Committee of Both Kingdoms

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The Committee of Both Kingdoms was a committee set up during the English Civil War by the Parliamentarian faction, to oversee the conduct of the War. It succeeded the Committee of Safety late in 1643, when an alliance (the Solemn League and Covenant) was concluded with the Scottish Covenanters. The Committee continued to sit until 1648 when the Scots broke the alliance and supported King Charles I during the Second Civil War.

The Committee's membership was drawn from members of both the House of Lords and House of Commons, and also included Scottish representatives and other influential persons. During 1644 and 1645 its members were:

Earl of Northumberland
Earl of Essex
Earl of Warwick
Viscount Saye and Sele
Lord Wharton (Scottish representative)
Lord Maitland (Scottish representative)
Lord Warriston (Scottish representative)
Sir William Waller
Sir Henry Vane, Sr. (MP for Wilton)
Sir Gilbert Gerrard (MP for Middlesex)
Sir Philip Stapleton
Sir Arthur Haselrig (MP)
Sir Henry Vane, Jr. (MP for Hull)
Oliver St. John (Solicitor General, MP for Totnes)
Serjeant John Glynne (Recorder of London, MP for Westminster)
William Pierrepoint (MP for Great Wenlock)
Robert Wallop (MP for Andover)
John Crew (Justice of the Peace, MP for Brackley)
Samuel Browne
Robert Barclay
?? Kennedy

Attendance in 1644 was patchy, since before the enactment of the Self-denying Ordinance, many of the members of the Committee had commands in the field. (Warwick was the Lord High Admiral).

The Committee had to accommodate several factions within its own ranks. It was also subject to the control by Parliament (though the need to pass legislation or resolutions through both Houses meant that the Committee could control matters on a day-to-day basis without much interference).

Its greatest achievement was the establishment of the New Model Army, and the maintenance of this army and other forces in the field until King Charles was defeated in 1646. The Committee provided a continuity of policy and administration which the King could not match.