The text is printed on paper watermarked 1807, and contains many additions and corrections in the margins and on slips of paper pasted in, in his hand and in the hand of his nephew James Chalmers. The chapter as originally printed apparently consisted of a total of 64 pages in 8 gatherings, containing not more than 8 pages of introductory matter (gathering A, pages i-?viii) and not more than 56 pages of text, with footnotes (gatherings B to H, pages 1-?56); this copy lacks gatherings A, G and H, in place of which are a half-title and title page (pages i-iv) and a revised version of the remainder of the text (pages 41-59), printed in larger type on slightly smaller leaves watermarked 1819. Volume II was published in 1810: it is not clear from the undated title page, which reads `Notices of the King and Parliament of Scotland, from Edgar to James I` whether Chalmers at any time intended to publish this separately.

The title page is followed (page v) by a letter dated 9 January 1808 of Charles Abbott, Speaker of the House of Commons, thanking Chalmers for sending him "some printed papers", presumably another copy of this chapter. Altogether 12 copies were printed: this is described (page 1) as `The Standard Copy`, and was presumably the author`s copy.