October

The fall has come and witchcraft still runs rampant in Salem. I have tried and convicted many witches, with swift and fierce punishment. Those accused who enter my courtroom are shown no mercy and are sentenced to death at an astonishing rate. Critics continue to chastise my swift techniques, including clergymen Thomas Brattle. While I respect the educated opinions of others, when one calls my workings into question specifically I will not tolerate it. Brattle has had the gaul to say that I am "Very zealous in these proceedings, and says, he is very clear as to all that hath as yet been enacted by this Court, and, as far as I could ever perceive, is very impatient in hearing anything that looks another way”. I am a very educated and strong-willed man who stands next to all of his decisions. I know that all who are accused, and whose specter has been identified is surely a witch. This comes with no exception, and has held up in court testimony. Those who challenge this idea put themselves in a position of suspected witch. By calling proceedings and trials anything fair undermines the court, and all of the judges who preside over the hearings. Suspected witches seem to always find the trials unfair, but only because they are the ones who are so severely punished.