The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Robert Cotton, Sir (22 Jan 1571 - 06 May 1631)

A leading scholar, antiquarian and collector of antiquities (Selwyn and Selwyn 517). His collection is briefly described by William Camden in Britannia (Hepple 2003, 164). He collected books, manuscripts, coins, medals, and Roman inscriptions in stone (some twenty such artifacts, fifteen of which survive today), which he kept in a specially-built octagonal summerhouse in his garden (Hepple 2003, 163-4). His other curiosities included a “petrified fish tongue” (a gift from Richard Verstegan) and a fossilized skeleton of an enormous fish found near Connington. The remains of his collected stone inscriptions are at University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Hepple). He was a close friend and collaborator of William Camden, and accompanied him on his norther tour in 1599. Camden in the 1607 edition of Britannia (as quoted in Philemon Holland's 1610 translation) describes his "having gathered with great charges from all places the monuments of venerable antiquitie, [he] hath fere begunne a famous Cabinet, whence of his singular courtesie, he hath often times given me great light in these darksome obscurities" (Camden 1610, 500).

William Howard sent some Roman altars and inscribed stones to Cotton for his collection of antiquities: "Pottery, bones and above all coins found their way into their collections--notably that of Sir Robert Cotton--and were proudly displayed to visitors, along with their shelves of books" (Selwyn and Selwyn, 517).

The remains of Cotton's collected stone inscriptions are at University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge (http://maa.cam.ac.uk/home/index.php). Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6425?docPos=2 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bruce_Cotton Collector (major)
 Relevant locations: Housed collection or remnant at Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge
Residence at Conington, Huntingdonshire
 Relationships: Robert Cotton was a associate or acquaintance (general) of William Camden (2 May 1551-1623)

Robert Cotton (c. 1669-1749) was a descendant of Robert Cotton
Roger Dodsworth (1585-1654) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Robert Cotton
William Howard (19 Dec 1563-Oct 1640) was a donor to Robert Cotton
Linked manuscripts: as - Additional MS 29936, British Library,
Linked manuscript items: as Collector (major) - "Picture of Cotton's summerhouse," British Library Additional MS 29936, London
as Collector (minor) - "[to be determined]," British Museum British Museum mss, London
 Linked print sources: as Collector (minor) - Sir Robert Cotton’s Collection of Roman Stones: A Catalogue and a Commentary.
as Collector (minor) - William Camden and Early Collections of Roman Antiquities in Britain.
as Mentioned or referenced by - 'The Profession of a Gentleman': Books for the Gentry and the Nobility (c.1560-1640).
as Subject of/in a document - Curiosities and Texts: The Culture of Collecting in Early Modern England.
 Linked images:
Cotton's octagonal summerhouse

Conington Castle

References in Documents:
Objects mentioned in correspondence

Yours of the 10th instant came safe to my hands, with that learned discourse inclosed, concerning the word emunire, wherein I perceive your sense is the same with my good friends Mr. Bishe and Mr. Junius, (with both whome I have also consulted about it.) I have herewithall sent you one of the bones of that fish, which was taken up by Sir Robert Cotton, in digging a pond at the skirt of Conington Downe, desiring your opinion thereof and of what magnitude you think it was.

British Curiosities in Nature and Art (1713)

Cotton Library] In the passage from Westminster-Hall, to the Abby, where are a curious Collection of Ancient choice manuscript Vollumes: done mostly on Vellum, collected by Sir Robert Cotton; and is by Act of Parliament, made a publick Library. With Medals and other Curiosities.

The Palace] (where Queen Anne was Born 1664.) and Chapel of St. James. Here in the great Court, is a Whales Rib, in length about 21 Foot and 21 Inches in Breadth or Diameter in the thickest part; and at White-Hall, the Banqueting-House, and Statue of King James II. in Brass, with the Dial in Privy-Garden, are observable.

The Duke of Montague's House] is also very remarkable for curious Finishing and Furniture.

Shells, Insects, a Coffee-tree with Berries, &c.] A curious Collection at Dr. Sloan’s, in Bloomsbury-Square.

British Curiosities in Nature and Art (1713)

Cotton Library] In the passage from Westminster-Hall, to the Abby, where are a curious Collection of Ancient choice manuscript Vollumes: done mostly on Vellum, collected by Sir Robert Cotton; and is by Act of Parliament, made a publick Library. With Medals and other Curiosities.