The manuscript is a presentation copy of Book 2 of the ‘Treatise on Union’ composed by David Hume of Godscroft (1558-c.1630), intended for King James VI/I and Prince Henry Frederick. Hume was an important humanist scholar, political theorist, and Neo-Latin poet in Jacobean Scotland. His De Unione insulae Britannicae advocates for the closer political union of England and Scotland, and the formation of a new Britain. As seen on the title-page of this manuscript, Hume adopted Theagrius as a Latinisation of "Godscroft" in his work, and is referred to by this name in correspondence among contemporaries in his humanist scholarly circles. The first part of De Unione was published in London in 1605, and broadly sets out the advantages of Anglo-Scottish union. The second part, as here, circulated only in manuscript form, and considers the practical means through which a greater fusion of the kingdoms might occur.

The script, presentation, and title-page decoration of this manuscript have led to its attribution to Esther Inglis; this attribution was first given by David Laing in 1867, whose inscription can be seen on the inner front board. Besides this presentation copy, further manuscripts of the second part of Hume’s treatise are known; these are Edinburgh University Library, Dc.5.50(2) and Dc.7.46, National Library of Scotland, Adv.MS 31.6.12, British Library, Royal MS 12 A liii, and Beinecke Library, MS Osborn b.25. These others do not appear to have been intended as gift-books; Inglis’ manuscript, however, is carefully prepared for presentation to royal recipients. Although she does not sign her name as its scribe, the floral illustration added to the title-page becomes the equivalent of a signature, connecting this manuscript to the other illuminated works she produces in this period of her calligraphic career.

Folios ir-2v. Blank, except for ruling

Folio 3r. Title page
Title: VINCULA UNIONIS SIVE SCITA BRITANNICA ID EST DE UNIONE INSULAE BRITANNICAE TRACTATUS SECUNDUS. PER DAVIDEM HUMIUM THEAGRIUM.
Folio 3v. Blank, except for ruling

Folio 4r. Dedication to King James and Prince Henry
Incipit: SERENISSIMO PRUDENTISSIMO AUGUSTISSIMOQ[UE] PRINCIPI IACOBO PRIMO MAGNAE BRITANNIAE, FRANCIAE ET HIBERNIAE Regei, fidei vere christianae propugnatori, propagatori,
Explicit: SUBDITUS AC SERVUS HUMILLIMUS, ADDICTISSIMUS, AMANTISSIMUS, DAVID HUMIUS, amoris observantiae, ac veri affectus monumentu[m], dat, dicat.

Folio 4v. Blank, except for ruling

Folio 5r. Address to the reader
Title: AD LECTOREM
Incipit: Hactenus lato campo libere expaciati sumus, lector, et rem in genere facili opera libavimus
Explicit: sed et his liquidum, et illis lympidum: hoc cogita et vale. 12 Calen: Octobris. 1605.

Folio 5v. Blank, except for ruling

Folio 6r - 37r
Title: DE UNIONE TRACTATUS SECUNDUS. CAP. I.
Incipit: ARGUMENTUM. Vinculorum necessitas; ad ea tractanda exhortatio, tracta[n]dorum propositio.
Explicit: Pastores; nil est nimium, nil credite abunde.

Incipit: Liceat enim sic mihi unionis hoc stadium iterum ingressuro, ab ipso statim vestibulo seu proclamare, seu reclamare, seu petere, seu repetere
Explicit: id illi seu rideant, seu ringantur, dum se non minus, et omnia illa suam sperni sciant. Sic sum cui videor, forte haud incommodus, uti me liceat. SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Folio 37v. Blank, except for ruling

The manuscript is written in a range of humanistic scripts, varying between Roman and italic forms. The title-page (folio 3r), is written in a combination of Roman and italic majuscules, with some flourishing and calligraphic embellishment. The dedication at folio 4r introduces minuscule varieties of Roman and italic scripts, as well as smaller modulations of their majuscule alphabets. The main text of the manuscript is written in Inglis’ characteristic italic style, with curved ascenders and descenders, and slightly filled terminals. Italic majuscules are used within the main text for emphasis, and there is occasional calligraphic embellishment to opening initials.

The title-page of this manuscript is decorated with a red rose stem and bud, in a style closely related to the floral illuminations which Esther Inglis includes in many of the manuscripts she produced between 1600 and 1615. This style of rose is often included the illuminated borders with which Inglis surrounds the title-pages of these manuscripts. In isolated form, as here, a particularly close parallel to this rose is found at folio 25r of Inglis’ 1606 Quatrains du Sieur de Pybrac for Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (now Copenhagen Royal Library, Thott 323 oktav).

The title-page also incorporates an upright printer’s fleuron, in the same style as found in Inglis’ 1608 Treatise of preparation to the Holy Supper (Edinburgh University Library, MS La.III.75). Smaller additional fleurons are found within the main text, as at folio 24r.