Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fifeshire.pdf/3

have a liberal part of education: but since learning is now so easy to be obtained, ignorance and corruption of speech are greatly decreased.

In the county of Fife, on the sea-coast, there stands a little town, inhabited by few but fishers, called Bucky-harbour, because of the sea buckies and shells to be found so plenty on the rocks, in and about that place. There is little mention made of this town by historians, to know its original extraction and antiquities, but in their own burgess-ticket, which was part of it perfect truths, but more of it by way of lampoon: This ticket was dated the two and thirty day of the month of Julius Cæsar; their coat of arms was two hands gripping each other over a Scate's rumple; their oath was, "I wish the de il may tak me an I binna an honest man to you, an ye binna de like to me." An article of good neighbourhood they had, whoever was first up in a good morning was to raise all the rest to go to sea, but if a bad morning, they piss and lie down again till break of day, then raise Wise Willy, who could judge the weather by the blowing of the wind.