The manuscript is apparently in the hand of John Elphinston: see Adv.MS.32.3.9, folio 78 verso. Several items in Adv.MS.32.3.9 are also in this hand.

The contents of the manuscript are as follows:

(i) Autobiography of John Livingstone, minister of Ancrum. It has been published from the version in Wod.Qu.XVIII in ‘Select Biographies’, i, pages 129-197. This manuscript has a few variants from the published version. (Folio 1.)

(ii) `An Account of what past when Mr John Livingstone appeared before the Councill in the lower Councill house at Edinburgh 11 of December 1662`. Cf. ‘Select Biographies’, i, pages 215-221. (Folio 51.)

(iii) `Some expressions of Mr John Livingstone ... a litle before his death ye 9 of August 1672`. Cf. ‘Select Biographies’, i, pages 290-291, and Wod.Qu.XVIII, folio 85. (Folio 55 verso.)

(iv) Sermon of Livingstone at Ancrum, 13 October, 1662. Cf. ‘Select Biographies’, i, pages 201-212 and Wod.Qu.XXVII, number 17. (Folio 56 verso.)

(v) Letter of Livingstone to his parish, 3 April 1663. Cf. ‘Select Biographies’, i, pages 225-229. (Folio 64.)

(vi) Sayings of Livingstone. Cf. ‘Select Biographies’, i, pages 279-286. (Folio 67.)

(vii) Extracts from Robert McWard`s ‘Επαγωνισμοί: or, Earnest Contendings for the Faith’. The pagination noted in the margins does not agree with that of the 1723 edition. (Folio 73.)

(viii) Memoirs of James Fraser of Brea, minister of Culross. Although related to Fraser`s published memoirs (‘Select Biographies’, ii, pages 85-370), it is not the same. It chiefly concerns Fraser`s spiritual life, but also mentions his various trials and his imprisonment on the Bass Rock. There appear to have been several lacunae in the original manuscript from which this was copied. (Folio 119.)

(ix) Notes of sermons and pious reflections of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston, January-March 1650. They do not appear in David Hay Fleming`s edition of Warriston`s diary. (Folio 169.)

(x) Memoirs of Katharine Ross (published Edinburgh, 1735). For another closely related manuscript of this and sections (xii)-(xiii), see Adv.MS.32.4.4, folios 27-126. This copy also includes the note (folio 194) identifying the minister of Auldearn. (Folio 185.)

(xi) Notes by Jean Collace on the deaths of her sisters Katharine and Elizabeth in 1697 and 1704. See Adv.MS.32.4.4, folio 79. (Folio 238.)

(xii) `Some short remembrances of the Lords kindness to me and his work on my soul for my own use`, by Jean Collace. See Adv.MS.32.4.4, folio 79 verso. (Folio 238 verso.)