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 C. How to Dissemble the Desire of Peace.

PEace and Concord are often boasted of, un∣der Specious, and yet vain and empty pre∣tences; and that for several Reasons.

• (1.) That the Enemy being deceived with the hope of Peace, and the care of providing necessary Provisions of War slighted, may at length be surprized and catch'd unawares.
• (2.) That, when we our selves are unprovided, we may gain time to raise an Army.
• (3.) We pre∣tend to negotiate a Peace with an Enemy, and to have matters of great Concern with him, to the intent we may obtain of our Allies, what we desire through fear, lest we should break off from them.
• (4.) Sometimes we negotiate a Peace with one of our Enemies Allies, not for any hope of succeeding, but only to raise Su∣spition and Animosities among themselves.