as well as in this country.  A board about two and a half feet wide and twenty feet long was placed three feet above the floor, somewhat like a billiard-table, though not with so wide a surface, precisely level and perfectly smooth, covered with a sprinkling of fine sand.  It was provided with weights or balls, called “pieces,” flattened on one end.  The game consisted in shoving them as far as possible, without going over the end.  A trough surrounded the table to catch the pieces if they fell.  Richard Grant White, from whom this account of the game has been derived, says that “it required great accuracy of eye, and steadiness of hand, much more than ten-pins.”  He states that, when a boy, he saw it played by “brawny” men, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and that the pieces then used were of brass.  It is probable that the “pieces” used on Bridget Bishop’s shovel-board were made of some heavy wood, as they were thrown into the fire for the purpose of destroying them.  The fact that a game like this was suffered to be openly played in Salem Village is quite remarkable, and shows that some license was left for such amusements.

The records and files of the local courts show, that, notwithstanding the austere gravity and strictness of manners and morals usually ascribed to our New-England ancestors, occasional irregularities occurred in the early settlements, which would be considered high misdemeanors in our day.  The following deposition was given “on oath before the Court,” Feb. 26, 1651.  Edward Norris was the son of the minister of the First Church; had been for more than ten years, and continued to be for twenty years after, schoolmaster of the town; and, by his character as well as office, commanded the highest respect.  John Kitchen, in 1655, was chosen “searcher and sealer of leather.”  Giles Corey had not yet purchased his farm, but lived on his town-lot, extending from Essex Street, near its western extremity, to the North River.  They were severally persons of good estate.

“THE TESTIMONY OF GILES COREY.—­Mr. Edward Norris and I were going towards the brickkiln:  John Kitchen, going with us, fell a nipping and pinching of us.  And, when we came back again, John Kitchen struck up Mr. Edward Norris his heels and mine, and fell upon me, and catched me by the throat, and held me so long till he had almost stopped my breath.  And I said unto John Kitchen, ’This is not good jesting.’  And John Kitchen replied, ’This is nothing:  I do owe you more than this of old:  this is not half of that which you shall have afterwards.’  After this, he went into his house, and he took stinking water and threw upon us, and took me and thrust me out of doors, and I went my ways.  And John Kitchen followed me half-way up the lane, or thereabouts.  Perceiving him to follow me, I went to go over the rails.  He took me again, and threw me down off the rails, and fell a beating of me until I was all bloody.  And, Thomas Bishop being present, I desired him to bear witness of what he saw.  Upon my words, he let me rise.  As soon as I was up, he fell a beating of me again.

     “Testified on oath before the Court, 26th Feb., 1651.