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.
[6] 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.
[8] 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).
[10] 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.