Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 9.djvu/373

Rh lections of Galilee and Jerusalem, and the sacred lessons of which they are so impressive a memorial.

WOOD,, Admiral to James III. and James IV. While the war between England and Scotland was at the fiercest, both countries seem to have been unconscious of the particular arm in which the secret of their great strength lay. Hence their vessels were entirely fitted, not for war but merchandise, and their battles at sea were nothing more than paltry skirmishes, which occurred when two ships crossed each other's track, instead of the wholesale encounter of opposing fleets; while the only naval tactics of the time was for the strongest to board, and the weakest to run away. But between two such nations this state of things could not always continue; and when they found that they could not only defend themselves, but annoy each other, as effectually by sea as by land, ships became stronger and better manned, and the art of working and fighting them more perfect. It was full time, indeed, that it should be so, when the continental nations were immeasurably our superiors in navigation, and when an "Invincible Armada" might at any time be landed upon the shores of England or Scotland, not for the conquest of one or other of the rival countries, but the island at large. Fortunately, therefore, it happened that, coeval with the opening of India to Portugal, and the discovery of America by Spain, the Scots and English were making such improvements in nautical science as were ultimately to fit them for being the first of maritime powers. This, indeed, was a prospect as yet too remote to occur to them, and therefore the prevailing motive was a merely immediate advantage the power of inflicting on each other the greatest amount of mischief, and having a Bannockburn or Chevy Chase on sea as well as land. Into this new contention the Scots pressed with their wonted ardour, and so successfully, that towards the end of the 15th century it seemed as if they, and not their more wealthy neighbours, were to possess the ocean-flag of the island. This superiority they owed to the two Bartons, and especially to Sir Andrew Wood, of Largo.

Until this brave admiral emerged into public notice, the name of Wood had acquired no place in Scottish history, so that we are unable to determine the family from which he sprung. Abercromby, in his "Martial Achievements of the Scots Nation," supposes him to have been a cadet of the ancient family of Bonington, in Angus. Even of the early life and exploits of Sir Andrew Wood nothing can be ascertained, owing to the scantiness of our Scottish historical records of this period. It is commonly asserted that he was born about the middle of the 15th century, at the old kirk-town of Largo, in Fifeshire. He appears to have commenced life as a trader; and as he was captain, super-cargo, and ship-owner in his own ventures, like many of the chief merchants of the day, he was obliged to fight his way from port to port, and combine the daring courage of a bold privateer, and the science of a skilful navigator, with the gentle craft of a trafficker and bargain- maker. His chief place of residence when on shore was Leith, at that time rising in consequence as one of the principal ports of Scotland; and there his growing wealth as a merchant, and renown as a skipper, gradually raised him to consideration among the high-born and powerful of the country. He was now the possessor of two ships, called the Flower and the Yellow Caravel, each of about 300 tons burden, but superior to most vessels of their size, in men, arms, and sailing equipments, with which he traded to the Dutch and Hanse towns, then the chief commercial marts of Scotland. As he had soon riches enough, his mind aspired to higher