Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (2).pdf/23

(23) with the Wiſp and the Kelpy, Fairies and Maukens and boggles of all ſorts.

The Ghoſts like old horſes, go all night for fear they are ſeen, and be made to carry, ſcate or fiſh, or be carted; and witches are the warſt kind of devils, and mak uſe of cats to ride upon, or kill kebbers, and beſoms, and ſail over ſeas in cockle ſhells and witch the lads and laſſes and diſables bridegrooms. As for Willy and the Wiſp he is a fiery devil, and leads people off their read in order to drown them, for he ſparks ſometimes at our feet, and then turns before with his candle as if he were two or three miles before us, many a good boat has Spuskie drown’d; the boats coming to land in the night-time, they obſerve a light off the land, and let in upon it and are drown’d.

The Kelpy is a ſly devil, he roars before a loſs at ſea, and frightens both young and old upon the ſhore. Fairies are terrible troubleſome, they gang dancing round fouks lums, and rin through the houſes they haunt and play odd tricks, and lift new born bairns from their mothers, and none of them are ſafe to ly with their mothers, at night or two after they are born, unleſs the mother gets a pair of men’s breeches under her head for the firſt three nights; when the Fairies are frighted they wi' leave an old ſtock with the woman, and whip away me child. One tried to burn an old ſtock that the Fairies left in the cradle but when the fire was put on, the old ſtock jumped on upon a cat and up the lum. Maukens are moſt terrible, and have bad luck, none will go to ſea that day they ſee a Mauken or if a wretched body puts in a Mauken’s ſit in their creels, they need not lift them that day, as it will be bad luck, either broken backs or legs, or arms, or hear bad accounts at the boats at ſea.

They are terrified for all ſorts of boggles both by land and ſea.