Cotton, Sir Robert Bruce, Descent and Pedigree of, 50 1570–1585. His education and early friendships, 52 1587–98. Commencement and growth of his library and museum, 53 1599. His archæological tour in the North of England with Camden, and his share in the composition of the _Britannia_, 54; is employed by the Queen to prepare a tractate on the precedency of England over Spain, 55; analysis of that treatise, _ib._ 1603. Writes a _Discourse on King James’ descent from the Saxon Kings_, 56; is knighted, _ib._; and returned to Parliament for Huntingdonshire, but takes little part in its debates, 57; accepts a prominent share in the labour of Committees, _ib._; and carries on an extensive correspondence both literary and political, _ib._; acquires for his Library a mass of State Papers, 58; petitions Queen Elizabeth for the establishment of a National and Public Library for England, _ib._; inference which is obviously deducible thence in relation to the charge that Sir R. Cotton was an embezzler of Public Records, 59. 1607. Receives an address from the Corporation of London, praying him to restore certain documents alleged to belong to the City Chamber, _ib._ 1608. Proposes to the King certain reforms in the naval administration of the country, 62; and obtains Letters Patent, creating a commission of Naval Inquiry, 63; takes a leading part in the labours of the Commission, and prepares its report, 63. 1609. His _Report on the Crown Revenues_, and his Memorials on the necessity for a reform in the royal expenditure, 64. 1611. Proposes to the King the creation of a new hereditary dignity—the Baronetage of England, 65; receives that dignity, but is dissatisfied with the mode in which his idea is worked out, 66. 1613–15. Nature of his political connection and intercourse with the Earl of Somerset, 67; his alleged share in carrying on negotiations with Gondomar, in relation to the projected match with Spain, 68. 1615. He receives a visit from Gondomar, in which that ambassador introduces himself as a lover of antiquities desirous to view the Cottonian Library, _ib._; is charged with the communication of State Papers to Gondomar, 69; returns the Spanish ambassador’s visit, 70, 71; Gondomar’s account of what passed at their several interviews, _ib._; notices of Mr. S. R. Gardiner’s comments on and deductions from that account, 72 _note_; is entrusted by Somerset with the temporary care of certain jewels of the Crown, 75; and is consulted by him with reference to the drafting of a royal pardon to be passed under the Great Seal, 77; writes a Letter to Prince Charles (afterwards King Charles I), in