Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 9.djvu/374

638 objects and fortunately he served a king by whom his claims could be appreciated. James III. granted to him, as his pilot, a lease of the lands of Largo, on the tenure of keeping his ship, the Yellow Caravel, in repair, for conveying his Highness and the queen to the Isle of May, when they should make a pilgrimage thither; afterwards these lands and the town of Largo were granted to him hereditarily and in fee, in consideration of his public services, and especially his defence of the royal castle of Dumbarton, when it was besieged by the English navy. This grant, which was made to Wood by James III. in 1483, was afterwards confirmed by James IV. in 1488, and 1497. Soon after the first of these dates, and before 1488, he received the honour of knighthood, and married Elizabeth Lundie, a lady belonging to an ancient family of Fifeshire, by whom he had several sons. He was now a feudal baron, who could ride to a national muster with a train of armed followers at his back; a redoubted admiral, whose ships had cleared the seas of every foe that had opposed them; a skilful financier and wise counsellor, in consequence of his past habits and experience; and in every way a man whom nobles would respect, and kings delight to honour. From this period he abandoned trading, and devoted himself to those great public interests in which his rank as well as talents required him to take a part.

Events soon occurred that conferred upon the admiral a species of distinction which he was far from coveting. A rebellion, headed by some of the principal nobles of the kingdoin, broke out, and James III., one of the most pacific of sovereigns, found himself dragged into the field, and compelled to fight for crown and life against his own subjects. On this occasion Sir Andrew Wood received the king on board one of his vessels lying in Leith Roads, and crossed to the coast of Fife, where his ships lay at anchor. The previous destination of the fleet was Flanders; and on hoisting sail, the report was spread abroad that James was escaping to the Netherlands. Enraged at this, the rebels seized his baggage and furniture, which were on their way to be shipped at the Forth, and committed great outrage upon the persons and property of the sovereign's best adherents. But no such flight was contemplated, for the king landed in Fife, and summoned a military muster of his subjects, after which he joined the northern lords who adhered to his cause, and prepared for battle. He was now at the head of such an imposing force that the rebels were daunted, and after a trifling skirmish at Blackness, they proposed peace, which was granted to them on terms more favourable than they had merited. This, however, was the more necessary on the part of the king, as the insurgent lords had taken his eldest son, the Duke of Rothesay, now scarcely seventeen years old, from under the care of his guardians, and placed him at their head, under the title of James IV. After this pacification, the king rewarded the most trusty of his adherents with fresh grants of crown lands, and among those whose loyal services were thus requited, was Sir Andrew Wood, of Largo.

But this return of tranquillity was a short and treacherous interval, for James III. had scarcely settled down to his wonted pursuits of poetry, music, and the fine arts—pursuits better fitted for a sovereign of the 19th century than one of the 15th—than the insurgent lords mustered in greater force than ever, while the royal army had dispersed to their homes. Until his troops could be assembled, James repaired to Stirling Castle for refuge, but was there denied entrance, and obliged to abide the issue with such an army as could be mustered upon a hasty summons. During the interval, Wood was cruising in