WHO INVENTED THE LEATHER GUNS ? 
597 
immediately afterwards in a lawsuit brought against him by a ©lever 
Dutchman, Louis de Geer, for an infringement of his rights. In 1627 
Geer entered into partnership with Master Wilhelm Giliusson, an iron- 
founder, and they obtained a concession from the Swedish Govern¬ 
ment for the exclusive manufacture of ordnance for six years (from 
1627). 1 This privilege was infringed by Wurmbrandt, $>nd he 
suffered accordingly. 
The fact that a reward was given to Wurmbrandt by the King points 
clearly to two conclusions. First, the King did not invent the guns ; 
secondly, he believed Wurmbrandt to have invented them. Weigh- 
ingthis very important fact with the many others previously mention¬ 
ed, we may take it as quite certain that Freiherr von Wurmbrandt 
was the inventor of the leather guns the King used in his wars. 2 
The evidence for the fourth claimant has now to be examined. 
In St. Mary's Church, Lambeth, there is the following epitaph : — 
“ Nere to this place lyeth interred the body of Robert Scott, Esq., 
descended of the ancient Barrons of Bawerie in Scotland. He bent 
himself to travell and studie much, and amongst many other things 
he invented the Leather Ordnance and carried to the King of Sweden 
200 men, who after two years service for his worth and valour was 
preferred to the office of Qr.-Mr.-General of His Ma tie Army which 
he possessed three years : from thence with his favour he went into 
Denmarke (where he was advanced to the Generali of that King's 
Artillerie) : theire being advised to tender his services to his own 
Prince, which he doinge His Ma tie willinglie accepted and preferred 
him to be one of ye Gent, of his most honorable Privie Chamber and 
rewarded him with a pension of £600 per annum: this deserving 
gentleman . . . surrendered his soule . . . 1631: &c." 3 
“ In lapidary inscriptions a man is not on his oath," said Dr. Johnson. 
Let us verify, so far as we can, the various statements in this epitaph. 
We have proof positive that a pension of £600 a year was settled 
on Scott by Charles I. The “ Calendar of State Papers, Domestic 
Series," 1629-31, shows that “ a grant of denization" was made to 
Col. Robert Scott, his wife and children, and his nephew James 
Wemyss (mentioned before as Colonel) on the 20th February, 1630; 
and on the same date there is another entry :—“ Grant of pension of 
£600 to Col. Robert Scott." Five months previously the King had 
authorised the Attorney General to purchase Sir George Chute's 
house in Lambeth, (i with a close of eight acres," for £1400, “ the 
1 Spat, as before; p. 133. 
2 In stating that after the year 1629 the leather guns “ disappeared ” from the Swedish army, 
Col. Dodge ( £C Gust. Adoljphus,” p. 44,) has overlooked or disregarded both Porno’s account of the 
battle of Leipsig, 7th September, 1631, already alluded to, and F. Spanheim (the elder)’s account 
of the. same battle given in Le Soldat Suedois, Rouen, 1634, p. 74. Spanheim says :—■ 
“ TArtillerie suedoise (the ordinary iron guns) fut tellement eschauffee pendant le combat a force 
de tirer, qu’on ne la pouvait plus charger . . . Le Roi de Suede . . fit avancer ses pieces de 
cuir de nouvelle invention, s’enservit tres utilement, per^a le plus espais des troupes rarifliees et 
de la Cavalerie ennemie, de sorte qu’elle quitta finalement la partie et fit jour par tout.” 
Spanheim was a well-informed and perfectly trustworthy man. 
3 Riverside Churches, A. E. Daniell: London, 1897 : p. 146. 
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