battle W/O war

It sure would be nice to defeat a transgressing army W/O going to war. When you attack an army on your own lands it should just be considered a minor border dispute. But there are funny things you can do with this at times nothing like 4 town watches pinning down a stack of 20 units.

I remembered Spain had me pinned in Numantia and the only way out was to go through Osca. Well as soon as I take a stroll they attack me.

Another thing how do you declare war is there a way or is the A.I the only 1 allowed to do this. Sometimes it takes 2 or more turns to reach a city and since walking on neutral territory is bad mojo I try to attack a ship or blockade a port so that I am not transgressing and if those are'n avalable I hire a mercanary unit at the end of movement and have them make hostile action.