Inglis was involved in the finances of aristocrats, particularly those who had acquired lands both in England and Scotland, including the
Countess of Home, and her sons-in-law, the Earls of
Moray and
Lauderdale and daughters. He looked after the affairs of the Countesses of
Moray and
Lauderdale as "administratices" of their mother's will. Inglis helped
William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian buy paintings for
Newbattle Abbey, including works by
George Geldorp. In June 1643, Inglis came to Glasgow in connection with a disputed cargo of "rich commodities", tobacco, and salt hides. He got into an argument on the street. Colin Campbell called him a rascal and "douped him on the breast". The case was referred to the
Privy Council of Scotland. In January 1646, Inglis lent £100 to
James Hope, who was making a trip to Europe to research
lead mining technology and to see
Elizabeth of Bohemia at
The Hague. Inglis was an agent of the
Goldsmith's Hall and was able to obtain cash in gold. He was able to give cash in London to holders of "letters of exchange". In September 1646,
Thomas Hope wrote to his son-in-law, Charles Erskine of
Cambuskenneth, who was in London buying items for Hope's daughter
Lady Cardross, that he had sent a letter of exchange for him to present to Inglis. Inglis could exchange letters or bills of exchange with other merchant financiers, including
John Clerk (first) of
Penicuik. A bill made in Edinburgh could be cashed in Paris by a third party. During the 1640s, Inglis was involved in loans and financing of public commissions sent from Edinburgh to London. He stood security as a guarantor for loans made by
William Dick of Braid in 1644, and he was on occasion Dick's factor in London. Inglis obtained money for provisions and gold on bills of exchange to pay the Scottish army of the
Solemn League and Covenant. In May 1644, he accepted £7,300 from the Countess of Home as a loan to balance gold sent to the Scottish army in
Ireland at
Carrickfergus. The soldier
Sir John Ruthven was involved in this financial transaction. At the time of the "
Engagement", in December 1647, Inglis received letters from Scotland for
Elizabeth Maxwell, Countess of Lanark. A list of cipher names compiled by
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose around the year 1648 includes a note about correspondence to be left with "Robert Inglis, Merchand of London, at London stone". The
London Stone was a landmark at
Cannon Street. When the Earl of Lauderdale was declared "
delinquent" in 1648, his furnishings in London and
Highgate were forfeited and sold despite petitions and counter-claims that the furniture belonged to his daughter Mary Maitland or had been sold to Robert Inglis. In March 1649, Inglis received the sum of £13,837 6s 8d. for managing the expenses of the Scottish commissioners at the trial of
Charles I. Robert Inglis died in London in 1655. Further details of his property and business transactions were registered in the records of the Edinburgh
Commissary Court, including bonds from the merchant John Clerk, and from Prudence Stock, a widow who held a freehold in
Chelsea, and was a partner in Lady Lane of
Horton's Charity. ==Foundation of George Heriot's School==