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.