The contents of the manuscript are as follows:

(i) Abstract in English of Gerard Goris`s treatise on mercury, ‘Mercurius Triumphator’, probably made from the Leyden edition of 1717. Written in three hands of the early 18th century (folio 1).

(ii) `The Dyet of Poland, A Satyr. Lib. J.H. Aug. 27. 1705.` A copy in two hands, of Daniel Defoe`s verse satire, published anonymously in London (with the false imprint `Dantzick`) in 1705 (folio 20). It is followed (folio 41) by a key to the Polish names used by Defoe, and by a copy (folio 42) of ‘The Dyet of Poland a Satyr, Consider`d paragraph by paragraph’. For this last, see `Defoe: a specimen of a catalogue of English verse`.

(iii) Prayers to be said before and after a service, 18th century (folio 51).

(iv) Description, early 18th century, of the trial and execution of Mervyn Touchet, Earl of Castlehaven, in 1631 (folio 52). It includes copies of his letters to his family, the confessions of his servants Broadway and Fitzpatrick, and a study of his character. For all the material except the last item, cf. ‘The Case of impotency as debated in England’ (London, 1715), volume ii, pages 3-55.

(v) ‘A Short Journall of Severall actions performed in the kingdom of Scotland, after .... the 24 of June 1650, untill the end of October following` (folio 95). A contemporary copy of Sir Edward Walker`s work, printed in his ‘Historical Discourses upon several occasions’ (London, 1705), pages 157-205. The manuscript omits the concluding paragraph.

(vi) Prayer of John Blair, possibly the minister of Scoonie, 1689 (folio 129).

(vii) `The first parte of the booke conteyninge certaine devises for thincrease of the revenewe of the Quenes Majesties customes and Subsidies of tonnage and poundage ioyned with the commoditie of the publike weale`, 2nd half of 16th century (folio 130). The work is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth.