At the first meeting of the Council after the Dissolution of Parliament (Tuesday, Jan.

23, 1654-5) there were present, I find, His Highness himself, and thirteen out of the eighteen Councillors, viz.: Lord President Lawrence, the Earl of Mulgrave, Viscount Lisle, Lambert, Desborough, Fiennes, Montague, Sydenham, Strickland, Sir Charles Wolseley, Skippon, Jones, and Rous; and it was then "ordered by his Highness and the Council that Friday next be set apart for their seeking of God, and that Mr.Lockyer, Mr.Caryl, Mr.Denn, and Mr.Sterry, be desired then to give their assistance." In entering on the new period of their Government, the Protector and the Council thought a day of special prayer very fitting.[1] [Footnote 1 Council Order Book of date .-- Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, having shown Anti-Oliverian tendencies in the late Parliament, did not reappear in the Council after the Dissolution, and had virtually ceased to be a member.

Colonel Mackworth had died Dec.
26, 1654.

The three other members not present at the meeting of Jan.

23, 1664-5 were Fleetwood, Sir Gilbert Pickering, and Richard Mayor.