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.