To ask whether an expedition against the Turks can be defended and commentated by me on biblical grounds even supposing the war is undertaken for prius reasons of rather than for the gain I confess I cannot promise that you will ask but rather the opposit it is foolish to wage war in foreign lands wallin at home we are losing spiritual battles now a Roman Curia is more tyrannical than any Turk There is no hope for successful war or vict'ry as far as I can see God fights against us 1st we must conquer him with tears pure prayers and holy pure face Martin Luther, letter to the Chaplain of an elector of the German states, 1518