98 QUEENSFERRY TO MUSSELBURGH.
Meanwhile, an event of great national importance took place, and as it
stands very closely connected with Leith, deserves to be noticed. James IV.,
who was now upon the throne, was a king of great sagacity and energy.
Availing himself of the peace and prosperity which then prevailed in the
country, he turned his attention to the development of its internal resources ;
he repaired and embellished his palaces and castles, improved and facilitated
the administration of justice, enforced a general respect for the law throughout
the remotest districts, and encouraged the extension of trade and commerce
with other nations. He was
anxiously solicitous to make it at once numerous and powerful ; and hence,
in addition to the ships he already had, he caused other three vessels of very
large dimensions for that age, to be constructed ; one of them, the largest,
and named the Greaf Michael, in magnitude, equipment, and cost, greatly
exceeding any ship of war then known in the world, was built at Leith. Pitscotlie
tells us that ‘all the oak forests in Fife, with the exception of that of
Falkland, was exhausted in her construction, besides a large quantity of timber
brought from Norway, and that upwards of a year was spent by the Scottish
and foreign carpenters in completing her.’ James was justly proud of the
achievement; and while she lay in ‘the roads,’ as great a marvel then as the
Warriar or Impregnable would be now, the King frequently visited her
in company with his lords, ‘ taking great pleasure in showing them her order
and munition’ She was commanded by Sir Andrew Wood, a native of the
town, an able sailor and a brave commander, who had distinguished himself
in many a sea-fight, the Abercromby of his day, bringing glory alike to his
country and his name. Thus Leith had the honour of making the first
important advance, and typing the first momentous change in the great science
of naval architecture.
As with families, so with towns, however, it is not always summer-time
with them. Seldom or never in the case of anything earthly does the sun of
prosperity shine down a continuous and unbroken flood of golden light.
Unmixed good is a blessing not of this world; empires, kingdoms, cities,
towns, families, and individuals, all have their rainy days. And Leith is no
exception. In the year 1544 the Earl of Hertford paid it a hostile visit,
and did it incredible damage. With an army of 10,000 men he marched
eastwards from Granton, where he had disembarked, and entering the town
about noon, without the least opposition, at once took possession of it. He
next proceeded against Edinburgh, which, after having plundered-ravishing
and laying waste at the same time the neighbouring districts-he set on fire ;
His navy, however, was especially his care.
