Resisting- withstand the action or effect
I think this goes with the book because most of the witches accused resist. They do because they are scared and don't know the outcome and most probably think if they admit, they will be hanged. If they don't confess they will be hanged, and if they confess, they will have be forgiven by god. If they didn't really do it, since they are Puritans, they can't lie because that would be sinning. So in that case they don't confess, and get hanged. If it was me, I would tell them the truth, even if it meant being hanged for what I believe.
