As a rule, no eminent general who has had much experience wishes to go into a new war inconsiderately and for the mere love of war.

The impatience is often on the part of the non-combatants.

Henry was no exception to the rule.

He felt that the complications then existing, the religious, political, and dynastic elements arrayed against each other, were almost certain to be brought to a crisis and explosion by the incident of the duchies.

He felt that the impending struggle was probably to be a desperate and a general one, but there was no inconsistency in hoping that the show of a vigorous and menacing attitude might suspend, defer, or entirely dissipate the impending storm.
The appearance of vacillation on his part from day to day was hardly deserving of the grave censure which it received, and was certainly in the interests of humanity.
His conferences with Sully were almost daily and marked by intense anxiety.