A true relation of the abominable injustice, oppressions and tyranny, which Captain Henry Bell suffered nine years together at the Councell board,: before this Parliament began, as the said Captain Bell did humbly exhibite the same to the King at White-Hall, on the second day of December 1640. and what His Majesty was graciously pleased to doe thereupon. And also, herein the said Captain Bell doth exhibite his humble petition to the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in Parliament. ...

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE LORDS Assembled in Parliament. The humble Remonstrance and Petition of Captaine Henry Bell.

Humbly shewing:

I. THAT before this Parliament began, after the Petitioner had suffered nine yeares imprisonment most wrongfully and innocently, and that his mo∣neyes amounting to five thousand two hundred sixty eight pounds, were most unjustly detained from him, whereby his wife and two small children lamentably perished and were starved to death, in the time of his said wrongfull imprison∣ment, which with many more oppressions, injustice and ty∣ranny, your petitioner suffered only by warrant from the Councell-board, then at the begining of this Parliament your Petitioner humbly besought his Majesty to referr his grievous complaint against the Councell-board to be heard and de∣termined in and before the Honourable Houses of Parli∣ament, whereupon his Majesty presently reading the said grievances did straitly charge the Petitioner that he should not bring his great complaint against the Councell-board into the House of Commons, but his Majesty did forthwith referre, and did send the same to your Lordships by the Lord

privy Seale, and by Sir Iohn Bankes, requiring your Lordships to take the Petitioners grievances into a speedy and a private hearing, and to determine thereof for your Petitioners just reliefe, and to the intent your Lordships might be pleased the sooner and with the more ease dispatch the same, his Maje∣sty did then also send unto your Lordships the Empresse letter which she wrot to his Majesties Sister the Lady Elizabeth, and Mr. Secretary Mortons Certificate touching the same, which doe cleerly demonstrate the service done by your petitioner, in his Majesties imployments beyond the Seas, in and about the discovering and preventing that horrible plot which was contrived at Vienna Anno 1616. against her Highness the Lady Elizabeth, and also what moneys he disbursed therein, the which letter and Certificate were by your Lordships directi∣ons delivered into Mr. Smithes custody one of the Clarks at∣tending on your Lordships.

II. That since his Majesty did send the said perticulars un∣to your Lordships, the Petitioner hath received divers Orders from your Lordships in writing, and dayes of hearing his cause set downe, but nothing at all hath beene done therein.

III. That neare three yeares past the right Honrable, the Lords and others, Commissioners of Scotland did write their letters unto your Lordships in the Petitioners behalfe, and therein did earnestly entreat, that your Lordships would be pleased to take a speedy hearing of the Petitioners grevances, in regard his moneys and meanes were still detained from him, and was not able to subsist any longer without order for maintenance to be allowed him, untill his cause were heard and determined, upon which letters your Lordships were pleased to returne this answer following to the Com∣mons of Scotland viz. that whereas your Lordships had not time and leasure to heare the Petitioners cause by reason of many other weightyer affaires: your Lordships therefore with the house of Commons would order a competent main∣tenance

to be allowed unto the petitioner untill his cause were heard and determined.

IIII. That notwithstanding your Lordships said answer and promise made and sent to the Commissioners of Scotland: there hath been no order at all yet taken for your Petitioners reliefe or maintenance: by reason whereof another child of his came likewise to an untimely death and perished in lamen∣table sort for want of necessary sustainance, & the Petitioner himselfe is now thereby also sunck into such a depth of mi∣sery and poverty, that he is meerly destitute of Food, Ray∣ment and Lodging, and must needs likewise perish if he be not speedily relieved.

And so hee leaveth it to the Worlds censure whether the perticulars above related doe any way agree with Justice, or doe concurre with the solemn Oath and Covenant lately taken and sworne unto, or whether they be not quite oppo∣site to the same.

Forasmuch now as it was not his Majesties will and pleasure to suffer the Petitioner to addresse himselfe with his greevances to the House of Commons (where he might long since have been relieeved) but was graciously pleased to put him and his cause into your Lordships hands Justlie to be repaired.

Your Petitioner therefore humbly prayeth that your Lord∣ships will not suffer him to be destroyed, to starve and perish in your Lordships hands for want of Justice, but rather to order and nominate a certaine day unfayleably for the hear∣ing of his grievances either in publique or in private as your Lordships shall thinke fitting, and thereupon, that your Lord∣sh ps will be also pleased (together with the Honourable House of Commons) to order unto the Petitoner, payment of such moneys as he shall make plainly appeare to be justly due unto him from his Majesty, and also to order him satis∣faction

(out of the estates of these Privy Councellers and o∣thers whether they be living or dead) that are and have been the authours of the petitioners nine yeare wrongfull impri∣sonment, and who have caused the untimely deathes and star∣ving of his wife and Children as is above related, a List of whose names are set downe hereafter following,

And your Petitioner shall pray for your Lordships healthes and prosperity. HENRY BELL.