Although the general arrangement is the same as that of the first printed edition of 1681 (except that Titles 18 and 19 appear in reverse order), the text is considerably shorter, for most of the Titles have fewer chapters (some have only half as many), and fewer references to case-decisions.

At folio iv is an inscription (repeated at folio v verso) stating that the copying of the book was completed on 19 October 1677; it is presumably in the hand of James Hay, whose note of ownership appears below it. At folio i verso is a contents list referring to the original pagination, which, being faulty, has been ignored. Separate sheets of paper on which the text has been written have been pasted over folios 8 verso and 11, which are defaced by extensively spilt ink; folios 9-10 verso are blank; most of folio 162 and all of folio 175 have been left blank for the inclusion of chapter-headings. At the top of folio 1 are written the title and the inscription ‘Manuscript B’ in a hand or hands of the 18th century.