Committee of Both Kingdoms

Its influence long reduced by the growth of the army's, it was dissolved by Parliament on 7 February 1649 (soon after the execution of Charles I on 30 January) and replaced by the Council of State.

[3] The seven members appointed from among the House of Lords were:[3] The fourteen members appointed from the House of Commons were:[3] David Masson states that the Earl of Essex, the Lord General, was opposed to the formation of the committee as it was constituted because "there can be no doubt that the object was that the management of the war should be less in Essex's hands than it had been".

Once Charles rejected the terms, it left the Covenanters in a difficult position; keeping him was too dangerous since many Scots, regardless of political affiliation, wanted him restored to the throne.

By March 1647, the New Model was owed more than £3 million in unpaid wages; led by Holles, Parliament ordered it to Ireland, stating only those who agreed to go would be paid.

[12] In response, Holles and his allies formed a new Committee of Safety and attempted to raise a new army commanded by Edward Massie.

On 21 July, eight peers and fifty-seven Independent MPs left London and took refuge with the New Model; on 6 August, the army occupied the city, dissolved the committee and issued a list of Eleven Members who they wanted removed from Parliament.