AN answer FROM THE COMMITTEE OF ESTATES, To a Printed Paper directed to the people of Scotland, and signed in name of L. G. cromwell, and his Officers.  34. Jer: 17.18.19.20. &c. 
And I will give the men that have transgressed my Covenant, which have not performed the words of the Covenant, which they had made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed betwixt the parts of the calf, I will even give them unto the hand of their Enemies, &c.  17. Eze: From the 12. v. to the end. 
Seeing he despised the Oath by breaking the covenant( when lo he had given his hand) and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, as I live surely mine Oath that he despised, and my Covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head. Shall he pr●sper? shall he escape that doth such things? or shall he break the Covenant and be delivered? I will spread my Net upon him, and take him in my snare for his trespass that be hath trespassed against me, and all the Trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high three, have exalted the low three, have dried up the green three, and have made the dry three to Flourish, &c.  5. Neh: 12.13. 
Then I called the Priests and took an Oath of them that they should do according to this promise, also I shook my lap and said, so God shake out every man from his house and from his Labour that performeth not the promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied, and all the Congregation said, Amen and praised the Lord, and the People did according to this Promise.  
edinburgh the 22. of July, 1650.   

AN ANSWER From the Committee of estates, to a Printed Paper directed to the People of Scotland, and signed in name of L. G. CROMWEL, and his Officers.  
THe committee of Estates having seen a printed Paper direct to the People of Scotland and signed by Rushworth in name of the General cromwell and his Counsel of Officers, to steal away the hearts of this People from their necessary duties, and that before their Declaration were communicat by them to Us, We have appointed this short answer thereunto to be Printed and to be communicat to the Officers and soldiers of that invading Army. And whereas it sheweth their advancing unto Scotland is upon the grounds, and for the ends expressed in their Declaration 26 June 1650. Although all their pretences for the lawfulness and necessity of this their Invasion be fully and clearly answered in the Declaration of the general Assembly, and of the committee of Estates. Yet because these may not come to all mens hands, Wee desire them to consider this short Answer to their main pretences which are Our accession to the unlawful Engagement 1648 the dissent of Our Commissioners at London against their proceedings, Our refusal of all amicable ways and Treaty with them, Our design and Engagement by Treaty to the King to invade England, and now our closing with, and entertaining of the Kings Majesty who hes given Commissions against them &c. As for the Engagement, the Letter of the House of Commons hath acknowledged it not to be national, and L. general cronwell conductor of this present Army by His own Letters sent from the Borders 1648. to the dissenters then in Arms acknowledges the present Governing party of Scotland free of all accession to it, and not only the world but their own consciences knoweth it by Our doing and suffering so much against the same: So may the Lord judge between them and Us, as that which is said in their Declaration is true or false, that, all of us concurred in the desgne to make a prey to themselves of the english, though some difference fell amongst them who should Save the greatest power of Command. Will they thus requited Our assistance of them 1641. and again 1643. and Our opposition to any parties invasion of them 1648. by their actual invading Us now, and return War for Peace, and evil for good? Will they not consider that by their reacting the sins of our Engagers against Covenant and Treaties, they will move the Lord of Hosts, who is the same in Justice, Power and wisdom in 1650. as in 1648. to react the same Judgements against the unjust Invaders? And for these who are thus necessitat to their own just Defence, as our Innocency in the matter of the Engagement, so Our duty in the dissent of Our Commissioners is evident, and contains nothing but a Testimony of our adherence unto the former Principles wherein both Kingdoms were Engaged to God, and each to other, and an evidence of Our desire to keep ourselves from all accession to any proceedings contrare thereunto, that We might be free of the guilt and miserable consequences thereof. Did not the many oaths and Bonds between the Nations and our former conjunctions with them in Counsels and Forces tie us to such a Testimony for clearing ourselves, and warning of others? Will not many things make a Testimony necessary which will not infer a necessity to make War? is there either Law, Conscience, or Reason, to force by War upon another Nation one acknowledgement of their usurpations or alterations? Or did ever a Nation found a War upon this ground of another Nations testimony against the sinfulness of their course least they should be involved with them therein? And as this Testimony and dissent was not intended, and doth not import any foundation of War or design of our invading of England, so far less can it be a just ground of War upon their part to invade Scotland, and the very pretending of it to be a cause of War, doth engage God to protect Us who intended it merely as our necessary duty in reference to the ends of his Covenant, without claiming any Jurisdiction over the Laws or Government of the kingdom of England, as Our Letter 6 March 1649. fully declares, and if upon the pretence of Our Remonstrances( as usurpations on their legislative power) they will come and attempt by the Sword to dissolve our Judicatories, destroy our Forces, conquesse and subdue the Nation, enforce by War upon us, a breaking with them of our solemn League and Covenant, and to change our Civile and ecclesiastic Government, and establish amongst us a toleration of Errors, and Anarchy under pretence of just freedom and preferring Love and Peace, to Discipline and Government, and so really intend and act indeed all those wrongs in the highest degree wherewithal they charge us as guilty, but in Intentions, and from Inferences of words, and that most unjustly; Will not He that made the Eye see, & requited accordingly? As for our refusal of all amicable ways, the contrary thereof is manifest by our Papers and Declarations, for We were ever content to treat with the lawful Authority of England, that mutual satisfaction and reparation of injuries might be given by either of the Kingdoms to other, yea, We were never unwilling( wrongs being represented condescended upon, and made evident by any of that Nation) to return such Answers as might give all just satisfaction: as doth appear by the answer of the Parliament 26. june 1649. And We have been so far from rejecting all amicable ways as we have proposed them in our Letter the 6 March 16●9. which hath been con●iled, and is not printed with the rest and in our