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Updated: June 19, 2025
The mossy steps of the cross just outside the gateway are, according to a tradition in one of the Cottonian manuscripts, associated with the event which led to the founding of the Abbey by Walter Espec, lord of Helmsley. He had, we are told, an only son, also named Walter, who was fond of riding with exceeding swiftness.
* There are two original drafts of Magna Charta in the Cottonian Library. It would be extremely interesting were Cotton's own letters extant, to have some account from his pen of the manner in which he came by many manuscripts, the history of which is a blank to us from the time of the dissolution of the monasteries till they found a safe haven in his library.
The martyr is seen coming forth from his shrine in full pontifical robes, and making his way towards the altar as if to celebrate mass. This window is noticeable as containing the only representation that now exists of the shrine itself for the picture in the Cottonian MSS. evidently shows us, not the shrine, but its outer shell, or covering.
This codex is described by Sir Edward Maunde Thompson as French, of the time of Charlemagne, and we may add that its position in the Harleian may be compared to that of the Durham or Lindisfarne Gospels in the Cottonian library. The manuscripts numbered 2820 and 2821 are further examples of partially purple-stained vellum, in imitation of earlier work.
It was proposed, that these purchases should be joined to the famous Cottonian library, and a suitable repository provided for them and the king's library, which had long lain neglected and exposed to the injuries of the weather in the old dormitory at Westminster.
From both his father and grandfather he had inherited a taste for books, and as Speaker of the House of Commons, had taken considerable part in organising the Cottonian library when it was bequeathed to the nation.
But although fortunately the Harleian MSS. have been preserved from the fate of so many choice volumes in the Cottonian library, they have suffered to some extent from the carelessness or dishonesty of borrowers. The second Lord Oxford was generous to a fault in lending, with the inevitable result.
Here there is a mark in the original letter referring to a note written across the margin by Wanley as follows: "This is about the Cottonian Library, the custody whereof I did then, and many years after, most ardently desire. As to friendship between Dr.
This was the beginning of its wanderings and vicissitudes, which lasted nearly a hundred years. The first regular catalogue of the Cottonian library was made and printed at Oxford by Dr. Thomas Smith in 1696.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. The above account is based on the introduction in vol. ii. of the Rev. It was based mainly on the MS. called G above, and is the chief source of our knowledge of that MS. which perished, all but three leaves, in the Cottonian fire of 1723. Edmund Gibson of Queen's College, Oxford, afterwards bishop of London, published an edition in 1692.
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