THE Court of Holland having seen and examined the several Points and Articles given in by the Procurator-General of the said Court against Mr. Cornelis de Wit , ancient Burgermaster of the Town of Dort , and Ruward of the Lands of Putten , at present Prisoner in the Voorpoort , together with his Examination and Confession , and the Allegations of the several Witnesses , declare the said Prisoner to have forfeited all his Dignities and Employments which he now poss●sses , and banish him out of the Provinces of Holland and West-Friesland , never to return into the same , on pain of Death , and that he accordingly quit the said Countries with the first , and farther condemn him in the Charges of his Trial . Actum by the Heeren Adriaen Pauw , Aelbrecht Nierop , Willem Goes , Frederick van Lier , Cornelis Baen , and Matheus Gool , Councellors of Holland and West-Friesland , the 20 Aug. 1672.

BEfore this Sentence was made known to the people , the Barber Tichelaar was released , who no sooner came out of Prison , but he went up and down the City , and told them , he had made good his Charge against Ruwart van Putten , and that now he was Convicted , and had received his Sentence of Perpetual Banishment from the Lords : But notwithstanding all , that he was set at liberty again .

This being more and more published , occasioned a very great murmuring amongst the Citizens , judging it highly unreasonable : The Barber being set at liberty , they concluded his Accusation against Ruwart van Putten must needs be true , otherwise he had certainly been punished , and the Ruwart cleared ; hence they did conclude , it was clear and evident , that Ruwart van Putten must have been privy to the Design and Plot against the Person of his Highness the Prince of Orange , and that he did justly deserve Death for the same .

Whilst these things were thus Bruted about , the Pensionary De Witt came in his Coach with two Horses , to fetch his Brother from the Prison ; but so soon as he lighted out of his Coach , and was gone into the Prison , the Citizens caused the Coach to go back . And about Eleven of the Clock , they both coming down to go forth , were stopt by the Watch , who by their thrusts , and threatnings to shoot them , if they did not go in again , they were forced to retire .

Hereupon came the Body of the Watch to assist the others , Beating an Alarum , which brought all the Six Companies of the City together in Armes : Two whereof placed themselves near the Prison-door , the rest stood in the outward Court . Three Troops of Horse lying then in the Town , took the Alarum , and quickly Mounted ; one of the Troops placed themselves at the ordinary Stand ; the other two came to the Gate , and desired the Citizens to let them through ; but were denied , and stopt by the multitude of Pikes , that stood against them to obstruct their March .

In the mean while , there came a Report , that the Bores were coming from all parts round about to plunder the Hague ; whereupon the Troopers were sent to the Town-Ditches and Draw-Bridges to keep them out ; but that report proved nothing .

About six-a-Clock in the Evening the Citizens resolved to break open the Prison , and and fetch out the two Brothers , because they suspected they had a design to get away in the night , by force or stealth : Hereupon they began to shoot through the Door , and that way failing , they fetch Smiths Hammers and Sledges , and broke the Locks and Bolts in pieces , so getting in , Ran up in great Numbers and Companies into the Chamber , found Ruwart van Putten in his Japan-Gown lying on his Bed , and his Brother the Pensionary sitting upon the Beds feet , reading to him ; who turning to the Burgers asked them , what they intended by that forcible Entry , and what they would have ? Unto which nothing was answered , but that they must immediately go down ; and thereupon pulled Ruwart van Putten from his Bed , not suffering him any farther to dress himself : Both of them were forced down the Stairs , with Curses , Oaths , and bitter Railings , some pushing them , others thrusting them , so that the Pensionary was wounded with a Pike a little above the Eye , before he came to the Door . No sooner were they come into the Street but they were presently assaulted with Blows and Kicks by the Burgers , who would have forced them to the Scaffold , there to have shot them to Death .

But some of them could not stay so long , so that Ruwart van Putten was first knockt down underfoot , and five or six steps from him his Brother Pensionary received a blow upon his forehead , by a But-end of a Musket , and fell also ; but not being dead , was shot with a Pistol through his head , and then presently gave up the Ghost . The Ruwart lying upon the ground received many Stabs in his Body : After which both of them received many shots .

Hereupon approached the Rabble , and tore their Clothes in pieces from their Bodies : and drew their Carkasses naked along the Streets to the Scaffold , where Ruwart van Putten , not being quite dead , gave some dying groans . After the Bodies were brought on the Scaffold , they were hanged on the Strapado , with their Heads downwards , all besmeared with buffetings and spitting : After this shameful act was ended , the last part of this true Tragedy began by some , who cut off their Hair , beat out their Teeth , pulled their Tongues out of their Mouths , cut off their Noses , Ears , and Privy-Members , Thumbs , Fingers and Toes , from their Hands and Feet ; and all this with such desperate Oaths and Curses , the like was never heard !

But not contented with their External Parts , they cut open their Breasts and Bellies , and pulled out their Hearts and Bowels , so that they lookt more like the Bodies of torn Beasts than Men .

At length the Darkness of the night ended this terrible Tragedy .

The Burgers being disperst , the Bodies were taken down , and privately buried some days after .

The people sold the Members they had cut off ; a Finger for 15 Stivers , a Joint for 12 Stivers , an Ear for 25 Stivers , and a Toe for 10 Stivers , &c.

Also they bought pieces of their Clothes to keep for Remains .