Letter the 22. june 1650. that breaches of Peace, might first bee Remonstrated and Reparation sought and three months warning preceded any Engagement of these kingdoms in War. But in stead of any answer to the first or last, Our public Messengers have been detained contrair to the law of Nations, and an Army is marching unto this Kingdom without any previous warning, Yea, without so much as telling us or the world that they were not satisfied with these letters or with out answer 26 june 1649, the Reply whereunto, of 14 july was never made known to us nor published till now. As for the supposed design and Engagement of this Kingdom by Treaty, with the Kings majesty to invade the Kingdom of England, The Searcher of hearts knows how tender and free the Parliament and Church of Scotland hath been from all such Engagements. Likeas in the Treaty they have declared to the King, that their Resolution to use all lawful means according to their Covenant for his peaceable restitution unto the government of these Kingdoms, did not import their Engagement or obligation to make war in England or Ireland, unless the lawfulness and necessity thereof were first determined by the Parliament of this Kingdom and general Assembly of this Church: in either of which, that question as yet was never stated, and so is very far from being determined. And thus it is evident that this Kingdom is not Engaged therein either by Treaty or Resolution, and by their letters before mentioned( beside the public Acts of the Parliament) hath declared their obligation and Resolution to keep the order of seeking Reparation, using fair means and giving three months warning, and looking for a Iudgement from Heaven upon whatsoever party of either Nation, who without a necessary cause and clear calling and observance of the order aforesaid shall invade the other Nation.  
As for our Closing with, and entertaining the Kings Majesty, who they say hath given Commissions to Rob and Spoil, &c. can the Kingdom of Scotland their closing with, and entertaining of their King, according to their allegiance and Covenant, upon his giving them full satisfaction in all their desires from Church and State, be justly esteemed a certain foundation of our second unjust and unrighteous invasion of England, as is said in the papers especially considering our letters and answers before mentioned; or can it be esteemed in any Law or Reason, an necessary ground for their entering with an ●●my into this Kingdom, whilst we aclowledge both Nations to stand obliedg●● not to invade others without a necessary cause, clear calling, and observance of the aforesaid order of the Treaty? Or can the Kings giving any Commissions against them before his agreement with this Kingdom and without any knowledge, consent, and approbation of theirs, be a just ground of war against this Nation, who had no hand in such Commissions? And as he hath already recalled all Commissions granted to any in prejudice of any persons, who in any of his Kingdoms adhered to the solemn League and Covenant, and to monarchical Government. So farther we are confident that since the Kings coming to Scotland, he hath given Commission to none. And we believe that he will be ready to clear and declare that he intends not by his former giving of Commissions, the Pyraticall way of robbing and spoiling of Innocent merchands using their lawful trade, which is so unjustly done by the English ships unto these of the like kind in the Nation, whose cries will go loud to Heaven. Likeas the Kings dealing with any other Princes or using means with any other Nations, for recovery of his rights in England, cannot be so much as a pretence, and far less a just ground of the English invading this Nation; unless he had prevailed with us to Engage and declare our resolutions to concur in that war and invade England, for the Kings Majesties giving satisfaction to the Kingdom of Scotland, and the Kingdom of Scotland doing all duty to their King in Scotland, cannot be a shadow either of justice or necessity of a quarrel or War from any other Nation against us, while we do them no wrong, and aclowledge ourselves bound to give previous warning.  
We do therefore desire the Officers and Souldiers of the Army under Lievetennant general cronwell, to lay to heart the great guiltiness and misery that follows upon an unjust Invasive War, especially, of Gods Covenanted people, and most of all for their adherence to His Cause and Covenant, and that without any previous warning, and with a rejection of offers agreeable to Treaties and law of Nations, sometimes pressed be themselves, and that for prevention of mutual invasion blood and mischief, they would consider that the foresaid pretences are either false in fact or unjust causes of War, that it is provocation enough in them against God for to break and bury His Covenant amongst themselves, but far more to enforce the breach of it upon another Nation, who hath done them no wrong, that Gods raising them up as a scourge against the Malignant party and giving to them as instruments of His Iustice, great successses to destroy His old enemies, will not import His owning their persons or cause against us; no more then the success of Senacherib against several Nations, and of Amaziah against Edom did prove it when they fought with judah and Israel. Especially when they change the state of the question and the party, and thinks to do with jerusalem as with Samaria, and turns their power to the destruction of these ends, means, and instruments, for whose defence it was put in their hands as is unjustly said by them in their declaration against the well-affected of this Kingdom, that their tolerated errors and their oppression of the servants and people of God in England and Ireland, cries loud enough to Heaven against them, albeit they add not thereto the cry of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, the Virgin forced in the fields crying against the ravisher, is loud and shrill in the ears of God, and will not their forcing the bride and Spouse of Iesus Christ, even in His sight, cry loud for a day of Revenges and recompenses upon these who will not only break Covenant and allow others to break it; but will also force others to break it. We were glad to red their attesting Heaven and Earth as witnesses, and there appeal unto the living God, to whom also as to the Righteous judge of the World we commend our persons and cause, that His judgement may light upon these who are the Designers Authors and Actors of this Invasion; who keeps not to the Principles, Ends, and Duties of the Covenant, and not upon these who desires and endeavours by His Grace to keep themselves free from these Courses. And we are confident He will find the means and the way of clear decision who are His people, whom He will own, and who are His enemies, whom He will judge, and who are they whose offering He will accept, and what is the cause which He will carry through. And so wee leave them and us at His Footstooll; that the Hand of the Lord may be known towards His servants, and indignation towards His enemies, and that He may be magnified from the border of Israel.  
