Manuscript produced in Scotland containing the Register of Dunfermline Abbey, a Benedictine house founded circa 1070 and dissolved in 1593. The material in the register covers the 12th to the 16th centuries.

The manuscript is a composite register compiled at various stages through the 13th to the 16th centuries. Davis and Broun state that the original portion of the manuscript was created sometime between 4 February 1254 and the early part of 1255. The work is multi-scribal and also contains several notarial signatures throughout. The work of the original scribe is present on folios 41r-52v, 57r-61r, 110r-111r, 115r, 117r-124v. The original portion of the manuscript contains royal, episcopal and other charters, arranged by grantors. The rest of the volume contains additions, Papal bulls, an index, copies of acts of the abbots and other miscellaneous documents.

The contents are as follows:

Folio 1 is a flyleaf with a fragment of text, possibly of the 15th century. Present on the verso side are 16th century additions to the charters.

16th-century insertions of charters by George Dury, abbot, and James Beaton, Archbishop of St Andrews. Folios 1v-10v.

A 15th-century insertion of an alphabetical index of the contents of the original portion register as it stood before the insertions of folios 1-40. Folios 11r-15r.

Later insertions of charters of George Dury, abbot, down to the year 1555. Folios 15r-34v.

Insertions in a hand of the 14th century, in parts illegible due to damage to the leaves. This portion contains undated entries which were perhaps used as styles. There are also entries which relate to the pedigrees of bondmen of the monasteries; the terms of homage done by Alexander III to Edward I in 1278; an inquisition in 1320 regarding the claims of the men of Tweedale, vassals of the Abbey; and various charters concerning the lands of the Abbey. Folios 35r-40v.

The original 13th-century register of the Abbey, 'est Margarite de Dunfermlyn liber iste'. Arranged by reign, followed by episcopal charters by see, which are followed by lay charters. Folios 41r-151v.

Royal charters, from David I to Alexander III. Folios 41r-54v.

Additions of royal charters of Robert I and lay charters. Folios 54v-56v.

Charters of the Bishops and chapter of St Andrews. Folios 57r-61r.

Later additions of the 14th-16th centuries of royal, episcopal, and lay charters in various hands. Folios 61v-109v.

Charters of the Bishops and chapter of Dunkeld. Folios 110r-111r.

Later additions of the 13th-16th centuries of episcopal and lay charters in various hands. Folios 111r-114v.

Charters of the Earls of Fife and Athol, with later additions. Folios 115r-117v.

Charters of the Countesses Ada and Ella of Fife. Folio 118r.

Charters of laymen, with later additions. Folios 118v-124v.

Royal and lay charters, with later additions. Folios 125r-127v.

Covenants and conventions regarding disputed territories, in a hand of the late 13th century. Folios 128r-131v.

Later insertions of episcopal and lay charters, 14th-16th centuries. Folios 131v-135r.

Papal bulls, in a hand of the late 13th century with later additions. Folios 135v-145r.

13th century and later additions to the charters. Folios 145r-150r.

A list of the churches of Scotland with fixed valuations for taxation, possibily of the late 13th century. Folios 150v-151v.

Additions to the charters, predominantly of the 16th century. Folios 151v-119v.

Broun notes that not all of the documents in the original portion of the chartulary are copmlete, although space is normally left for omitted text.

The original portion of the manuscript is written in double columns and is decorated with alternate red and blue initials and rubrics in red. Each folio has been lined recto and verso. Pricking is often visible for the horizontal and vertical lines.

The rest of the manuscript is written in a single column of text. The late 13th-century additions are decorated with initials in red and rubrics in red. Each folio has been lined and ruled recto and verso, but pricking is often not visbile.

The remainder of the manuscript is not decorated except for occasional penflourished initials.

There is a set of internal foliation in Roman numerals beginning on folio 41. This foliation runs vi-cxix. The foliation has been continued in pen for the section cxx-cxxxv. The manuscript has been refoliated in modern Library foliation in the form of Arabic numerals, 1-169, present in the upper right corner of the recto sides.

There is evidence of contemporary and modern repairs to the vellum throughout. Many of the leaves are badly stained from dirt and damp and are worn and illegible in places. Several folios have been treated with a gallotanic soluation which has rendered them illegible.

Pencil annotations in the margins next to a document refer to its place within the printed edition. Those without pencil annotations are later interpolations.