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be occupied in Batteill yowe ought not to sitt in reste. In the
book of Josue it is shewed that by the devine commanndement
it was ordered, all the sinners of Amichaleth sholde be slaine
and to continnue the fighte so longe till not one were lefte
on live. In St Jerome we reade that God saide, prepare
your sheildes and Sallette, and arme yourselues wth youre
Curatte, mounte vppon your horsses, take your lannces in
hande, and goe againste youre ennemies, assemble in batteill
and cursed be he that spareth the bloode of thennemies to ye
people of Israel. In the booke of Joel is written one othr
godlie precepte sayenge Turne your plowes into swordes
and your rakes into lannces of Iron. And in all the
booke of Machabees, we se that God exorteth, moveth
and pvoketh. Also in all the booke of the Kinges, God
commanndeth to make warres vppon the disobedient peo:
ple. It is therfore apparannt by so manie aucthorities
that warrs and conflicts are proceeded from God, to
punish his disobedient and rebellious people, oppresse
Tirannts, and occasion peace in the worlde. Wherfore
takinge assurannce in thexamples of God, we will
bouldlie discours of privat batteills and combatts wherin
commonlye is showed the devine Iustice, to the proffit of
all nobilitie and valiant gentlemen, that wth sworde
in hande by fighte and combat desire to presrue their
honnor and fame vnspotted, defendinge the trewth and
worldlie glorie against all wicked and infamous personns
that shall seeke to hinder the same, as hereafter, more at
lardge we shall declare. And for the behove of suche
as are vnlerned in the Latine tonnge, we have here tran:
slated, the whole arte of Chivalrye wth aucthoritie
of mperiall Lawes, thexamples of anntient exploits
and constitution in armes obsrued [observed].