TO THE supreme Authority, the PARLIAMENT of England, &c.  
The Humble Petition of CHARLES FLEETWOOD, Esq  
Showeth,  
THat through his ill managed Ambition, and insufficiency for Government, together with the defection of the Army, he is enforced to address Himself to this Honourable House, having been taught that moderation with which he lately disciplined his Brother Richard the late Protector, and peaceably submit to their Wisdom and Authority: And he is the rather contented with this Providence, since he sees it is the unavoidable Fate of that Family, its Dependants and Allies, to be baffled and become the scorn, contempt, and derision of the Nation. His Excellency not being able to mount above the Clouds of your displeasure (which through my Lord lambert's diminishing Spectacles seemed to appearance no bigger than a man's hand, and are now overspreading his Estate and Fortunes) in most humble wise prostrates himself at your Feet, acknowledging with the Army-sorrow his deviating into unequal paths, and his ill requiting such Good and Gracious Masters and Mistresses as you have been, with his rebellious and undutiful carriage and demeanour. The Woman that Oliver gave him deceived him, and offered him of the forbidden fruit, and he saw it was good, and did eat thereof, and LO here he is in the briars of Wallingford Garden. And your Petitioner hopeth that his Ignorance and Seduction may something mitigate and extenuate your disfavour and anger towards him.  
Your Suppliant further showeth, That he was plunged over head and ears into these bottomless designs by the Anabaptiss, and that instead of washing himself clean, and making himself whole in their Jordan, he hath contracted such a leprosy, that he deserves to be kicked out of the Camp, and never more to come near the Assemblies of the People.  
Albeit your Petitioner hath some ground of hope from the remembrance of his many signal and eminent services done to the Commonwealth, viz. his expedition to Worcester and back again, with the loss of one night's rest; his Sea-sick distemper in his passage to Ireland, but more peculiarly his standing in Lambert's light and way, and intercepting his direct influence upon the Army, and diverting the torrent of the soldiery into a safer and smother channel, so that he might presume to vie Merit either with Sir Arthur or Saint George himself.  
Lastly, let his Piety, Zeal, Love to, and Delight in the Saints, all the sincerity, uprightness and integrity of Spirit he hath left, come before you, let his meekness and temperance balance his late haughtiness and vain glory, and let not the rigor and severity of your indignation force him to cry out with Baalam's Beast, Am not I the Ass on which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine, and was I wont to do so unto thee? Why smitest thou me?  
In tender respect, and in serious consideration therefore of these piteous Premises, may it please this Honourable House out of their Noble Goodness and Clemency in this Blessed Time of Restauration, and as a token and earnest of their mild and gentle Government, and that the enemies thereof may not rejoice, and say, this is the end and reward of all rebels; to readmit him him into the number of the seven Commissioners of the Army, and if the places be filled up, and there be no vacancy, to add one to the number, and make him the eighth Wise Man. If this shall by your grave Wisdoms be thought a presumption, (rather than run after Partridges and Larks with his Brother-in-law,) His humble request is that you would please to confer on him the Office of Mace-Bearer to the Speaker, it being a blunt Tool and befitting his courage, and will lie easier and handsomer on his shoulders then the Government. But if this also may not be conceded (he being rejected everywhere, and no party to take to) be humbly implores the favour of this House for a patent to be granted to him for Arche's place, it being as cheap to be a Fool of your making as of his own.  
And your Petitioner shall ever pray, &c.