Frontinus, The strategemes, sleyghtes, and policies of warre, 1539, later diced calf

FRONTINUS, SEXTUS JULIUS

The strategemes, sleyghtes, and policies of warre, gathered togyther, by S. Julius Frontinus, and translated into Englyshe, by Rycharde Morysine. (London: Thomas Berthelet), 1539

8vo (154 x 100mm.), black letter, title within woodcut border (McKerrow & Ferguson 16), some woodcut initials, later diced calf, some spotting and damp-staining, occasional worming, rebacked preserving original spine

Sir Richard Morison's translation of a work by Frontinus, one of the early Roman governors of Britain (74-78 AD). Morison had spent most of the 1530s in Italy, writing reports for Thomas Cromwell, whose service he entered on his return to England in 1536; Morison became known as a propagandist for Henry VIII and Cromwell. His writing "reveals the application of humanist learning to the advocacy of a highly authoritarian model of kingship, and it shows the government harnessing the printing press to further its policies on an altogether new level; all of his propaganda writings were published by the royal printer Thomas Berthelet" (ODNB).

Morison was pro-Machiavelli; the preface to this translation (addressed to Henry VIII) declares that there is a different morality applicable in times of war as opposed to times of peace. It formed part of the government's preparations for war against a possible invasion from Catholic Europe.

ESTC records only four copies in the UK and three copies in the US.

LITERATURE:

Cockle 3; ESTC S102662; STC 11402

PROVENANCE:

Edmund Scarnynge, of Nether Whitacre, Warwickshire, early signature on title-page; General A. Ross, bookplate