Manuscript containing a transcript of the chartulary of Crail Collegiate Church, which was founded as a Collegiate in 1517.

The volume consists of transcripts of the charters of constitution and endowment, with inventories of plates, ornaments and books. The work is arranged in a rough topographical order, and the charters are followed by their respective instruments.

Davis dates the manuscript to 1528. The main body of work covers the years 1499-1530. The volume is multi-scribal, but the bulk of the work is written in a large bastarda hand, with other contemporary hands and a gothic bookhand in the interpolations.

The contents are as follows:

Folio 1 is a later insertion of charters dated 1541-1543, headed 'copia acta penes emphiotesim tenementorum jacentium in new clos, infra ciuitatem sactandree'.

Folio 2r is the start of work proper which runs to 118v, with several interpolations and insertions, detailed below.

Folios 104r-107v are later insertions, with charters covering the years 1544-1555. The hand changes to a gothic bookhand, with a gold leaf initial on folio 104r. Pricking is evident for the horizontal lines, and rubrics and larger initials are executed in red.

Folio 107v is blank and is not lined or ruled.

Folios 108r-109v are in Scots and contain an inventory of ornaments, silver, vestments, and books.

Folios 114r-115v are later insertions, with charters covering the years 1553-1554. The hand changes to a gothic bookhand, as above. Pricking is again evident for the horizontal lines.

Witness lists are often present the end of the charters. There are notarial signatures present on the following folios: 113v (Robert Lauson); 116r (George Atkinson); 116v (John Broun and Andrew Oliphant (Elephantus)); 118v (Andrew Oliphant (Elephantus)).

Several folios towards the beginning of the volume are headed with titles in the top margin which refer to institutions which were under the care of the Collegiate.

On folio 57v is a scribal inscription with date, which probably reads 1528.

Each leaf has been lined recto and verso. The interpolated sheets occasionally have lining and ruling, but this is inconsistent. In the centre of the lower margin there would appear to be a single puncture mark which is consistent throughout the volume, except for the interpolated sheets.

On the inner front board there is an 18th-century paper paste-down which gives details of excerpts made of the charters. On the turn-in there is a vertical numerical equation, probably also 18th century. On the inner of the back board there is a large pencil inscription which reads 'Androw', possibly mimicking the facing notarial signature.

The following folios have been trimmed with loss of the lower margins, and occasionally some text: 11, 18-27, 42-45, 79 (half leaf).

Alphabetical signatures running 'A' to'd' are present in the lower margins of the following folios: 58r, 68r, 79r, and 88r. Only the signature 'A' is in uppercase, with the remaining letters in lowercase.

The decoration throughout consists of plain pen work initials, except for in the later interpolations at folios 104-107 and 114-115.

Throughout the volume there are marginal annotations in various hands, a few of which are scribal. Most are of the 18th century and relate to the value of lands in the charters.

There have been occasional alterations, corrections, and interlineal additions to the charters themselves, most of which are scribal amendments.

There is evidence of contemporary repairs, but these are infrequent.