Justice is Not Served (Entry 5, Act 4/Post-Text)

The day that John Proctor hanged was a depressing day for all of Salem. I had returned to try and have him, as well as his fellow prisoners, cofess to witchcraft, so that they will be allowed to live. I had returned upon hearing of the death of Giles Corey, who refused to answer any questions, and I did not want any other innocent people killed. Apparently, Abigail had robbed Parris of his belongings and left Salem, thus proving her scheme. However, Danforth refused to let the remaining prisoners loose, simply to protect his reputation. How despicable. I did not want anyone to die, and knowing John Proctor had the loudest and boldest mouth of them all, I asked Elizabeth to speak some sense into her husband before he dies for refusing interrogation. Eventually, Proctor agrees to write a confession that will be hung on the doors of the Church. Yet, when he leaves the courthouse for his public confession, something changed in him. Other prisoners were brought in, most notably Rebecca Nurse, to follow in Proctor's footsteps. Danforth continued to question Proctor about Nurse, but he did not answer any questions, saying that he would only confess to his own crimes. When it came time to sign the confession, John Proctor tore up the paper as one last claim to innocence. I could not believe it. I pleaded with Elizabeth to speak with her husband again so that he would not be hanged. However, he was taken to the gallows regardless, and we were forced to watch John Proctor, an innocent man, hang for crimes placed upon him. I knew that I had to prevent these horrid circumstances again, so I decided that I would inform the world of what happened here, and also teach them what to do should anything like this happen to them. The book I am writing currently, A Modest Inquiry Into the Nature of Witchcraft, will serve both purposes, and will protect those that have the label of 'witch' thrust upon them by their peers.

Taken Too Far (Entry 4, Act 3)

As court proceedings continued in the manner that they had, with the accused taking the stand, attempting to defend themselves, the girls acting out from affliction, and so on, usually ending with a confession or sentence. One day was especially interesting and a strange turn of events; the day of Martha Corey's trial. Her husband Giles was trying to prove her innocence after previously claiming that she read from strange books, and soon the Deputy Governor Danforth came out from the courtroom to speak with us. Judge Hawthorne and Francis Nurse showed up, and Corey tried to help Nurse prevent his wife's execution. But things really heated up when John Proctor joined us with Mary Warren, who admitted to falsifying the accusations. Reverend Parris, who was in court came in and tried to convince the judges that the three men were trying to undermine court proceedings. However, Dangforth put him at ease and called for the girls, who showed up, lead by Abigail. When questioned about the truthfulness in Mary Warren's statements, they immediately began to see specters apparently sent out by Warren herself. This struck me as odd, as they would usually have been able to identify a witch afflicting them with ease. As Mary Warren continued to try and convince the girls to confess, the more they turned on her. Proctor was trying to prove that they were liars, defending his family, the Nurses, and the Coreys. Meanwhile, Parris attempted to turn the judges on the men. I joined in with Proctor, and I explained to Danforth that the girls were fooling us all, however, he didn't believe us four intelligent men, and I had seen enough, having signed for nearly seventy-five deaths prior, and I had decided that the court was foolish and blind. I quit the court and walked out when Danforth had Proctor, Nurse, Parris, and Corey arrested. So, I had given up on what Salem was and could be, and would no longer be involved here, and I left Salem for good.

As Accusations Arise (Entry 3, Act 2)

As time went by, and court had opened up for the accusations, for those mentioned in court, I believed it right to tell them of their potential involvement. This included Rebecca Nurse, who came from a well-respected family. I found there to be nothing out of the ordinary at the home of her and her husband, Francis, and could not really believe that they were possibly considered to be partaking in the Devil's work. Elizabeth Proctor, husband of John Proctor, was the next I had to visit. I came up to their house, and I was welcomed inside, and was generously offered food. I explained that I had been personally making rounds to get to know the accused, yet they already knew, as Mary Warren was under their employment. So, I began to test them, to see if they would or ever could have been enlisted by the Devil. I had heard that they rarely went to church, and found it to be that Reverend Parris was not a very appealing preacher, or at least according to Proctor. He described the preacher as a materialistic, and negative speaker, as he often spoke of Hell. I continued into asking why only two of their three children were Baptized, but the response was the same. So, I changed the subject to the Ten Commandments and asked them to tell me all Ten, as a witch would be unable to do. However, for their sake, I let it pass that they were unable to remember adultery, which is strange, as this could be incriminating evidence. But, then, both husband and wife claimed to not have a belief in witches! They would deny the Bible! They attempted to speak their way out of the difficult situation, but to no real avail, as Giles Corey burst in, as Ezekiel Cheever had arrested his wife, as well as Rebecca Nurse, and he was on his way. Cheever showed up shortly after, and attempted to take Elizabeth. John was immediately insulted and began to act with hostility as Cheever searched the house, coming upon a poppet supposedly given to Elizabeth by Mary Warren. John Proctor tore his wife's arrest warrant as Cheever took her away, and soon the awful ordeal was over with. I left the distraught men with some advice to believe that God will let the innocent run free, before departing, as Proctor had thrown men out. This was the first incident that I was unsure of the real reasoning for accusation. To me, it was impossible that these women were witches.

My Arrival and First Thoughts on Salem Village (2nd Entry, Act 1)

Today, I arrived in Salem, to find Reverend Samuel Parris in his home, with his daughter Betty, who was unconscious on the bed, with her distraught father praying over her. I made sure that the people in the house understood I was there for official work to find the truth, and they understood. Interestingly, the Reverend had quite the interesting group of townsfolk in his home; there was Rebecca Nurse, John and Ann, Putnam, but also farmers John Proctor and Giles Corey. All of them seemed to have disputes and tensions between them. However, I learned that Putnam's daughter, as well as Corey's were also sick. And, almost instantly, the people bombarded me with great amounts of information. Betty Parris was trying to fly, and would lash out when she heard the Lord's name, John Proctor doesn't believe in witchcraft, and that there were multiple girls, including the ailing, dancing in the woods. I put the people in their places, and addressed each problem, in due time, systematically, so that I could absorb as much information as I could gather. I knew how to do what I needed to, however, these people would be very difficult to deal with, as they all seem to have personal issues and beliefs that they were too open about. So, to put them to rest, I explained what I would do, by consulting with my own findings as well as the findings of other professionals, and they seemed to be calmed by my words. After speaking to Abigail, one of the girls that was dancing, she claimed that a slave Tituba has called the Devil, and after spreaking with said slave, I was astonished. After interrogation, she admitted to be in conference with the Devil himself. However, she also said that she loved God, and I therefore had to try o have her redeem herself by exposing any other witches, or the Devil's servants. When Tituba gave up the names of two of four witches in Salem, I knew she had done all she could, but the people were hysterical, especially when Betty awoke after these claims by the slave. So, the search for other witches in Salem had begun, and I would be at the helm.

1st Entry (Pre-Text)

I, Reverend John Hale of Beverly, have been called to assist the people of the town of Salem, in an attempt to find if witchcraft is the source of strange behavior by young girls. The preacher of that town, a man by the name of Reverend Samuel Parris is the man who called for me. His young daughter, Betty, has apparently been acting out, and he asked for my visit and professional opinion on her condition. And, I must admit, I am excited that I have been asked, but I must act humbled and professional if I am to believed and credited in this small town. The request of my visit was interesting news, as it can only mean that word of my knowledge in the demonic arts is spreading across the great colony of Massachusetts, or at least at a greater pace than I had originally thought. Nevertheless, I will travel to the Salem Village and assist Rev. Parris with his daughter, if I so find that a witch is afflicting her. I am confident that if witches are present, I will be the man to find them. I have experience in finding witches, but also in exposing frauds, such as the incident in my parish in Beverly. A young child was merely sick, not afflicted as she had previously claimed. So, should I encounter lies and false accusations, I believe I will be able to detect and disprove them, and thus expose the existence, or lack of, witchcraft in the town of Salem.