Each item is accompanied by a modern abstract in French and, in most cases, a typed English translation.

The contents are as follows.

(i) Contemporary copy of instructions given by the Dukes de Guise and de Montmorency to the Seigneurs de Fourquevaux and de Visque regarding their mission to Scotland with 1200 men and munitions, Bordeaux, 1548(folio 7). Preceded by an abstract (folio 1 verso) and a translation (folio 2).

(ii) Abstract, early twentieth century, of a letter, 1548, signed by Henri II and countersigned by Claude de l'Aubespine, appointing Raimond, Baron de Fourquevaux Governor of Hume Castle, St Germain-en-Laye (folio 22 verso). The original letter, previously within this manuscript, is now MS.2992.

(iii) Letter signed by the Duke de Montmorency to de Fourquevaux and de Visque regarding a sum of 15,000 crowns sent to Scotland and the distribution of wine among the Scottish Court, Bordeaux, 9 November 1548 (folio 24). Preceded by an abstract (folio 23 verso).

(iv) Letter signed by Mary of Guise to Mademoiselle de Fourquevaux, welcoming her, 'Potladey', 14 February 1550 (folio 27). Preceded by an abstract (folio 25 verso) and a translation (folio 26).

(v) Letter signed by the Duke de Montmorency to de Fourquevaux mentioning the arrival of the Sieur de Montluc at Brest, Paris, 30 March 1549 (folio 30). Preceded by an abstract (folio 28 verso) and a translation (folio 29).

(vi) Letter signed by Mary of Guise to de Fourquevaux regarding provisions and mentioning Lord Home, Lislebourg (Edinburgh), 17 July 1549 (folio 33). Preceded by an abstract (folio 31 verso) and a translation (folio 32).

(vii) Letter signed by Mary of Guise to de Fourquevaux referring to Lord Home and asking for information about the enemy's activities, Lislebourg, 27 July 1549 (folio 36). Preceded by an abstract (folio 34 verso) and a translation (folio 35).

(viii) Autograph letter of Mary of Guise to de Fourquevaux, as Governor and Captain of Humes (Hume Castle), restricted by lack of a cipher to expressions of good will, no place, undated (folio 40). Preceded by an abstract (folio 37 verso) and a translation (folio 39).

(ix) Letter signed by Henri II, King of France, and countersigned by Claude de l'Aubespine, complimenting de Fourquevaux on his work in Scotland and Ireland, as reported by de Montluc, St Germain-en-Laye, 24 April 1550 (folio 43). Preceded by an abstract (folio 41 verso) and a translation (folio 42).

(x) Letter signed by Henri II and countersigned by de l'Aubespine to de Fourquevaux, requesting him to return to France as soon as possible, Boulogne, 20 March 1550 (folio 46). Preceded by an abstract (folio 44 verso) and a translation (folio 45).

(xi) Certificate signed by Paule de Termes (Thermes), Maréchal de France and Henri II's Lieutenant-General in Scotland, that Monsuier de Montluc, now Bishop of Valence, accompanied by de Fourquevaux, then Captain and Governor of 'Humes', went to Ireland in 1549 and have not been paid their expenses, St Germain-en-Laye, 24 August 1561 (folio 49). Preceded by an abstract (folio 47 verso) and a translation (folio 48).

(xii) Instructions and memoranda for de Fourquevaux and de Visque on what they shall communicate to the King of France, given by Mary of Guise, Lislebourg, 29 and 27 February 1549 (folios 66, 68), by the Seigneur de Dessey (Essé), Gedouard (Jedburgh), 20 February 1549 (folio 69), by Mary of Guise and the Seigneur d'Oysel (folio 71 verso), by the Governor of Scotland (the Earl of Arran) (folio 73), by the Earl of Argyll, proposing an invasion of Ireland (folio 74 verso), and by d'Oysel (folio 77). These instructions contain much information about the political and military situation in Scotland. Preceded by an abstract (folio 51) and a translation (folio 55). According to the abstract, this is a copy in de Fourquevaux's autograph (folio 66).