The volume is titled ‘A collection of several Acts of Parliament, Acts of Sederunt and other documents concerning the privileges and Immunities of the College of Justice by W. Aikman of Cairnie, Advocate, 1687’.

The original board contained the note, ‘This Book was written by William Grant, Servitor to William Aikman of Cairnie, Advocate, collector thereof 1687’.

The contents are as follows.

(i) List of the Chancellors of Scotland since the Institution of the College of Justice, from 7th November 1526 to 1st November 1684, with a note ‘After the Revolution in 1688, John Earle, afterwards the marquis of Tweeddale, Patrick Lord Polwarth, now the E[arl] of Marchmont upon the remoovall of Tweeddale' (folio 2);

(ii) List of the Lords President since the Institution of the College of Justice, from 15 July 1532 to 1 November 1689 (folio 3);

(iii) List of Lord Clerk Registers since the Institution of the College of Justice, from 7th November 1537 to 1st November 1681 (folio 4);

(iv) List of the Kings Advocates since the Institution of the College of Justice, from 16th November1537 to 1725 (folio 5 recto);

(v) List of ordinary and extraordinary Lords of Session since the Institution of the College of Justice, from 17th May 1532 to 15th July 1684 (folio 5 verso-11);

(vi) List of ordinary Advocates since the Institution of the College of Justice, from 7th May 1532 to 6th November 1691 (in William Grant’s handwriting) continued from 28th November 1691 to 21st January 1695 in another hand (folios 12-16). The pages containing 1696 to 1739 are wanting, as are the pages at the end of the volume containing a continuation to 8th July 1826.

(vii) A collection of several acts of Parliament, Acts of Sederunt, and other documents concerning the privileges and immunities of the College of Justice. With the procedures in actions between the College of Justice and the Town of Edinburgh regarding their privileges in 1687 (folios 23-156).