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Why did the New Model Army oppose being disbanded after the first English Civil War?

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Painting of the Battle of Naseby shows cavalry and infantry clashing, with soldiers on horseback leading a charge and fallen fighters on the ground amid the chaos of battle. — English Civil Wars *Battle of Naseby*, by an unknown artist. The victory of the Parliamentarian New Model Army, under Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, over the Royalist army, commanded by Prince Rupert, at the Battle of Naseby (June 14, 1645) marked the decisive turning point in the English Civil War.

After the first English Civil War, the New Model Army resisted Parliament's attempts to disband it primarily due to concerns regarding their material welfare and legal protections. Specifically, the rank and file were deeply worried about significant arrears in their pay, the lack of indemnity for their actions during the war, and potential liability for their service, including forced impressment.1

These initial material grievances quickly evolved into political concerns. The army feared that Parliament, led by Denzil Holles and his Presbyterian faction, intended to disband the forces without first reaching a stable agreement with King Charles I that would secure the soldiers' interests and the religious toleration sought by the Independents.1

As Parliament attempted to force the disbandment scheme—which included plans to send some soldiers to Ireland—the army organized, elected representatives from the rank and file, and eventually intervened in national politics to ensure their demands were met and their sacrifices were not compromised by a premature peace settlement.1