FRancis Pit, of Wedgefield in the Parish of Wolverhamp­ton, in the County of Stafford Yeoman, being wrought upon (as he said) by the Ministery of Master Lee, (heretofore Preacher there) made open profession of the Gospel, and attended upon the means of grace with much diligence, for many yeers together, whereby he obtained a good repute amongst the godly (Ministers and People) in those parts; but of late (wanting the powerfull means which formerly those parts did injoy) was seduced by the Popish party, contrary to his profession, and against his own conscience, (as he confessed) to endeavour the be­traying of a Garrison in the command of the Parliament, into the hands of the enemy: For the which Fact he was apprehended, and brought up to London in the moneth of September last; and being brought to tryall before the Honourable Councell of War, sitting in Guildhall upon Tuesday the eighth day of this present October, was then and there arraigned, convicted, and condemned for the said Offence: From which place he was carried to New­gate, where he was visited the next day by two Ministers of his acquaintance, who found him very sad and stupid, and (as they conceived) insensible of his condition: The day following, four Ministers (who were his Countrymen and known to him) went together, who dealt plainly with [Page 4] him; and after every ones endeavours for his good, and prayers to God for a blessing, left him for that night (as yet finding little comfort in him,) at their departure he desired one of us to come to him the next morning, which was done, and coming to him, found him by himself at prayer, and rising up confess'd, the words spoken the night before, had so wrought upon him, that he could take no rest all night long; wherefore he desired some further direction, promising to lay open himself freely (as indeed he did) according to the advice of the godly Ministers who were with him the night before: After which time, he was much more comfortable to himself Psal. 32. 3. When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roar­ing all the day long. and others.

The next morning (being Saterday, the day of Execu­tion) we came to him, and found him very ready and willing to undergo the sentence of death, as having hopes of a better life, though as yet his light was not so clear as afterwards it appeared to be; yet said, he was never more cheerfull in his dayes.

Having spent some time in prayer and preparation, he was hastned to the place of Execution, to the which, we did accompany him, and (putting all the money he had left into the prisoners Box) he went along very cheerfully, telling the people by the way, I am going to Heaven, good people help me forward with your prayers, I hope this day to be in Heaven; and as he went, entreated us to help his memory, in any thing we would have him speak unto, that might tend to Gods glory, and the benefit of the people: Being come to the Tree, the Executioner put the Rope about his Neck; whereupon he said, I blesse God I am not afraid of death: after which passage (the other prisoner being to die first) the Martiall took him to a private Chamber, not far off, to retire himself for a time; [Page 5] immediately he went to prayer, wherein God did mighti­ly assist him, so that he exprest much fervency and zeal, remembring not onely himself, but all others, both pub­like persons, and his own private friends, with such in­largement and variety of expression, as caused much af­fection and admiration in all that were present; so that a­bundance A man at other times of no great parts. of tears were shed. Prayer ended, the Martiall came for him, with whom he went willingly, and when he saw some whispering, who were in hopes of a Reprieve, he hastned them, saying, Sirs, what do we stay for? Be­ing come again to the place, and the Rope put about his Neck, the Executioner going up before him, he turned to us, and smiling said; Here's one leads me up like a dog in a Halter, but anon I shall have better Leaders to bring me to Heaven: As he stept up the Ladder, he said, now the Lord direct me, and assist me, to speak something that may be for his glory: Being upon the Ladder, he beheld one about to write, in the first place therefore he desired him to take speciall notice of what he spake, and to Print it, and then lifting up his heart and voyce to God, ad­drest himself to speak, as foll weth.

