James II's eldest surviving son James Francis Edward Stuart was born on 10 June 1688, precipitating the removal of the King from the throne. In 1692, the exiled James wrote this advice to his son, of which this is a transcription probably made at the Scots College in Paris, where James had deposited his papers. It is not clear how much the transcriber has adapted the text he copied because the original, along with many of James's papers, was lost in the French Revolutionary Wars.

As well as advising against ambition, anger and drinking to excess, James writes about the importance of keeping to the Catholic faith. James Francis Edward held firm to his father's precepts, refusing to convert even when to have done so might have secured his succession to the British throne. James's other main advice is to beware the power of women: he strongly advises against the mistakes he believes both he and his brother Charles II made through having mistresses, bitterly stating that women are only motivated by money and influence.