The manuscript begins with a `Briefe descriptione of England, Scotland, Waillis and Cornewaill` which is printed in the Dalyell edition of 1814. The preface and the verses to the Bishop of Caithness are omitted and the introduction merely reads `Here begineth the Chronicle of Scotland`. Pitscottie`s text ends at the year 1565 (folio 133) on the occasion of the marriage of the Earl of Bothwell to Lady Jane Gordon. The addition continues to August, 1603 and a table of contents of the volume begins on folio 146.

The manuscript is written in the same hand throughout with marginal notes.

There is a single page of typescript loosely inserted at the rear of the volume giving an account of the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1546 taken from this manuscript (folio 110 verso).