GOod people, I desire the Lord to blesse you all, and I desire all your prayers to Heaven for me: Good Lord what a multitude of people are here! I desire to speak to you all in generall; I wish that all could hear me. I am here justly brought to this place for mine offence; I pre­sume 'tis well known to you all what it is, 'tis this, An attempt to betray a Garrison under the Parliaments Com­mand. In that Act I was made an Instrument between a Popish Garrison, and a Garrison under the Parliament; of which Treachery I was not ignorant; and for that Fact I confesse, that I deserve this death, and desire all Specta­tors to take notice of it: For mine own part, I have been [Page 6] bred up under a powerfull Ministery; I have had good e­ducation, and have been a great professor, but the Lod knows my heart, I have been a dissembling Hypocrite; and now I do here heartily confesse it, and bewail it: And the Lord blesse you all, and give every one of you grace to take notice thereof, that you may be warned by me▪ And the Lord blesse this great Citie; and the Lord blesse the Countrey likewise, especially that where I was born; and the Lord make every man faithfull. I have been a great Professor, but I have not done my Masters will: I have been a great sinner: I now call to minde a Text in There is more mentioned there. the first to the Romans, from the 29. verse to the end, there is a Catalogue of 17 or 18 sins (as I take it) I am guilty of them all; therefore I suffer justly: I do freely confesse it; The seed of all was in him. yet one thing I have to say, I desire all men to take notice of it, If any Magistrates or Parliament men were here, I would speak it to them; but I desire you Master Martiall, and you two (speaking to us) who are acquainted with my Lord Mayor, and other great Magistrates, to tell it them from a dying man, I beseech you remember it, 'tis this, That they use not their power as a Net to catch the small The same phrase he had in his prayer in the Chamber where he pray­ed, also that God would root out that den of theeves at Dudley Ca­stle, and ad­ded this, Not that I seek it by way of re­venge, but as they are thine enemies, O Lord. Fishes, and let the great ones escape: I desire that great Offenders may be brought to condign punishment as well as lesser: For my part, I desire to justifie that good Coun­cell of War, and the Lord blesse them, they have dealt but justly with me, and the Lord shew them mercy for doing me justice. The Lord blesse the Parliament, and keep them from Treachery; for there are many Achans still in the Camp.

Being asked whether he knew any Treacherous ones, and desired to reveal them; He answered no, if he did, far be it from him to conceal them; I mean (said he) those prophane ones that are imployed in the Parliaments Ser­vice, [Page 7] I never heard more swearing, nor saw more drun­kennesse, and prophanenesse, then I saw in the Garrison at Rushall, Ile mention one: The Martiall (I have forgotten his name) he did swear and blaspheme, as if he would cause the stones to flie out of the Wals; and after I fell into his hands, he stript me and abused me, and used me more like a Jew, then a Christian: Now the Lord amend that and other places under the Parliaments Command, or else they can never prosper, they can never prosper. And the Lord blesse the King, and I desire every honest man to honour Him, so far as He doth Honour God, and to obey Him, in what they may, not disobeying God. I desire the Lord to bring Him home to His Parliament, and to remove far from Him, all evill Counsellours; and the Lord blesse His Friends and Welwillers: I am perswaded the King of Himself is an honest Man, onely He is mis­led; and I hope He will return to his Parliament: (The King is the Head, the Parliament is the Body; if they be divided, what good can be expected) But I hope He will return, that (though I am now a dying man, yet) you that hear me this day, may enjoy a happy peace, and see that which I am not like to see.

And now for you that hear me, and are to celebrate a Here was much more spoken to clear Religion, and to exhort to Pietie. Sabbath to morrow, I beseech you all to prepare your selves for it, and labour to rise early to fit your selves for the Lords work. If any of you be to go to a Market, (though in the depth of Winter,) yet youl be up before day to go to it; I beseech you therefore to make use of the time of the Market for your souls: Men in the Coun­trey Many Country people were there, as well as Citizens, it being Market day. will ride a great way to buy their Seed Corn, think not much to take pains, and to travell for the Word of God, that Immortall Seed, when you have it not at home, though (blessed be God) you of this City need [Page 8] not go far. Labour to hearken to the Word of God, and labour to carry it home with you, and to practice it. Leave sitting in your doors (an evil custome I have observed since I came up to the City) and meditate of what you have heard: God requireth the whole day to be kept Holy. I lived in a Countrey where few powerfull Mini­sters are left: And all you that have slighted the Word of God formerly, take heed of it now: I have been a great Offender in this particular, and I have played the Hypo­crite exceedingly; I have been very zealous outwardly, and I have kept many Fast dayes very strictly, both pub­like and private; I have enjoyed the company of the best Ministers, and have associated my self with most Religi­ous people, and yet I have played the Hypocrite exceed­ingly. The Lord forgive me, and good people pray for me: And now I beseech you, lift up all your hearts to God for me; I have known much and done little: I pray God give you all grace to labour to know much, and to practise it.

