Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/158

The King of France, who was guided in all his military operations by Marshall Siletta, was terrified at the sudden approach of his victorious enemy. The Duke de Lerma had not yet entered France; he was perplexed what course to take: determined not to hazard a battle, he was in great fear of the King's attacking Lyons: there was in that city a garrison of eight thousand men, yet he depended but little on their defence. If he encamped under its walls, he knew it would be safe, but then it would be in George's power to cut off his junction with the Spanish army. On the contrary, if he marched towards Spain to join it, Lyons he gave up as lost, and perhaps other places of great importance might partake its fate. Thus confused between different opinions, he at last was guided by his General, who urged him to entrench himself stronglyunder