Henry Scobell (baptised 1610; died 1660)[1] was an English Parliamentary official, and editor of official publications. He was clerk to the Long Parliament, and wrote on parliamentary procedure and precedents.
Initially under-clerk of the parliaments, Scobell became Clerk of the House of Commons from 5 January 1649, his predecessor Henry Elsynge having resigned. Scobell also held a position as censor of publications, and then was Clerk of the Parliaments for life with effect from 14 May 1649.[2] 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.[3]
In the Rump Parliament, Scobell found himself in the middle of the clashes leading to its dissolution in 1653.[4] He remained Clerk to Barebone's Parliament.[5]
From 1655 Scobell became Clerk to the Council of State, a large jump in status, in succession to John Thurloe and sharing the position with William Jessop.[6] Up to then he had been for a period an assistant secretary to the council.[7]
In 1658, as a preliminary to the Savoy Assembly, Scobell called together elders of Independent churches from the London area, in the house of George Griffith (bishop).[8] He himself was an elder of the Congregational church of John Rowe, meeting in Westminster Abbey.[9]
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.[10]