Then being desired by Master Smart to give more full satisfaction to the people touching his Offence, That he being a Professour would hearken to a Papist in so foul an Act, was a thing very scandalous.

He gave him Hearty thanks for minding him of it, and spake to the people:

Good people pray for me, and help me, in remem­bring me to utter what I should speak: The Gentleman that imployed me about this Treachery, was the Gover­nour of Dudley Castle, his name is Luson, he is my Land­lord, I hold a Farm of him (a good one) but 'tis onely for my life; this day I must surrender it. Now the man­ner of it was thus, He sent for me to come to him, and askt me, what I did so øften at Rushall-Hall; I told him I [Page 9] had been there but twice of late; once I went to pay money, contribution money; the other time, to redeem my Neighbours Cattle that were taken away: He told me, seeing you have such acquaintance there, I will see whether you will do as much for me; I would fain pur­chase that Garrison, I will give two thousand pound for it: I went with this Message to the Governour, which was Captain Tuthill, who sent me with Letters back; and so I carried Messages from one to the other; but it was not delivered up. Captain Tuthill promised me, if I could make that bargain, I should have one hundred pounds of the money: yet I never askt him for any; neither had any, save one fourty shillings, which he gave me without demand. Colonell Luson did give me no money, but he promised to be as good to me as seven yeers Rent.

I desire you that write, to take notice thereof, that it may be published, that all the world may take warning of such false-heartednesse.

It being urged then, that coveteousnesse misled him, he said, no, but mine eyes were blinded, that I did not He told us in private, that two Garrisons of the King being neer to it, (Leichfield, & Dudley,) the Country was forced to pay to both sides, which was a sore burden to them; better to pay to one onely as he supposed. see the evill consequence of the delivering up of that Garrison, 'twas hid from mine eyes; but now I see it, and I confesse mine Offence was great, and far greater then others, because I have been a great Professour.

Being askt by Master Smart, what he thought of the Cause, defended by the Parliament. He answered, I have alwayes held it to be just, and right, and therefore my sin is so much the greater; I have stood for this Cause, yea, all my Friends, and Children have stood for it; and we do verily beleeve it to be the Cause of God: But it is for my sins, and the sins of other Hypocrites, [Page 10] That Gods Cause hath been so much dishonoured, and beaten down:

I desire you all, That Religion may not be stained by my suffering; nor good men slighted; nor Gods Cause fair the worse for my Hypocrisie. I have read there was ever some wicked amongst the most godly: There is some Chaff amongst the finest Wheat; there was one Judas amongst the twelve Apostles, and one Achan in the He said indeed a eleven, but that was a mistake. The sum of his Speech be­ing to vindi­cate Religion, and the Pro­fessours there­of; and to quick [...]n Magi­strates to the Execution of justice: ( [...]hat whilest a Pro­fessors suffers, prophane ones go not un­punished) Both which are twice repeated. Camp: And therefore I beseech you all, judge not ill of the Cause of Christ for mine Offence.

This one thing I desire to speak again, (that it may not be forgotten) to you that are Magistrates, or to you that are intimate with them; I desire you to speak these last words of mine to them, I mean to the Lord Major, and to the Honourable Councell of War, and tell them, that I beseech them, That great Ossenders may be brought to tryall, as well as lesser.

Now for you that are imployed in Gods Cause, and are called forth to fight his Battles; go on couragiously and know, That you have God for your Captain, and then you cannot but prevail.

I remember how the Ethiopiaus came against Asa, with a thousand thousand men, (what a world of men were here) He sought unto the Lord, and went out against them, and the Lord going with him, he smote them, and overcame that mighty Hoste: I do not read, that any of them escaped. You may read the story, 2 Chron. 14. 8, 9, 10.

