In the latter sense an amusing illustration of faith in the superior obligation of this asseveration to any other, is recorded in the _Eglinton Papers_[149].

The Earl one day found a boy climbing up a tree, and called him to come down.

The boy declined, because, he said, the Earl would thrash him.

His Lordship pledged his honour that he would not do so.

The boy replied, "I dinna ken onything about your honour, but if you say as sure's deeth I'll come doun." Proverbs are sometimes local in their application.
_The men o' the Mearns canna do mair than they may._ Even the men of Kincardineshire can only do their utmost--a proverb intended to be highly complimentary to the powers of the men of that county.
_I'll mak Cathkin's covenant wi' you, Let abee for let abee._ This is a local saying quoted often in Hamilton.