THE COMPANY AND THE COUNCIL OF STATE 275 tration, and meanwhile, in 1655, lodged the money with trustees. Cromwell hastened a decision by borrowing £50,000 of the compensation fund for the State. If such a confusion of claims existed within the Company itself, the conflict on the wider issue as to the future management of the India trade may be imag- ined. During two years the Council of State laboured for a settlement in vain. The governing body of the Company lost hope, and its Court of Committees re- solved in 1656 to sell its " privileges and houses in India ... to some Englishmen," at a valuation of £14,000, retaining, however, a share with the purchas- ers in the future trade. But the General Court over- ruled this decision, and on October 20, 1656, sent up one more petition to Cromwell. On the very same day the Protector, under his own hand, referred the petition to the Council of State, and took care that that body now appointed a committee which should carry his own vigorous resolve into its task. While great names and high office gave weight to its deliberations, the actual work was entrusted to a man in whom he placed complete confidence. Colonel Philip Jones, after suffering much and fighting hard on behalf of the Parliament, became a leading member of the Council of State and filled important offices under the Commonwealth. In the previous year, 1655, Oliver had selected him as sole arbiter in a delicate question between England and Portugal; in 1657 he was one of the committee appointed to offer to Cromwell the crown: and as controller of the household he super-