And take heed of disobeying Gods call; remember that curse of God against Meroz, Curse ye Meroz, and the Inhabitants thereof, because they came not forth to help the Lord against the mighty. You may see it, Judges 5. 23.

[Page 11] The Earl of Denb [...]gh I hear is going out for Stafford­shire, the Lord blesse and prosper him: I hear and hope he is an honest man, I pray God increase it, and blesse him. I could wish he were now with his Forces there, for that Countrey is in great want of them; and I could wish that he would take with him, some good and faithfull Ministers, to plant in that barren Countrey, without which, I fear no good will be done there. I pray God they may do good there: Oh do you labour to do good there (speaking to us.) Master Smart, I beseech you do you labour to do good in Staffordshire.

Then he was wisht to compose his thoughts, and to call upon God in prayer, which he did with a great deal of life and devotion, neer half an hour, and proceeded a great way very methodically, after a sweet and pertinent Preface; he began with confession, and run over all the Commandments distinctly, and ordely, drawing a large inditement against himself, bewailing the breach of eve­ry Precept in severall particulars; and in the close of each, he added this Petition, Now the Lord forgive me this Tis pitty no one penned it. in; The good Lord forgive me this sin, &c.

These particulars were very remarkable; when he came to the fourth Commandment, he did exceedingly complain of the want of preparation to the duties of the Sabbath; that he had not remembred it the day before; nor risen so early that day as he should have done.

And when he came to the sixth Commandment, he said, True it is, I have not had my hands imbrewed in any mans blood; yet I have been taught, that malice is mur­ther, and I have been a malicious man, &c.

And when he came to the eight Commandment, he said, I have been no open theef, but I have been taught; [Page 12] He that is an unjust man, is a theef. I have dealt unjustly, the Lord forgive me; and where I cannot make restituti­on, good Lord do thou restore it.

Not that he did omit any one of the Commandments, or hide any of his sins (as we conceive) but above all, he did extremely cry out of Hypocrisie, and complain of a barren, and fruitelesse profession.

But when he came to intercession, he prayed heartily and religiously, for the King, for the Parliament, for the City, (particularly for the Lord Mayor, giving him these Titles; A mercifull man, a charitable man; he is good to poor and rich) the Councell of War that condemned him to die; the faithfull Ministery of the Kingdom; his native Countrey, his naturall Friends, and the whole Church of God.

And having concluded, he spake to the people, as followeth.

NOw good people, I beseech you all pray for me; I beseech you pray for me, and hear me once more. Hears a great many (looking round about him) I wish that all could hear me: You that are like to enjoy a Sabbath the next day; Labour to prepare your selves for Gods Service, and to hearken diligently to Gods Word; La­bour to renew your Covenant, that of late you have made with God. Let these last words of a dying man prevail with you, to stick close to God and his Cause. I con­fesse, I heard of the Covenant, but I never took it; you that have taken it, be carefull to renew it, and keep it: And so the Lord blesse you all; and the Lord have mer­cy upon my soul.

Then the Executioner putting the Rope fast about his [Page 13] neck, he put by his hand, and said, I pray thee forbear, I am not afraid to die; but let me speak once more to my God. Lord have mercy upon me: Lord have mercy up­on me. Dear Friends help me; Good Christians help me, O help me, O help me; Now help me, Now help me; Sweet Jesus help me, Sweet Jesus help me; Deny me not now, Sweet Saviour deny me not now, now, now I come; Into thy hands I commend my Spirit; Lord receive my Soul, Lord receive my Soul: And spake no more words.

Now being before desired by Master Archer, if he found God coming in to his soul, by any extraordinary support and comfort in his departure, that he would make some outward sign, to intimate it to us; accordingly soon after he was off the Ladder, as he hung, he lift up his right hand, and clapt it upon his Breast twice, or thrice, and then cast up both his hands towards Heaven, and so gave us comfortable hopes that he is at rest with the Lord. His body was taken thence to Sepulchers Church, and at night was attended with many godly Ministers, and good Christians to the Grave, where it now lies interred: But we hope his soul is in Heaven.