Page:Ancient and modern history of Buck-haven in Fife-shire (4).pdf/2



Mongſt ſeveral ancient records, this Bucky is not mentioned, there was a ſett called Buccaniers who were pirates, that is to ſay, ſea robbers, and after a ftrict fearch after that ſett of ſea-robbers they diſperſed; what of them eſcaped juſtice in the ſouthern climate, are ſaid to ſhelter at or near Berwick upon Tweed. After a ſmart battle among themſelves, they divided, and 'tis ſaid the party who gained this Bucky battle, fearing the Engliſh law to take place, they ſet Northward and took up their reſident at this Buckhaven, ſo called not only from the great quantity of buckies that are found in and about the place, but on account of that battle they had with their neighbours at Berwick when they divided, which is now call'd Bucking one another, which is now named boxing or fighting. Another party of thoſe Buckers, ſettled in a fiſhing town northward of Banff, called Bucky, near the river Spey, which is a large ſea town, but among all the ſea towns in Scotland, the fiſhers ſtill retain a language quite different from the people in the country, and almost they ſhift the letter H! and uſe O! inſtead there which no country people do in Scotland but themſelves. There is a corruption of ſpeech, in every county over all Britain, and likewiſe they uſe different tones and ways of pronouncing words 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 education : but ſince learning is now ſo eaſy to be obtained, ignorance and corruption of ſpeech are greatly decreaſed.