And 〈…〉 consider that the end and strain of the whole Paper is but to 〈…〉 smooth words of Iacobs voice, which by dear experience hereafter they will find to be joined with Esau, rough hands, and that by this matchivilian craft they labour to divide them from their King, from the Nobility, from the ministry, from these of the gentry and Burrows who were entrusted by them, and had a hand in the Parliament or Committees either for agreeing with the King, or for sending that Answer of 26 june 1649, to the speaker of the House of Commons, whereas in both these there was an unanimous consent and concurrence of the Judicatories of Church and State, with the hearty applause of all the kingdom, whereas they say they were in 1648. invited, and then did no injury nor wrong to any: The full answer to their Declaration cleareth that there was no invitation, and doth not deny but their carriage then was civile and fair, but they came in then as Friends, pursuing these who had unjustly invaded them, but now they come in as Enemies, invading these who never did them wrong, and shall the People believe the attestations made to them be these who hes so often broken Covenants, aleadgeances, and treaties, and who hes declared that all their Declarations are arbitrary, ambulatory, and alterable at pleasure. Is it to be expected that these who does national wrongs with so high a hand will make conscience of redressing personal injuries and losses. It is strange to hear that they should say they fear our destroying not only the godly and well affencted, but also the power of godliness and holiness in both Nations, which they indeed do their utmost to destroy by their godless toleration of Errors, heresy, and schism, and by their cruel oppression of the godly Ministers and People in their consciences. They profess they would make a difference betwixt the Innocent and the guilty, but when they with the Sword in their hands are the Judges of this innocency and guiltiness, and declares in this Paper they count all guilty who concurs in the entertaining of the King, or in not acknowledging the commonwealth of England( in both which all Scotland lies unanimously concurred, and to which they will according to their Covenant and trust by the assistance of God adhere constantly to their lives end) Wee see not but from such Judges, & such premises, there followeth a clear demonstration of their design and conclusion of seizing upon the Persons, Goods; and estates of all the Subjects of this Kingdom as they have already done in taking the Ships & goods of innocent & trading Merchands, which may be sufficient warning unto all, the more actively speedily to do duty & concur with the Army of this Kingdom, for defence of their Religion, King and country according to their Covenant; and no ways to comply with the Sectarian Army invading this kingdom, which the committee of Estates doth discharge in the same terms, and under the same penalty under which before they discharged all joining to and complying with the Malignants in arms invading ▪ this kingdom. It is no small Encouragement unto their duties, that the Lord in his Providence hath so ordered their declaring the Causes of the lawfulness, and Necessity of the War to be such for which we trust the Lord in His mercy and goodness will not quarrel with us, and in which not one of the godly of the land known to us hath any scruple, but sees clearly that we were either innocent of, or dutiful in the point of fact laid to our charge, and so wherein God is Engaged to be for us and to 〈…〉 we rejoice that nothing wherein God hath a just quarrel against us, is mentioned in the Causes of their quarrel set down in that Declaration 26 june 1650, which had been terrible to us, but now we do most hearty bless His Name, that He hes keeped them Separat and Contradistinct, & gives us a door of Hope & ground of Confidence, that howsoever the Lord be pleased to do with us for our provocations against him; He will let us fall in His own Hand, and reckon with us at another time, in another way, but that He would not deliver up unto the hand of His & our Enemies His Turtle Dove, & Covenant and People, who hath not wronged them nor sinned with them, but are pursued by them because we will not break with them the Covenant which they solemnly did swear with us, And therefore we desire that the Covenanted God of the land, who keeps Covenant and mercy to His people, and sets His Face against these that sets their face against Him, may in this our just defence protect and own us: against the unjust Invaders.  
And in this the case of the Ammoni●s against Iepthah, of jeroboam against Ab●jah, of Amaziah against jehoash. of Senacherib against Hezekiah, and of Moab, Ammon and mount Seir against jehosaphat with the 34 of jeremiah, and 17. of Ezekiel, verified not only of old upon others, but lately upon our Engagers and Malignants abroad and at home, speaketh terror to our Enemies, and encouragement to Gods People.  
FINIS.