English: Portrait of Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet (d.1631) of Connington. Collection of Society of Antiquaries, London. Arms of Cotton (Ancient): Argent, a bend sable between three pellets. The arrangement as seen on monuments in Exeter Cathedral to Bishop William Cotton (d.1621), Bishop of Exeter and on monument to his grandson Edward Cotton (d.1675), Treasurer of Exeter Cathedral, may be th result of 20th c. restoration.(See images[1]). William Cotton (fl.1378,1400) lord of the manor of Cotton in Cheshire, married Agnes de Ridware, daughter and heiress of Walter de Ridware, lord of the manor of Hamstall Ridware in Staffordshire.(Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.240-1) The junior branch of the Cotton family descended from Agnes de Ridware adopted the armorials of Ridware (Azure, an eagle displayed argent) ^[1] in lieu of their paternal arms of Cotton, which junior branch included Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington (1570-1631), founder of the Cottonian Library. The senior branch, of which Bishop Cotton was a member, retained the ancient arms of Cotton (Argent, a bend sable between three pellets). Arms: Cotton impaling Wessenham/Weasenham (of Norfolk?) (Sable, a fess dancette between three mullets pierced argent) of 4 quarters. Arms of Weasenham recorded by Weever in East Winch Church, Norfolk (The antiquities of King's Lynn By William Taylor (antiquary.), p.43[2]).