Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

94
FAMOUS SCOTS
linn' making 'a singin' din,' 'the twa birks,' 'the pool
breast-deep,' 'the washing-green,' 'the loan,' 'Gland's
onstead,' 'Syraon's house,' 'the craigy bield,' 'Habbie's
Howe ' or house, and many others. Another
strong point is that in Act ii. scene 2 of The Gentle
Shepherd^ Glaud threatens to set his biggest peat-stack
on fire, through sheer joy over Sir William Worthy's
prospective return. Around the Glencorse site for the
action of the drama, there is not a peat to be dug in the
whole parish; at the Carlops 'scene,' peat is the staple
fuel of the district. Near by, also, is Newhall, the
estate which in Ramsay's days was in possession of the
Forbes family, who had purchased it from Dr. Pennecuik,
the author of the Description of Tweeddale and other
works. John Forbes of Newhall was one of Ramsay's
dearest friends, and many relics of the poet are still
preserved at the mansion house ; but it was with the
Pennecuik family Ramsay associated his poem. In The
Gentle Shepherd^ Sir William Worthy is described as
having had to fly into exile
—
' Our brave good master, wha sae wisely fled,
And left a fair estate to save his head ;
Because, ye ken fu' weel, he bravely chose
To stand his liege's friend wi' great Montrose.'
Newhall was purchased by Dr. Pennecuik's father two
years before Charles I. was beheaded. The doctor
himself was contemporary with Cromwell, Montrose,
Monk, and Charles II., all of whom appear so distinctly
in the pastoral as associated with the action of the piece.
He had to go into hiding during the Commonwealth, for
his support of Charles L, and for sheltering Montrose
after the battle of Philiphaugh. Pennecuik the younger