Fifteen years afterwards, during the regency of Mary of Lorraine, it was found that the act just cited was not sufficiently stringent, and that some sterner provision must be made to enable the aristocracy to get cheap wine.  An act was passed referring to the previous one, and stating that ’nevertheless the noblemen—­such as prelates, earls, lords, barons, and other gentlemen—­are not served according to the said act, but are constrained to buy the same from merchants at greater prices, contrary to the tenor of the said acts.’  Hence it is declared that whenever wines have arrived in any town, and the prices have been fixed, the magistrates ’shall incontinent pass to the market-cross of that burgh, and there, by open proclamation, declare none of the goods foresaid as they are made, and that none of the goods foresaid be disposed of for the space of four days.’  Thus were measures taken to let the privileged persons have the benefit of their preemption.

That these acts, and the proclamations for enforcing them, were not a dead letter is shewn by the criminal records.  On the 8th of March 1550, Robert Hathwy, John Sym, and James Lourie, burgesses of Edinburgh, confess their guilt in transgressing a regulation against purchasing Bordeaux wines dearer than L.22, 10s. (Scots of course) per tun, and Rochelle wines dearer than L.18 per tun.  On the 4th of May 1555, George Hume and thirteen other citizens of Leith were arraigned for retailing wines above the proclaimed price—­which for Bordeaux and Anjou wine was 10d. per pint; and for Rochelle, Sherry, and something called Cunezeoch—­which may for all we know to the contrary mean Cognac—­8d. per pint.

In Ireland the privilege of having their wine cheaper than other people was given to the aristocracy with almost more flagrant audacity.  By the Irish statute of the 28th Elizabeth, chap. 4, imposing customs-duties on wines, the lord-lieutenant is not only authorised to take for his own consumption twenty tuns, duty free, annually, but he is at the same time declared to have ’full power to grant, limit, and appoint, unto every peer of this realm, and to every of the Privy-Council in the same, and the queen’s learned counsel for the time being, at his or their discretion from time to time, such portion and quantity of wines, to be free and discharged of and from the said customs and subsidy, as he shall think to be mete and competent for every of them, after their degrees and callings to have.’

To return to Scotland.  In the ensuing century we find the legislature resorting to the homely liquor of the working-classes.  On the 23d December 1669, an act was passed which begins in the following considerate and paternal fashion:—­