Then Pesquitomen said, “As the Governor gave these three messengers into my bosom, so I now likewise, by this string of wampum, give Bull into Delaware George’s bosom, to bring him safe to the general.” Mr. Bull sat down with the prisoner, who gave him some intelligence in writing; at which the Indians grew very jealous and asked them what they had to write there? I wrote a letter to the general by Mr. Bull. In the afternoon Mr. Bull, Delaware George, and Keskenepalen set out for the camp. Towards night they brought in another prisoner. When Mr. Bull and company were gone, the Indians took the same prisoner, whom Mr. Bull had relieved, and bound him and carried him to another town, without our knowledge. I a thousand times wished Mr. Bull had never meddled in the affair, fearing they would exceedingly punish, and bring the prisoner to confession of the contents of the writing.
19th.—A great many of the warriors came home. The French had infused bad notions into the Indians, by means of the letters, they found upon Lieutenant Hays, who was killed, which they falsely interpreted to them, viz. That, in one letter it was wrote, that the general should do all that was in his power to conquer the French, and, in the mean time the messengers to the Indians should do their utmost to draw the Indians back, and keep them together in conferences, till he, the general, had made a conquest of the French, and afterwards he should fall upon all Indians, and destroy them. And, that, if we should lose our lives, the English would carry on the war, so long as an Indian, or Frenchman was alive. Thereupon the French said to the Indians;
“Now you can see, my children, how the English want to deceive you, and if it would not offend you, I would go and knock these messengers on the head, before you should be deceived by them.” One of the Indian captains spoke to the French and said, “To be sure it would offend us, if you should offer to knock them on the head. If you have a mind to go to war, go to the English army, and knock them on the head, and not these three men, that come with a message to us.”
After this speech the Indians went all off, and left the French. Nevertheless it had enraged some of the young people, and made them suspicious; so that it was a precarious time for us. I said, “Brethren, have good courage, and be strong; let not every wind disturb your mind; let the French bring the letter here; for, as you cannot read, they may tell you thousands of false stories. We will read the letter to you. As Isaac Still[96] can read, he will tell you the truth.”
After this all the young men were gathered together, Isaac Still being in company. The young men said, “One that had but half an eye could see that the English only intended to cheat them; and that it was best to knock every one of us messengers on the head.”
Then Isaac began to speak and said, “I am ashamed to hear such talking from you; you are but boys like me; you should not talk of such a thing. There have been thirteen nations at Easton, where they have established a firm peace with the English; and I have heard that the Five Nations were always called the wisest; go tell them that they are fools, and cannot see; and tell them that you are kings, and wise men. Go and tell the Cayuga chiefs so, that are here; and you will become great men.” Afterwards they were all still, and said not one word more.
20th.—There came a great many more together in the town, and brought Henry Osten, the sergeant, who was to have been burnt. They hallooed the war halloo; and the men and women beat him till he came into the house.[97] It is a grievous and melancholy sight to see our fellow mortals so abused. Isaac Still had a long discourse with the French captain; who made himself great, by telling how he had fought the English at Loyal-Hanning. Isaac rallied him, and said he had seen them scalp horses, and take others for food. The first he denied, but the second he owned. Isaac ran the captain quite down, before them all. The French captain spoke with the two Cayugas; at last the Cayugas spoke very sharp to him, so that he grew pale, and was quite silent.
These three days past was precarious time for us. We were warned not to go far from the house; because the people who came from the slaughter, having been driven back, were possessed with a murdering spirit; which led them as in a halter, in which they were catched, and with bloody vengeance were thirsty and drunk. This afforded a melancholy prospect. Isaac Still was himself dubious of our lives. We did not let Mr. Hays know of the danger. I said, “As God hath stopped the mouth of the lions, that they could not devour Daniel, so he will preserve us from their fury, and bring us through.” I had a discourse with Mr. Hays concerning our message, and begged him he would pray to God for grace and wisdom, that he would grant us peace among this people. We will remain in stillness, and not look to our own credit. We are in the service of our king and country. This people are rebellious in heart.
Now we are here to reconcile them again to the General, Governor, and the English nation; to turn them again from their errors. And I wished that God would grant us his grace, whereby we may do it; which I hope and believe he will do. Mr. Hays took it to heart and was convinced of all; which much rejoiced me. I begged Isaac Still to watch over himself and not to be discouraged; for I hoped the storm would soon pass by.