WHereas there are divers Soldiers who have served the Parliament and this Common-wealth in these late Wars, some of which are Men y^t used Trades, others that were Appren­tices to Trades who had not served out their times, and others who are [Page 662] apt and fit for Trades; many of which, the Wars being now ended, would willingly imploy themselves in those Trades they were former­ly accustomed unto, or which they are apt and able to follow and make use of, for the getting of their living by their labor and industry, but are hindred from exercising those Trades in cer­tain Cities, Corporations, and other places within this Commonwealth, because of cer­tain By laws and Customs of those places: And of a Statute made in the Fifth year of the late Queen Elizabeth, prohibiting the use of certain Trades by any person that hath not ser­ved as an Apprentice to such Trades by the space of Seven years: For remedy wherof, and to the end that those persons that have ad­ventured their Lives for the Safety and Pre­servation of this Commonwealth, might not be deprived of a means of livelyhood in the pla­ces where they now do, or hereafter shall reside and inhabit; It is by His Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, by and with the advice and consent of His Councel Ordained, and be it here­by Ordained, That all such Soldiers which have been imployed in the Service of the Par­liament and Commonwealth, either in Eng­land, Scotland or Ireland, or in any of the Do­minions of the same, by the space of Four years, at any time since the Year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundrtd forty two; And before the Third of September, Anno Domini, One thousand six hundred fifty one, and have not since revolted to the late Kings party, or deserted the Service of the Par­liament; or that have served by the space of [Page 663] two years in the Wars in Scotland or Ireland; in the Service of the Commonwealth of Eng­land, since the said Third day of September, One thousand six hundred fifty one; and be­fore the First day of this instant moneth of August, One thousand six hundred fifty four; and that have heretofore used or exercised any Trade before that time, or that were Ap­prentices to any Trade, though they did not serve out their Apprentiship; or any other person imployed as aforesaid in the Service of the Parliament and Commonwealth, that is apt and able to practice any Trade, may set up and exercise such several and respective Trades, Mysteries or Occupations, where­unto he or they have been bound Apprentice and served any part of his or their Time; or any Handicraft, or other Trade exercised about Manufactures, though he was never bound Apprentice to the same, in any City or Town Corporate, or in any other place whatsoever within this Commonwealth, where they or any of them do or shall reside and inhabit, without any Suit, let or mo­lestation of any person or persons whatsoever, for or by reason of the using of such Trade. And if any such Soldier or Soldiers shall be Sued, Impleaded or Indicted in any Court whatsoever within this Commonwealth, for using or exercising any such Trades as afore­said, then the said Soldier or Soldiers ma­king it appear to the same Court where they are so Sued, Impleaded or Indicted, that they have served the Parliament and Com­monwealth [Page 664] in the late Wars as aforesaid, shall, upon the General Issue pleaded, be found Not Guilty, in any Plaint, Bill, Infor­mation or Indictment exhibited against them; and such persons, who notwithstanding this Ordinance, shall prosecute their said Suit, by Bill, Plaint, Information or Indictment, and shall have a Verdict pass against them, or become non-Suit therein, or discontinue their said Suit; such person or persons shall pay unto such Soldier or Soldiers double Costs of Suit, to be recovered as any other Costs at Common Law may be recovered: And all Iudges and Iurors before whom any such Suit, Information or Indictment shall be brought, and all other persons what­soever, are to take notice of this present Ordi­nance, and shall conform themselves there­unto, Any Statute, Law, Ordinance, Cu­stom, Vsage or Provision made to the contra­ry in any wise notwithstanding.

Provided, That this Ordinance shall not extend to any such Soldier that hath been, or shall for any mis-demeanor hereafter be ca­shiered out of the Army: And that no Sol­dier shall have the benefit of this Ordinance, that shall not prove his Service as aforesaid, either by a Certificate under the Hand and Seal of some Field Officer, and two Com­mission Officers of the Regiment wherein he served, or some General Officer of the Army certifying his knowledge of the Ser­vice aforesaid; and the said Certificate to be [Page 665] proved by one Witness at least to be a true Certificate; or for default of such Certificate, by the Oathes of Two credible persons at least.