The First Witch of Boston

by Andrea Catalano

The men in power could not abide by a woman speaking her mind and gaining the admiration of others.

You see, I had only known men who threw their weight and voices round as though they were kings, as though it were their divine right. Most think they know everything and speak like they do, when it is nothing but empty words. They know naught, most of them. And the louder they are, the less they know. The more they boast, the less they have. The more show they put on in front of lasses, the less show they’ve got for you under the bed linens.”

A woman skilled in herbals and physic was always a woman both admired and feared.

Seems that when a woman has too much knowledge or skill, or speaks her mind freely, these Puritans take great offense.”