Bibliophiles

Sirs Robert Bruce Cotton and Walter Scott have at least one thing in common.  Both can be classified as bibliophiles.  Scott's library holds 9,000 volumes, according to the Abbotsford website (link on dashboard).  Cotton's library may have been smaller overall (1,000 volumes), but it was no less significant, as several leading intellects of the day (e.g. Francis Bacon, Ben Jonson, Walter Raleigh, James Ussher) utilized his book collection.  Cotton's collection included many legal documents, and was the most extensive source of these records in its day. Cotton is credited with proposing the first national library.  Sir Robert Bruce Cotton died on May 6, 1631.