A06920:78
The new policy of warThe new pollecye of warre
The new policy of war wherein is declared not only how [the]most cruel tyrant the great Turk may be over come, but also all other enemies of the Christen public weal, lately devised by Theodore Basil.The new pollecye of warre wherin is declared not only how [ye]mooste cruell tyraunt the great Turke may be ouer come, but also all other enemies of the Christen publique weale, lately deuised by Theodore Basille.
London: printed for John̄ Gough, 1542London: printed for Iohn̄ Gough, 1542
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Joshua had a manifest promise made to him of God, that he should subdue the canaanites, & enjoy their l•nde peaceably, & that therefore he needed not to fear for to fight against them,1 yet notwithstanding lost he at one time the field, & his men were slain & put to flight for the sin of one man, which contrary to the commandment of God had taken of the excommunicate things. For ⟨image 49⟩the offence of him alone could not y• children of Israel stand before their enemies, for as much as God was not with them.2 If the sin of one man deserved so great vengeance that for his offence only many were slain & put to flight, what shall we than say unto that army, which is replete with all kind of sin, as whoredom, fornication, adultery, theft, tyranny, shedding of innocent blood, swearing, gluttony, dronckenshyp. &c. How is it possible for them to prosper? How can God be among them to fight for them & to give them the victory?3 If we will subdue our enemies, we must seek all means possible to have God on our side. We may not only provide, that we score of the rust of our harness that it be clean, but that we also put out of our breasts the rusty & filthy since, that have cankered our souls ⟨image 49⟩so long, & so become pure and clean. For what is the cause that our battles do but little prosper many times, but only that we be sinful, & God is angry with us? Could that Nerolyke tyrant the great Turk have subdued so much of Christendom,4 if we had lived according to our profession? Na verily, our since have gotten him so many victories. Our wickedness hath made us captive & thrall to his tyranny. Let us look what sin reigneth among us, & let us utterly wipe y• out, so shall we prosper against the violence of our enemies.