14 
Acts and Votes, tyc. 
t. William 1 the Third, intituled, An Act for the 
in the House at Westminster, called Cotton 
House, in the Name and Family of the Cottons, 
for the Benefit of the Publick, reciting, That 
Sir Robert Cotton, late of Connington, in the 
County of Huntingdon, Baronet, did, at his 
own great Charge, and by the Assistance of 
the most learned Antiquaries of his Time, 
collect and purchase the most useful Manu- 
scripts, written Books, Papers, Parchments, 
Records, and other Memorials, in most Lan- 
guages, of great Use and Service for the 
Knowledge and Preservation of our Con- 
stitution both in Church and State; and 
further reciting, That the said Library had 
been preserved with the utmost Care by Sir 
Thomas Cotton, Son of the said Sir Robert, 
and by Sir John Cotton, then living, Grand- 
son of the said Sir Robert; and had been 
very much augmented by them, and lodged 
in a very proper Place in the said Sir 
John's ancient Mansion House at West- 
minster, for publick Use and Advantage ; it 
was enacted, That the said Mansion House, 
with the Garden, and all other Appur- 
tenances, and also the said Library, should 
Will. III. con- 
cerning the 
Cottonian 
Library, 
better settling and preserving the Library kept 
