[3] Although the manuscript has been studied, "translated" in accordance with correct Gaelic orthography and republished – for the first time in 1923 by Calum MacPhàrlainn – it has been said that it has yet to be reliably interpreted.
It is the only record of Scottish Gaelic verse which is similar in form and nature to that practised by the Munster Irish poets at the start of the 17th century.
All other remaining records of 17th century Gaelic verse were committed to paper only after surviving for a hundred years or more as oral literature.
Such poor wit had King William to find confidence of the kind that abandons manliness and leads to leisurely boasting If they could see the danger in him and if he could not pursue how quickly they would cause grief in that being who honours no oath The manuscript, in the form of two books, is currently held by the University of Glasgow library.
However the anthology does include pieces by two Irish poets who lived generations before the time of the author and this does point to some degree of familiarity by MacRath with that class of literature.