Other Works of Napier

Napier was also devoted to the Protestant religion.  He considers his most important work to be the Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John which was published in 1593.  The work was based on the Book of Revelation, in which Napier believed the symbols were mathematical and could be interpreted with logic.  The book claimed that the Pope of 1593 was the Antichrist and that the world would end between 1688 and 1700.

Napier believed that the King of Spain, King Philip, might invade Scotland, and in order to protect his country made many inventions.  He is credited with early inventions of the tank, submarine and machine gun, as well as bulletproof clothing.  One story goes that he took a flock of sheep to test his machine gun and afterwards swore never to make another gun or reveal how it was made.