At Crobredery Bridge (Cropredy) we overtook Waller’s army which we engaged and beat, took Wemes General of their army prisoner and withal took his leather guns which proved serviceable to the King. These leather guns were formed of a cylinder of copper round which was twisted thick hempen cord and the whole enveloped in a leather jacket. An example which is traditionally stated to be one of Scot’s guns used by Gustavus Adolphus, is exhibited in the Rotunda Museum, Woolwich (II, 173). The dolphins on this specimen are fashioned to the letter “G” placed horizontally. There are two similar guns in the Musée d’Artillerie. 1678. _Traité des Armes, p. 55_, Gaya. Quoy que les Bufles ne soient proprement que les habillemens de Cavaliers, nous pouvons neanmoins les mettre au nombre de leurs armes deffensives, plus qu’ils peuvent aisement résister à l’Epée lors qu’ils sont d’une peau bien choissie. Les Bufles ... sont faits en forme de Juste-au-corps à quatre basques qui descend jusqu’aux genoux. Il n’y a pas un Cavalier dans les trouppes de France qui n’ait un habillement de Bufle. The buff coat of leather or “cuir de bœuf” was a part of the military equipment as early as 1585 and was in common use during the Civil War. It was worn by the Life Guards at the Coronation of James II in 1685 and by a detachment of the Artillery Company at the entry of George I in 1714. It ceased to be worn as part of the uniform in the following reign.[119] 1591-5. _Instructions, Observations and Orders Militarie, p. 185_, Sir John Smith. ... halbadiers ... armed with burganets and with short skirted Ierkins of buffe with a double buffe on their breasts and the sleeves of their doublets with stripes of maile or serecloth aforesaide. Here we find a return to the primitive defence of the eleventh century, due to the increased weight of armour which was necessary against the improved firearms which were by this time a serious factor in war. The serecloth recommended was probably a stout waxed or oiled canvas. In recommending sleeves of mail, which are shown on Plate XVIII, Sir John Smith considers that they are more convenient for the handling of the halberdier’s weapon than the more rigid brassards worn by the cavalry. These strips of chain are shown on one of the figures painted by Memling for the “Chasse of S. Ursula” at Bruges, 1486, which is given on Fig. 24 of this work. They have been re-introduced as shoulder-straps for heavy cavalry at the present day. FOOTNOTES: [113] The Pembridge effigy in Hereford Cathedral has thigh-pieces which apparently represent leather laced on the inside. [114] _Memoirs_, Vol. I, ch. 33. [115] _Arms and Armour at Oxford_, C. ffoulkes. [116] _Arms and Armour at Oxford_, C. ffoulkes. [117] Johnes’ trans., I, 739. [118] Kündig, Geneva, 1910. [119] Cannon, _Historical Records of the Life Guards_, p. 74. THE WEARING OF ARMOUR