Leith was a port, not only for itself, but also the at that time neighbouring town of Edinburgh. Berwick had also now become an English town. Plus, Leith was vital for the wool trade of the great abbeys of the Scottish borders.
The number of sea captains in Leith was out of all proportion to its size. In no other port in the whole of Europe could more daring captains be found.
None had made a greater name for himself than Sir Andrew Wood of Largo. A Leith man born and bred.
In the time of King James III of Scotland, he was commander of two ships, each weighing 300 tonnes. The Flower and the Yellow Carvel.
With these ships Sir Andrew would make frequent voyages to France and the Low Countries of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. They were known as the Low Countries due to the level at which much of their land lies relative to sea level.
Wood had developed a great genius for naval warfare thanks to his frequent encounters with Dutch, English and Portuguese pirates in defence of his ships and their cargoes. He was known as the Scottish Nelson. That of course being reference to the great naval combatant Admiral Horatio Nelson who won the Battle of Trafalgar for Britain against a naval force of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1805.
He was a trusted servant of King James III of Scotland, by whom he had been employed on several missions, including the successful defence of Dumbarton Castle against the fleet of King Edward IV of England in 1481. Also, his attack on the fleet of Sir Edward Howard, sent by the English king to do as much damage as he could along the shoreline of the Firth of Forth.
As a reward for these important services against the English, King James III of Scotland gave him part of the lands of Largo in Fife.
However, after the death of King James III’s queen 1486, James lived in increasing isolation in Stirling Castle amidst growing rumours of his greed fr wealth and his undesirable friendship with England.
Finally, the Scottish nobles seized his eldest son and defeated James at the Battle of Sauchieburn near Bannockburn, just to the south of , on 11 June 1488.
Ever loyal, Sir Andrew Wood had two ships anchored on the shores of the River Forth near Alloa, during this battle. In aid of his royal master, he kept several smaller vessels close by the shore to receive the king, if he should be defeated.
However, the king was thrown from his horse as he fled from the field.
Carried into a nearby cottage, he called for a priest, whereupon a mysterious figure forced his way in, and stabbed the king to death!
James was buried at Cambuskenneth Abbey near Stirling.
This tragedy rendered the efforts of Sir Andrew in vain.
After the Battle of Sauchieburn, the insurgent Lords proclaimed James IV King of Scotland at Stirling, and marched to Edinburgh Castle to capture it.
Sir Andrew would soon give his loyalty to the new king of Scotland, James IV.
James IV deeply desired to make Scotland a power on the sea. To this end, he found his new friend and loyal supporter Sir Andrew Wood most useful. Leith of course and Newhaven, would play a crucial role in this endeavour.
Find out how in the next instalment, which will be published in early autumn.
Fraser Paterson
Freelance Tour Guide and Writer
