The papers consist of the following:

(i) Papers, 1650-1691, undated, concerning ecclesiastical affairs (folio 1);

(ii) ‘A Memorandum of things or materials left be Generall Monk of the abbay of holyrudhouse for its repairing’, circa 1660 (folio 37);

(iii) ‘Lists of fynd persons’, circa 1662 (folio 39);

(iv) Papers, 1668-1683, concerning Edinburgh brewers and the excise (folio 51);

(v) Papers, 1669-1673, concerning the salt revenue (folio 82);

(vi) Memorandum, circa 1670, by Andrew Hay, son of Sir John Hay, Lord Clerk Register, advising that a Scottish Residency be established in Poland (folio 110);

(vii) Papers, 1696-1697, including printed material, concerning the Darien scheme (folio 112);

(viii) Miscellaneous political papers, 1667-1689, undated, including a memorandum, circa 1670, for the 4th Earl of Winton; legal papers, 1673, concerning the repair of highways and bridges in East Lothian; a political intelligence report from London, 1681; and a 'Short discription of the Madagascar trade and the commodities fitting for that place', circa 1696 (folio 114).