and actually, last months litchfield county times article about ct witchcraft suggests that science and alchemy may have been part of the mix -- which would explain a lot. personally, i believe it also has to do with the age-old female/mother nature celtic goddess vs. christian puritanical male god scenario. additionally, there is a book in print titled the book of english magic -- which points out that england was a land of peoples who routinely played with forces of nature-- herbs, chemistry, astronomy, magic etc. i don't think it's out of the question that this came across with our ancestors -- one of whom was an ancestor of mine on the howe side.