A grandson of Sir Robert, Sir John Cotton, desired to present the collection to the Nation, together with Cotton House, with various conditions as to name and safe custody, and after tedious negotiations the collection became National property and was deposited in Essex House, Strand; in 1730 it was moved to Ashburnham House, in Little Dean's Yard, Westminster, then the property of the Government, where also the old Royal manuscripts were kept. In 1731 a fire occurred at Ashburnham House, and a large number of manuscripts were burnt and many others badly injured. The remainder were then stored in a dormitory at Westminster School, and here they remained until they were transferred to the British Museum in 1757.
The Cottonian collection of manuscripts is now kept in the Manuscript Department at the British Museum; but there are numbers of printed books as well that are widely distributed. A member of the Cotton Family is always a Family Trustee of the British Museum. Sir Robert Cotton wrote a large number of tracts, mainly political. The Cottonian MSS. are curiously arranged under the names of the Roman Emperors.
COVENTRY, WILLIAM, FIFTH EARL OF COVENTRY
Arms.—Sa., a fess erm., between 3 crescents sa.
Crest.—A garb or, lying fesswise, thereon a cock gu., comb, wattles, and legs of the first.
Coronet.—That of an Earl.
Helmet.—That of a Peer.