WHO INVENTED THE LEATHER GUNS? 
599 
gun was under trial at Copenhagen in October, 1628; and again iu 
January, 1629 there "is an'allusion to a leather gun, a “ nye invention,” 
a new invention. Scott's gun, which was still on its trial, could be 
described as a new invention in 1629 with far more propriety than 
Wurmbrandt’s, which had been known since 1627; and what Norse¬ 
man would have applied the English word f invention'to Wurmbrandt’s 
gun ? The f lerstcecker ’ was no doubt Scott’s gun. But he seems to 
have had no better fortune in Denmark than in Sweden. His gun 
was not adopted by Christian IV : had it been, the fact could not 
have escaped Captain Blom’s notice. And just at this moment Scott 
was advised to ee tender his services to his own Prince, which he doing 
His Ma tie willinglie accepted, &c., &c.” 
As soon as he found an opportunity Scott introduced his gun into 
the English service, while Sir Alexander Leslie (afterwards first Lord 
Leven) may have possibly introduced Wurmbrandt’s into the Scotch. 
When Leslie gave up his command in the Swedish army in 1638, in 
order to return home, Queen Christina gave him 2000 muskets and two 
field pieces in lieu of pay. 1 Were these the leather guns he used with 
such triumphant effect at Newburn, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 
1640 ? 2 * 
Weymss succeded to the office held by Scott, and a warrant was 
issued on the 26th February, 1633, te for carrying such quantity of 
earth to Mr. Wemyss’ garden at Vauxhall as should suffice for mak¬ 
ing a butt to prove ordnance.” 8 But he does not seem to have suc¬ 
ceeded to the emoluments of the office. On the 9th July, 1637, he 
presented a petition to Government in which he expresses his “ fear 
of being cast into prison by his creditors.” He reminds them that 
he has advanced £1,100 out of his own pocket, and prays that “ he be 
not in a worse estate than the mackannikest (sic) man that serves the 
King, as he has these seven years without receiving a penny.” 4 He 
was appointed Master-Gunner of England shortly afterwards, and in 
a report to Government, 10th September, 1638, he “ regrets to say 
that there are few gunners in the kingdom, at this time, who under¬ 
stand the several ranges of ordnance or use of the mortar, which in 
effect are the special points belonging to a gunner and impossible to 
attain unto without a great and continued practice.” 5 After he had 
been taken prisoner at Copredy Bridge, Lord Essex wrote to the Par¬ 
liament urging that he should be speedily exchanged at any cost:— 
{c a man of his abilities is not to be lost.” 6 On the restoration Wemyss 
was reappointed to his former office; but, notwithstanding his abilities, 
he was suffered to end his days miserably. Shortly before his 
death he wrote a letter asking for his f demission ’ to Charles II, dated 
1 Diet, of National Hog., art “ Alex Leslie.” 
2 Bishop Burnet’s Hist, of mg own Times, Bk. I. 
:i State Papers, as before. 
4 State Papers. 
5 lb. 
6 lb. 15 July, 1644. The action was fought on the 29th June. 
