Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (2).pdf/3

3 they both pretend to ſpeak Engliſh,- and to have a liberal education; but as learning is not ſo eaſy to be obtained, ignorance and corruption of ſpeech are greatly decreaſed.

In the county of Fife, on the seacoast, there ſtands a little town, inhabited by few but fiſher's, called Buck-haven, because of the ſea buckles and ſhells that are found ſo plenty upon the rocks, in and about the 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 Julius Cæſar, their coat of arms was twa 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 in ye binna do 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 ly down again, till break of day, then raiſes wiſe Willy, who cou'd judge the weather by the blowing of the wind.

Their freedoms were to take all kinds of fiſh