WILLIAM by the Grace of GOD , King of Great-Britain , France and Ireland , Defender of the Faith ; To _____ Macers of Our Privy Council , or Messengers at Arms , Our Sheriffs in that part , conjunctly and severally , specially Constitute Greeting : Forasmuch as , it is Informed that there are great quantities of base Brass or Copper-Coyn , Coyned in Ireland , by the Command of the late King James , in the years One thousand six hundred and eighty nine , and one thousand six hundred and ninety , to pass for Shillings , Half-Crowns , and other species , bearing upon one of the two sides of the Shillings , the number of twelve marked thus , XII . with the mark of J. R. The Half-Crowns the number of XXX . with the said mark J. R. and so of other species : Imported into this Kingdom , and vented for six peny Scots Pieces , or otherwise , whereby Our Leidges are greatly abused : Therefore We , with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council , Have thought fit to Discharge , and hereby Discharges the Importing of the said base Coyn of the foresaid species or marks , or any other whatsoever : As also the Vending thereof , and giving or taking thereof by way of Change , under the pains following , viz. That the Importer thereof into this Kingdom in any quantity exceeding a pound weight , shall be imprisoned by the Judge ordinar of the Bounds ; where he shall be apprehended , and lyable to the punishment by Law inflicted on Venters of False Coyn : And that any other Importers , Venters or Outgivers of the said base Coyn , in any quantity greater or smaller , shall be lyable in the pain of twenty pounds Scots toties quoties , half to the Informer , and half to the Poor of the Parish , to be exacted by the Judge ordinar of the Bounds with all rigour . OUR WILL IS herefore , and We Charge you strictly and Command , that incontinent these our Letters seen , ye pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh , and the remanent Mercat-Crosses of the whole Head-Burghs of all the Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom , and there make publick Intimation of the Premisses , that none may pretend ignorance . And Ordains these Presents to be Printed .