From the manuscript in the Advocates' library, Edinburgh, which constitutes with the Asloan and Maitland folio manuscripts, the chief repository of Middle Scots poetry. Portions of it were reprinted (with modifications) by Allan Ramsay in his Ever green (1724) and later by Lord Hailes in his Ancient Scottish poems (1770) First transcribed and printed in full by the Hunterian club of Glasgow, 1873-1901.
Vol. 1 includes in addition to the editor's introduction, Memoir of George Bannatyne by Sir Walter Scott, Extracts from the Memoriall buik of George Bannatyne, An account of the contents of the Bannatyne manuscript by David Laing, Notes respecting Bannatyne and his connections, and Text of draft or duplicate manuscripts. Vols. 2-4 contain the text of the manuscript.