It will rather surprise the reader perhaps to find that, for the promotion of their economic ends, the laws seem to have been directed more to the encouragement than the suppression of drinking.  The earliest interference with commerce in liquors appearing among the Scottish acts of parliament is very imperious and comprehensive, but not very explicable in its objects.  Statutes at that time were short, and it will cost the reader little trouble to peruse that which was passed in the year 1436, and the reign of James I., ‘anent Flemish wines.’  ’It is statute and ordained that no man buy at Flemings of the Dane in Scotland, any kind of wine, under the pain of escheat (or forfeiture) thereof.’  Doubtless parliament believed that it had reasons for this enactment, but it would not be easy to find out at the present day what they were.  In 1503 a more minute act was passed referrible to ale and other provisions.  It appoints magistrates of towns ’that they set and ordain a certain price, goodness, and fineness, upon bread, ale, and all other necessary things that is wrought and daily bought and used by the king’s lieges.  And that they make certain purviews and examinations to wait daily upon the keeping thereof.  And when any workman be’s noted taking an exorbitant price for his stuff, above the price, and over far disproportionate of the stuff he buys, that he be punished by the said barons, provosts, and bailies, &c.’  A little later, in 1540, an act was passed ‘touching the exorbitant prices of wine, salt, and timmer.’  The provisions that follow are somewhat curious, and rank among the most barefaced instances of a class legislating, not only for its own interest, but its own enjoyment.  In the first place, the provosts and bailies—­supposed to be always excellent judges of good cheer—­are to fix a low and reasonable price at which the wines and other commodities are obtainable.  When this is fixed, it is appointed that ’na man is to buy till the king’s grace be first served.  And His Grace and officers being content for so meikle (much) as will please them to take to our sovereign’s use entirely, that noblemen of the realm, such as prelates, barons, and other gentlemen of the same, be served at the same prices; and thereafter all and sundry our sovereign lord’s lieges be served at the same prices.’  Evidently it was cunningly foreseen that but little wine would be imported at a compulsory and necessarily an unremunerating price.  Of such as did come, and was thus sold cheap, the ’prelates, barons, and other gentlemen’ who sat in parliament, sagaciously provided that they should have the preemption; and it is pretty clear that the ‘all and sundry’ who were to come after them would have little chance of obtaining any of the cheap wine.