Manuscript compiled in Scotland by Patrick Russell, a prior of the Charterhouse of Perth. The manuscript is an abridged copy of the 'Book of Cupar Angus', which is itself an abbreviation of the 'Scotichronicon'.

The manuscript is written in a single column, probably all by the same hand, which is becomes harder to read towards the end of the volume. The work is not complete, as two or more folios are missing between 246v and 247r.

Watt suggests that the lost examplar text used for the manuscript possibly dates from 1451 or before, but that this manuscript must date at the earliest from the reign of James III, the years 1460-1488. Professor R. J. Lyall suggests that some of the paper probably dates from circa 1480 due to watermark evidence.

The prologue of the manuscript describes the work as a shortened version of the sixteen books of the 'Scotichronicon', but Watt advises that it is in fact derived and further abbreviated from the Coupar Angus MS or its exemplar.

The text of the manuscript is divided into 12 Books, within each of which the chapters are numbered consecutively. The chapter numbers have a running order throughout the manuscript and are given in the margins. The book numbers are only given at the start of their relevant sections, also in the margins, except for at the heads of folios 48v and 76v.

At folios 270v-272r the manuscript includes two epitaphs on James I which are not to be found in any other manuscript. Not included in this manuscript, however, are the 'Liber Alius' or the 'Liber Extravagans' which are found in the Coupar Angus MS.

The manuscript is decorated with red initials throughout, with guide letters often visible. Paraphs and underlining are in red, with initials stroked in red throughout.

Most folios have been lined recto and verso, although this is not consistent.

There are scribal marginal additions, often underlined in red, as well as later marginal additions possibly by William Sinclair and James Balfour.

Horizontal catchwords are present on the following folios, sometimes cropped: 2v, 4v, 12v, 14v, 16v, 24v, 26v, 28v, 38v, 40v, 52v, 64v, 76v, 96v, 108v, 122v, 146v, 148v, 156v, 158v, 160v, 168v, 170v, 172v, 182v, 192v, 194v, 196v, 244v, 252v, 264v, 266v.

Quire signatures are present in the form of lower case letters running from ‘a’ to ‘p’ along with Roman numerals, first visible on folio 99r. The signatures are sometimes cropped of faint, but are probably also present on folios 99r, 101r, 109r, 111r, 113r, 121r, 125r, 133r, 135r, 137r, 147r, 149r, 157r, 159r, 161r, 169r, 171r, 173r, 183r, 185r, 193r, 195r, 197r, 207r, 209r, 219r, 241r, 243r, 245r, 252r, 253r, 255r, 263r, 265r, 267r.