Collection of Acts and Ordinances of General Use, Made in Parliament (1656)
- Memorials of the Method and Manner of Proceedings in Parliament in Passing Bills, (1670)
- Power of the Lords and Commons in Parliament (1680)