In 1654, Mackworth was one of the four elected Members of Parliament for Shropshire in the First Protectorate Parliament:[REF] a single chamber parliament, established under the Instrument of Government, with a £200 property qualification [REF].
On Monday 5 September, the first day of business, Mackworth was appointed to the important Committee of Privileges, which dealt with the freedoms and obligations of members and was given just three weeks to consider objections to any returns [REF].