WHereas there are divers Soldiers who have ſerved the Parliament and this Common-wealth in theſe late Wars, ſome of which are Men yt uſed Trades, others that were Apprentices to Trades who had not ſerved out their times, and others who are 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 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 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 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.