Excerpt from America's Women by Gail Collins, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Margaret did accomplish her critical objective of getting power to sell some of Lord Baltimore's cattle to pay off the soldiers, who then left peaceably. Lord Baltimore, however, was furious at the loss of part of his estate. The Maryland Assembly defended her, writing their proprietor that his affairs were better left "at that time in her hands than in any mans . . . for the soldiers would never have treated any other with . . . Civility and respect." Margaret, they concluded "rather deserved favour and thanks from your Honor" than "bitter invectives." But Lord Baltimore was not appeased. Rather than continue living under the authority of an implacable enemy, the Brents moved away. Margaret had saved Maryland, and its status as a bastion of religious toleration, but she could never again live there herself.

From America's Women by Gail Collins. Copyright © 2003 by Gail Collins. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, HarperCollins Publishers.