16th-century manuscript written in Scotland, containing a register of charters and leases covering the years 1553-1574.

Davis has dated the manuscript to the second half of the 16th century. The volume is multi-scribal, containing entries in various contemporary hands.

Affixed to the beginning of the volume, folio ii, is an analysis of the contents by James David Forbes, who at that time was principal of the United College at the University of St Andrews.

The manuscript is complete except for one missing folio at the start of the volume. Several pages towards the beginning are soiled with dirt and damp-staining.

The manuscript is divided into the following sections, each prefaced by a title page in a large gothic font:

Chartulary of the Priory of St Andrews, 1553-1566. Folios 1r-196v.

This part of the manuscript is a record of charters and infeftments, most of them granted by the Commendator, James Earl of Moray, and the Convent. There are 379 deeds in total, primarily concerned with grants of land, signed by various different notaries.

'Registr[um] Cartaru[m] et alio[rum] munimento[rum] terrar[um] prioratus de Pettinweyme. Incipien[s] in anno d[omi]ni 1553. Per reverendu[m] in Christo p[at]rem et d[omin]um Jacobu[m] eiusde[m] p[ri]oratus et S[an]cti Andr[eae] Co[m]mendatariu[m]'. Folios 197r-295v.

This section contains charters of the Priory of Pittenweem, under St Andrews Priory, from 1553-1567. There are 171 deeds in all in the name of the Commendator John, Prior of Pittenweem. A deed near the beginning is in the name of Robert Bishop of Caithness, the next Commendator.

'Registr[um] Cartar[um] et alio[rum] munime[n]to[rum] terrar[um] ac decimar[um] eccl[es]iar[um] Archie[pisco]patus Sancti Andr[eae] Incipien[s] a p[ri]mo Nove[m]bris a[n]no d[omi]ni 1553 p[er] r[everend]um in Christo p[at]rem et d[omin]um Joh[ann]em eiusde[m] sedis Archiep[iscopu]m.' Folios 296r-400v.

This section contains 131 deeds of John Hamilton archbishop of St Andrews; Robert Bishop of Caithness (Commendator); James Earl of Moray; John Wyntoun, Superintendent of Fife. The documents are not entered in a consecutive order. The earliest document is dated to 1553 and the latest to 1574.

Lining and ruling is in drypoint.

Most charters are introduced by a rubric, but the manuscript is not decorated except for large penwork initials which are occasionally flourished in places.

There is an early foliation in Arabic numerals, possibly 17th-century, which runs consecutively between the first two sections. This foliation is one number out of sequence as it was in place before a leaf was lost. The third section has its own internal foliation, also in Arabic numerals, which runs 1-104. Both sets of foliation have been superseded by a consecutive modern Library foliation.