For, undoubtedly, Sir Robert COTTON stands convicted of dealing, more than once, with manuscripts which he had borrowed very much as though they had been manuscripts which he possessed. Mr. RILEY’S testimony is, on this point, conclusive. An independent witness, Dr. Sedgwick SAUNDERS, the able Chairman of the Library Committee of the Corporation of London, tells me that both the _returned_ MS. of _Liber Custumarum_, and also that of _Liber Legum Antiquorum_, bear as unmistakable marks of a claim to ownership on Sir Robert’s part, as those of which the return was refused. To such proofs as these I can myself add a new instance. Archbishop LAUD had procured, from the Principal and Fellows of St. John’s, the loan to Sir Robert COTTON of a certain ancient Beda MS. of great value. Many years passed, and the MS. had not returned to St. John’s. The Fellows cast severe blame on their eminent benefactor. [Sidenote: Archbp. Laud to Sir R. Cotton, MS. Cott. Julius C., iii, f. 232.] LAUD had to petition his friend COTTON for the return of Beda, in terms almost pathetic; and he was so doubtful whether pathos would suffice that he added bribe to entreaty. If, he said, ‘anything of worth in like kind come to my hands, I will freely give it you in recompense.’ The reader has seen the abounding proofs of that generous furtherance of every kind of literary effort which COTTON gave, throughout life, with an ungrudging heart and an open hand. [Sidenote: Bolton to Camden; MS. Harl., 7002, f. 396.] Sir ROBERT’S openness made his library—to use the words of an eminent contemporary—the ‘Common treasury’ of English antiquities. The reader now sees also the drawback. It remains for him to strike a true balance; and to strike it with justice, but also with charity. CHAPTER III. THE CHIEF COLLECTOR AND THE AUGMENTORS OF THE OLD ROYAL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY AT ST. JAMES’. ‘Death never makes such effectual demonstration of his power, as when he singles out the man who occupies the largest place in public estimation;—as when he seizes upon him whose loss is felt, by thousands, with all the tenderness of a family bereavement;—puts a sudden arrest, ... before the infirmities of age had withdrawn him from the labours of usefulness;— ... and sends the fearful report of this his achievement through the streets of the city, where it runs, in appalling whispers, among the multitude.’— THOMAS CHALMERS. _Life of_ HENRY, _Prince of Wales, son of_ JAMES I, _and virtual Founder of the ‘Royal Library.’—Its Augmentors and its Librarians.—Acquisition of the Library of the_ THEYERS.—_Incorporation with the Collections of_ COTTON _and of_ SLOANE. [Sidenote: BOOK I, Chap. III. LIFE OF HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES.]