IV 
INTRODUCTION. 
The Cottonian 
Library. 
A beginning having thus been made of a public 
scientific Repository, it was deemed expedient to 
enlarge its extent, and increase its importance, by 
adding to it whatever happened to be at that time 
within the reach of the Legislature. Accordingly 
Parliament having, by various successive acts and 
resolutions, obtained the full possession of the 
library of manuscripts collected by Sir Robert 
Cotton, in the times of Queen Elizabeth and 
James I., and increased by his son, Sir Thomas 
Cotton, in the subsequent reign, provided in the 
above-mentioned Act that this collection should 
be made a part of the intended National Mu¬ 
seum.* 
Concerning this Library, which has ever been 
deemed an inestimable treasure, chiefly abounding 
in authentic documents relating to the history, the 
antiquities, the laws, and constitution of these 
Realms, and also in many ancient and splendid 
biblical and liturgick volumes, chronicles, and a 
variety of political tracts, we shall only remark 
at present that it now consists of 86l volumes; 
of 
* From the preamble to the act of Parliament, 12 and 13 of 
William IIL cap. 7, it may be gathered, that the public is chiefly 
indebted for this Library to the liberality of Sir John Cotton, Bart 
grandson to the first collector. 
