In his valuable Guide to the Public Records of Scotland, Mr. Matthew Livingstone, late Deputy-Keeper of the Records, says: " The Protocol Books kept by Notaries contained a record of their official Acts, and in absence of the original instruments were frequently used in evidence and for ' transumpts ' or extracts. The Statute 1555, c. 18, ordained these books to be produced before the Council on the admission of a Notary, that the leaves might be numbered and blanks marked, and the Act 1587, c. 29, ordained all Protocol Books to be lodged with the Clerk Register after the death of the owner. The Act 1617, c. 22 repeated this provision, but directed Protocols belonging to the Clerks of Royal Burghs to be delivered to the Provost and Bailies."