Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 9.djvu/378

642 doing mischief. In the meantime, Wood, who had got to windward of his adversary, bore down upon him under a full press of sail, closed upon him, threw out his grappling-irons, and even lashed the ships together with strong cables, that all might be settled by a hand-to-hand encounter. The battle, that commenced at sunrise, continued during the whole of a summer day with suck desperate determination, that nothing but the darkness of night parted them, when they separated on equal terms, and lay-to, waiting for the morning to renew the combat. The morning came, the trumpets sounded, the ships again grappled with the pertinacity of bull-dogs, and the fight became so keen, that the vessels, left to their own management, drifted into the mouth of the Tay, while the crews were engaged in close struggle upon the deck. Roused also by the din, the inhabitants, men, women, and children, crowded to the shore, and cheered their countrymen by their shouts and gesticulations. "Britannia, rule the waves"—yes, when these rival flags shall be blended together, and these gallant combatants be fighting side by side! At length, the superior skill of Wood and the practised seamanship of his crews prevailed over equal courage and far superior numbers; the three English vessels were compelled to strike, and were carried into the port of Dundee, while Sir Andrew brought his gallant antagonist to the king as prisoner. James IV., who was one of the last of the flowers of chivalry, received Stephen Bull and his followers with courtesy, enriched them with princely gifts, and after praising their valour, set them at liberty, and sent them home in their own ships without ransom. He also desired them to tell their royal master, that he had as manly men in Scotland as there were in England, and was fully able as well as determined to defend his own coasts and merchantmen. The significant hint was added, that if they came again to Scotland in such hostile fashion, they would neither be so well entertained, nor be allowed to skip homeward so dry-shod. This at least the prisoners averred when they had reached London in safety. Henry VII., whatever might be his private feelings, expressed his gratitude for the kindness of the Scottish king. While enemies were thus rewarded, Sir Andrew was not forgot, for he was guerdoned with fresh grants of lands, and received into greater favour than ever.

Sir Andrew Wood, now incontestably the greatest naval hero of his age, had done enough for fame, and no further exploits like those off Dunbar or St. Abb's Head remained to be achieved. In 1503, he was employed against the turbulent chiefs of the isles, who were always breaking into rebellion, and was so successful, that the inhabitants were reduced to submission wherever his ships appeared. Afterwards we find him captain of that enormous pageant ship, the Great Michael, with Robert Barton as his lieutenant. This vessel, upon which not only the greater part of the timber, but also of the wealth of Scotland had been expended, was found, when finished, to be as useless as Robinson Crusoe's boat, on which he had bestowed such labour, and made it so large, that he could neither navigate nor even launch it. With all this expenditure upon eight or ten good ships, and these two heroes to command them, Scotland might have sent out such a fleet as no naval power in Europe could have equalled, We suspect that even Wood, in bringing such a ship into action, would have been as much encumbered as David was when he was equipped in the armour of Saul. Fortunately, no opportunity occurred for such a hazardous trial, as the Great Michael was afterwards wrecked on the French coast, and suffered to rot in the harbour of Brest, after it had been carried off to sea under a different