On the first leaf is the inscription “Concerning the Chekker and the Kingis rent 1591”.

The description of the manuscript in the folio catalogue (F.R.186) includes the reference: w.3.11.

The contents are as follows: (i) Act of Suretie for Angus McConell of Dunecraig, 1591 (folio 3); (ii) The King’s command to the Seals anent the revocation, 1591 (folio 4); (iii) Act of Suretie for McClane of Dowart, 1591 (folio 11); (iv) Copies of papers by the King, Checker, Comptroller etc. regarding the reform of the Kings and Queen’s household expenses, and estimates and means for supporting them, 1591 (folio 1-folio 22); (v) 'Of the Lawis of Scotland', a few general dissertations on particular points of Scotch law; (vi) Notes and rough drafts of calculations of the King’s rents and expenses; (vii) The account of the collector of Taxation, 1586; (viii) Accounts of the Crown property - prepared for the Queen (Anne of Denmark) on her coming into Scotland; (ix) Extracts from the ‘Libri responsionum’ in Exchequer, 1553-1579; (x) Taxation account, 1593 (folio 53); (xi) Papal Commissioners judgment between Thornton and Crechtoun regarding the Canonry of Forgand, Dunkeld (folio 73); (xii) A list of prints of dittay in Justice Courts (folio 78); (xiii) Estimates for the Royal expenses (folio 82); (xiv) ‘De modo vivendi Regis’, 'Actis of chekker sen the 1580 to March 1593' (folio 86); (xv) Act of Chequer, 1587, 'for susteining the King’s hous substantiouslie' etc (folio 106); (xvi) Act of Council annulling pensions and tacks of benefices, 1587 (folio 114); (xvii) Contract between the Comptroller and Collector for support of the household, 1588 (folio 116); (xviii) Clauses to be inserted in feu charters or tacks of the Crown lands of Fife and Strathern (folio 121); (xix) The Assignation for the household, 1575 (folio 122); (xx) Offers made to the Queen Regent for augmenting the rents of the Crown (folio 124); (xxi) Expenses for the Young Prince, 1546 (folio 126).

The latter part of the volume contains many copies of the preceding articles and other papers and notes chiefly concerning the King’s property and expenditure:

(xxii) For reformation of the number and abuses of Officers of arms (folio 160); (xxiii) Articles for reformation of certain abuses in the Estait (folio 166); (xxiv) Of the Queen’s property, 1556 (folio 176).