from ”Witchcraze” by Anne LLewellyn Bartsow:
”...some further clues as to just which women would be singled out for accusation: ”They are doting, scolds, mad, divelish;...so firm and steadfast in their opinions, as whoever shall onelie have respect to the constancie of their words uttered, would easilie beleeve they were true indeed.” In other words, uppity women- women given to speaking out, to a bold tongue and independent spirit, women who had what Scottish people called ”smeddum”: spirit, quarrelsomeness, a refusal to be put down. They talked back to their neighbors, their minister ...
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