Politikos megas the grand politician, or, The secret art of state-policy discovered in evident demonstrations of unparalleled prudence, and confirmed with wonderful and successful adventures, stratagems and exploits of wisdom and subtility, both in peace and war, by the most remarkable witts of former ages : being a treatise both useful and necessary for all nobles, states-men, judges, lawyers, justices of peace, officers of wars, and all such as now are, or may happen to stand at the helm of publick affairs, whether in kingdom or commonwealth / written originally in Latin by Conradus Reinking, Chancellour ot His Electoral Highness the Duke of Brandenburg, and now done into English by a careful hand.

INTRIGUE LXXXVI. How to delay an Inevitable War.

IF a Prince meet with such intollerable pro∣vocations, that he must of necessity under∣go the hazard of a dangerous War, and would delay it, till affairs be put in a Posture; it is necessary that he seem condescending to all the Articles and Overtures which his Enemy pro∣poseth; rather than to undergo the danger of

to send counterfeit Plenipotentiary Ministers of State, who on the first Address may seem ve∣ry complying, but referring some unexpected proposals of great weight to his Masters Deter∣mination. Likewise, if by his advice, and at his earnest request, there be sent an Ambas∣sador to his Master, it will be Policy to en∣tangle him in such a Labyrinth of Affairs, out of which he cannot extricat himself, without the help and advice of both Princes.