Page:Ancient and modern history of Buckhaven in Fife-shire.pdf/3

 from others; even some in the south of Scotland can hardly be understood by those in the north, though both pretend to speak English, and 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 in 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 burgess ticket, part of which was 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, " Foul-fa-me an I binna an honest man to you, an the same fa you, an ye binna the like to me." An article of good neighbourhood they had, that whoever was first up in the morning, was to raise all the rest to go to sea; but if a bad morning, they pissed and lay down again till break of day, then raise Wise Willy; who could judge of the weather by the blowing of the wind