English Antiquaries. Black and white illustration of Leland, Cotton and Spelman. John Leland or Leyland (13 September, c. 1503 - 18 April 1552) was an English poet and antiquary. Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet (22 January 1570/1 - 6 May 1631) was a Member of Parliament and an antiquarian who founded the Cotton library. Sir Henry Spelman (c. 1562 - October 1641) was an English antiquary, noted for his detailed collections of medieval records, in particular of church councils