The Seventeenth Century- Gustavas, Cromwell, Turenne Summary and Analysis

The author brings the reader immediately into awareness that, by his estimation, nothing about the entire thirty years of war led to decisive results. Indecisive results are indicated in the preceding chapter when one finds a French Constable picking away at the English occupation. Had the English conquered that region of France, or had they just occupied it? The brief nature of the "conquered condition" suggests an overall indecisive nature to the conditions, although at some point the area remained a decisive French condition.

By now the reader has learned to "expect the unexpected", since the indirect approach and using the lines of least resistance and least expectation are well known principles of strategy. Luring opponents into positions where the opponent is strong has become a common method. Avoiding bloodshed and...