The Duke of Burgundy returned into his own country, mightily puffed up by the acquisition of this duchy. He took great pleasure in concerning himself with the affairs of the empire; for the emperor was a mean-spirited prince, and to avoid the expense of war, would tamely suffer anything. Besides, of himself, without the concurrence of the princes of the empire, he could do but little. For this reason the duke prolonged his truce with the king[396], though some of the king’s courtiers were utterly against it, alleging the danger of the duke’s growing too powerful: and what they urged was not altogether unreasonable; but they wanted experience and foresight, and therefore did not understand the matter. Others[397] (of greater judgment and knowledge, in respect that they had been in those countries) advised by all means that the cessation of arms might be prolonged, and the duke permitted to tire and exhaust himself against the Germans (whose grandeur and strength, when united, are almost inconceivable); for he was of such an ambitious temper, that the taking of one town, or the accomplishing of one design, did but excite and hurry him on to attempt another; so that one war drawing a second upon him (contrary to the king’s humour), his restless desires were not to be satisfied with any single success. Wherefore they advised the king, as the best and easiest way to revenge himself upon him, rather to give him some little assistance, than the least suspicion of breaking the truce; for the greatness and puissance of the princes of Germany would quickly confound and exhaust him, and (the emperor himself not being a warlike prince) they would certainly unite and oppose him; and so it happened in the conclusion.