The Banished man's suit for Protection To his Excellency The Lord general Cromwell, Being the humble address of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburn.  
May it please your Excellency,  
SInce yourself with your council of Officers in your respect to the welfare of this Commonwealth, were pleased to dissolve the late Parliament, I have made many humble addresses to your Excellency for a Pass to return to my native Country; having suffered extraordinary much under the late Parliaments sentence of Banishment. But being informed that such addresses are conceived only fit to be made to such an authority as shall succeed the late Parliament in their Legislative Power: And my condition being such, as could not admit of time to expect the issue of new addresses to be made to the succeeding Power, being in such daily and hourly hazard of my life where I had my residence beyond the Seas; only because I had faithfully served the Commonwealth, that it concerned my life, either speedily to resolve upon a perpetual banishment into some foreign Country, where none should know me; hoping there to live securely in an utter obscurity and uselessness to my generation, and a burden to others for my bread; or otherwise to run the hazard of returning to England without a Pass, or promise of protection.  
And my disposition led me to choose the last, not without much wavering in my thoughts, in regard of some provocations which I believe I have even lately by Letters put particularly upon your Excellency: yet I hoped and believed that the harshest and most disgustful passages in them might possibly be construed to be the fruits of my highest passions, when my reason was clouded, not only by my sad and most heavy sufferings, but also by the misapprehensions of your excellency's actions and intentions, which I could not have the knowledge of beyond the seas, but as others misrepresented them unto me; hereupon I hoped that God in his mercy to me, and my poor ruined Family, might incline your mind so to conceive of all former passages of whatsoever nature.  
And then finding that your Excellency with your council, had declared that you would take upon you the care and protection of all Englishmen living godly, quietly and peaceably until the great trust of the Government of this Nation be vested in such as are chosen for the same. And in the midst of all these thoughts, it being much upon my spirit that God by his providence would restore me to my native Country; and my heart being filled with a strong faith in the goodness of God, and his protection in my endeavours therein. Thereupon I resolved, come life, come death, to cast myself, my life, and all that's left me in this world besides (under God) upon your Excellency, presuming upon your protection, at least until those that are chosen for the Supreme Authority be settled therein, and their answer be given to my humble address. I confess I judged myself an Englishman, and amongst my Countrymen, capable of your Excellencies promised protection, being absolutely resolved to live as quietly and submissively to the present and succeeding Power as any man, having no other resolutions, intentions, nor thoughts then to live godly and peaceably with my poor distressed Family; and to study to serve the Commonwealth, if those trusted with the Government thereof, should at any time conceive me fit for their Service; or otherwise to confine myself to the most private life.  
This I desired to make known unto your Excellency by my wife (the bearer hereof) and my true Friend Mr William Kiffin, the first hour of my return hither from Calais to London (in one day, in the privatest manner I possible could) and they having waited for, or upon your Excellency several hours this morning; and your great Affairs preventing their audience, I presumed thus to declare it in writing, lest any misconstruction should be made of my sudden return: the true occasions of it, and my ends and intention therein, being nakedly and bonafide, herein fully declared, and only according to the integrity of my heart in these real expressions; I humbly hope for, and confide in your excellency's goodness to protect,  
From my present lodging in little moorfield's in London, Tuesday this 14. of June 1653. My Lord, Your excellency's most humble Servant, John Lilburn.   

London, Printed by Tho. Newcomb dwelling in Thamestreet over against Baynard's Castle.