In early spring the chiefs of Canada met at Montreal to settle a plan of defence.  What at first they most dreaded was an advance of the enemy by way of Lake Champlain.  Bourlamaque, with three battalions, was ordered to take post at Ticonderoga, hold it if he could, or, if overborne by numbers, fall back to Isle-aux-Noix, at the outlet of the lake.  La Corne was sent with a strong detachment to intrench himself at the head of the rapids of the St. Lawrence, and oppose any hostile movement from Lake Ontario.  Every able-bodied man in the colony, and every boy who could fire a gun, was to be called to the field.  Vaudreuil sent a circular letter to the militia captains of all the parishes, with orders to read it to the parishioners.  It exhorted them to defend their religion, their wives, their children, and their goods from the fury of the heretics; declared that he, the Governor, would never yield up Canada on any terms whatever; and ordered them to join the army at once, leaving none behind but the old, the sick, the women, and the children.[700] The Bishop issued a pastoral mandate:  “On every side, dearest brethren, the enemy is making immense preparations.  His forces, at least six times more numerous than ours, are already in motion.  Never was Canada in a state so critical and full of peril.  Never were we so destitute, or threatened with an attack so fierce, so general, and so obstinate.  Now, in truth, we may say, more than ever before, that our only resource is in the powerful succor of our Lord.  Then, dearest brethren, make every effort to deserve it.  ’Seek first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.’” And he reproves their sins, exhorts them to repentance, and ordains processions, masses, and prayers.[701]

[Footnote 700:  Memoires sur le Canada, 1749-1760.]

[Footnote 701:  I am indebted for a copy of this mandate to the kindness of Abbe Bois.  As printed by Knox, it is somewhat different, though the spirit is the same.]

Vaudreuil bustled and boasted.  In May he wrote to the Minister:  “The zeal with which I am animated for the service of the King will always make me surmount the greatest obstacles.  I am taking the most proper measures to give the enemy a good reception whenever he may attack us.  I keep in view the defence of Quebec.  I have given orders in the parishes below to muster the inhabitants who are able to bear arms, and place women, children, cattle, and even hay and grain, in places of safety.  Permit me, Monseigneur, to beg you to have the goodness to assure His Majesty that, to whatever hard extremity I may be reduced, my zeal will be equally ardent and indefatigable, and that I shall do the impossible to prevent our enemies from making progress in any direction, or, at least, to make them pay extremely dear for it."[702] Then he writes again to say that Amherst with a great army will, as he learns, attack Ticonderoga; that Bradstreet, with six thousand men, will advance to Lake Ontario; and that six thousand more will march to the Ohio.  “Whatever progress they may make,” he adds, “I am resolved to yield them nothing, but hold my ground even to annihilation.”  He promises to do his best to keep on good terms with Montcalm, and ends with a warm eulogy of Bigot.[703]