clxxxiv LIFE OF 



of the subject of wliich he treats. In the Address to the Reader 

 he says it " was only written for the private satisfaction of a very 

 worthy gentleman, who is exceedingly curious in the choice of his 

 fruits, and has great judgment in planting ; " but as that person 

 had expressed a strong opinion of its utility, Cotton thought 

 proper to publish it. The following passage, in which he recom- 

 mends that fruit-trees should be imported from France, is remark- 

 able : " Seeing that (for aught I ever heard) fruit-trees are no 

 contraband commodity betwixt the natiops, I cannot conceive but 

 that it is worth the curiosity, pains, and cost, to furnish ourselves 

 from thence with those of the greatest excellency, both for beauty 

 and flavour ; nor why we should not as well better ourselves by 

 them this way, as altogether be debauched by their effeminate 

 manners, luxurious kickshaws, and fantastic fashions, by which we 

 are already sufficiently Frenchified, and more than in the opinion 

 of the wiser sort of men, is consistent either with the constitution, 

 or indeed the honour of the English nation." 



Cotton had the misfortune to lose his wife about the year 1670. 

 He had by her three sons, Beresford, Wingfield," and Charles 

 Cotton, and five daughters, Olive, Katherine, Isabella, Jane, and 

 Mary. Of these children, Charles, WingfiaM, Isabella, Jane, and 

 Mary were born after 1664 ; but only five of them were living in 

 1675. It is uncertain how long he continued a widower; but 

 probably only a short time, as before 1675 he had married Mary, 

 the eldest daughter of Sir William Russell, of Strensham, in Wor- 

 cestershire, Bart.; and widow of Wingfield, fifth Baron Cromwell, 

 and second Earl of Ardglass, who died in 1668. That lady is 

 said to have had a jointure of ^i 500 per annum ; but this increase 

 to his income did not prevent the necessity of his again applying 

 to Parhament in the 27th Car. II. 1675, for authority to sell part 

 of his estates, for the payment of his debts ; and an Act was passed 

 in that year which affords much information about his affairs. 

 After reciting the settlement of his estates in July 1656, which has 

 been already mentioned,* the Act states that his wife Isabella was 

 then dead ; that she had left one son and four daughters, who were 

 prevented by their father's mortgages, and other incumbrances, 

 from enjoying the advantages to which they were entitled under 

 that settlement ; and that he therefore was willing to divest him- 



* This son was probably so called after Wingfield Cromwell, Earl of Ardglass, whose 

 leidow Cotton married. As Sir Aston Cokayne calls tin; Earl of Ardglass " his noble 

 kinsman," that nobleman must have been also distantly related to Cotton. 



*» Vide page clxxi. antea. 



