A True RELATION At large of the whole PROCEED During the Imprisonment of Cornelius de Witt, Old Burgermaster of the City of DORT, Ruwaert of the Country of Putten, etc. As also the Sentence passed upon him.  
TOGETHER With a full Account of the Massacre committed upon the said Cornelius de Witt, and his Brother John de Witt, late Rate Pentionaries of Holland and West-Friesland, upon the 20th of August, 1672. at the Hague.  
With Allowance.  
LONDON, Printed for Randal Tailor at the Crown in Little Britain, 1672.   

A true Relation at large of the whole Proceed during the Imprisonment of Cornelius de Witt, old Burgermaster of the City of Dort, Ruwaert of the Country of Putten, etc.  
WIlliam Tichelaur a Chirurgeon, Inhabitant in Peirshal, informing the Court of Justice, that the Heer Cornelius de Witt old Burghomaster of the City of Dort, Ruwaert of the County of Putten, had contracted with him for a certain sum of Money, and other great Promises, to make away the Prince of Orange, which being taken into deliberation by those of the Court, it was resolved at the House of the Heer Precedent, that Order should be given to the Advocate Fiscal and the other Officers, to transport themselves to the City of Dort, to apprehend and bring with them the said Ruwaert van Putten; where they arrived the 24th of July, whereupon the said Fiscal executed his Order accordingly, and brought the said Putten to the Hague; where being landed, he desired a Coach, but was answered that he was to walk on foot: On his way, being guarded by the Fiscal and another Officer, one stepped in using these words in derision, Where are your Halberdiers now to secure you? Being secured in the Casteleney on the 25th of July, he was the same day about noon examined by the full Court, as also the following days, with confronting the Chirurgeon, who went free in and out of the Prison. During this, the Chirurgeon went home, and fetched further Certificates; and at his Return, on the sixth of August was lodged in the same Prison with Ruwaert van Putten; and though it was the vacation time, yet they were examined the following days by the Council of the Court, face to face. Mean time the late Rate Pensionary the Wit, his Brother, was very diligent both day and night, advising with several of the ablest Civilians, to contrive his Brother's Releasement: Whereupon a Paper of Madam Van Brockel his wife, was delivered to the Court, to this effect: That the said Chirurgeon had not seen her Husband but once for above a years time, which happened on the 8th of July, at the house of the said Ruwaert at Dort, who was at that time sick in bed; that he held not a quarter of an hours discourse with him; neither directly nor indirectly gave him any invitation, but came freely of himself; and that which was remarkable, was, his desire to speak with the said Ruwaert alone, who refused it, but at the second or third instance was admitted. Besides, that the Wife of the said Ruwaert considering the wickedness of the times, was troubled at his private access to her Husband, whose ill aspect portended him no good, in regard of the late attempt made upon her Husband's Brother not many days before, which in all humane probability had been executed, had not the Watchmen prevented their design; which grounded apprehension through God's Providence directed her as a safeguard to place her Son and Servant at the Chamber-door, that in case the said Chirurgeon had any evil, design upon her Husband, assistance should be near at hand, and withal to hear the passages between them; the Son affirming that he plainly heard their discourse, which the Father repeated after the Chirurgeon was gone; whereby it did appear there had not been the least syllable of what the Chirurgeon laid to his charge. The discourse being as followeth: Having declared to him the dangerousness of the times, he had somewhat to discover to him, which might retain a secrecy; To which Ruwaert made answer, That in case it concerned the States, or was of bad consequence, it ought to be discovered. Upon which, the Chirurgeon took his leave, saying, Sir, if you are not willing to know it, I shall be silent, and so far you well.  

The Humble Petition of the Wife and Friends of Cornelius de Witt, Sheweth,  
THat the Ruwaert van Putten at present Prisoner, your Petitioners did expect after some days to have seen him as liberty, the Crimes laid to his charge being altogether groundless, and the malicious invention of his Accuser; and for this cause we were advised to present the circumstances relating to the clearing of the said Prisoner, not doubting but that his innocency will appear, and accordingly have an honourable dismission.  
Notwithstanding this the Lords of the said Court continued to examine both parties: but upon Tuesday the 16th of August, a report was spread as if the said Ruaert had made his escape, which drew a great concourse of People; whereupon some of the Lords went to the Prison, and caused Ruwaert van Putten to show himself to the People, who upon his appearance called to the Rabble, bid them be gone, the Devil take ye, what do ye do there? This Tumult was occasioned by a Coach waiting upon a certain Lord near the Prison, which was supposed by the People to be designed for Ruwaert's Conveyance. The Tumult was no sooner ended, but the Burghers began to appear in Arms, and his Highness the Prince of Orange was supplicated that some Companies might be ordered for preserving the peace. His Highness returned them this answer, That he thanked the Burghers for their great care, that the said Ruwaert was out of his hands and committed into the hands of Justice, to whom he fully entrusted the business: the effects whereof did appear by a strict examination taken at a full Council. On the 18th of August he was brought to the place of Torture, and accordingly Racked by the Executioner; there declaring, that if they cut him to pieces, he would to the last maintain his Innocency.  
Upon the 20 of Aug. the following Sentence was pronounced against Cornel. de Wit in the said Prison.  

THe Court of Holland having seen and examined the Papers and Writings delivered by the Procurator General against Cornelius de Witt old Burgermaster of the City of Dort, as likewise his examination, and proofs made against him, etc. and having also considered all what is requisite to the matter in hand; Doth declare the said Prisoner to have forfeited all his Dignities and Offices belonging unto him, and that with expedition he shall be banished out of the Countries of Holland and West-Friezland, never to return again upon pain of severe punishment. And farther condemns him in the Costs and Charges of the said Court.  


Adrian Pauw Precedent,  


Counsellors of Holland and West-Friezland.  
Aelbrecht Nierop,  
Willem Goes,  
Frederick van Leir,  
Cornelis Baen, and  
Mattheus Gool,     Pronounced in the Prison of the said Court, August 20. 1672. Adrian Pott.    

The manner of the Death of John de Witt, and his Brother Cornelius de Witt.  
AT the same time, being the 20th of August, John de Witt, late Rate Pentionary of Holland, understanding his Brother was to be set at liberty in order to his Banishment, made haste to discharge him from the Prison, where he went in his Coach, and leaving it some little distance from the Prison-gate, went in to his Brother, and after two hours stay with him, about eleven of the Clock, the Prison-gates were set open, and the two Brothers stood at the door in order to be gone; but before they could take Coach, a great noise was heard, upon which a Burger said, Away, away, into the Prison. For the Chirurgeon being released some time before, Reported that Ruwaert was discharged, and offered to make good his Accusation against him before God and Men; and told them that Ruwaert van Putten offered him 30000 Gilders with a considerable Employment, and some Ducatoons in hand, to kill the Prince of Orange. Upon this discourse the Rabble flocked together, crying, Arm, Arm; and immediately appeared Six Companies of Foot who surrounded the Prison, notwithstanding three Troops of Horse were drawn out to prevent Disorder.  
About four of the Clock in the Afternoon some of them demanded to have the Prison-doors open; which being refused, so many volleys of shot were discharged against them, that a passage was quickly made to go in; where in a horrible manner they were both killed in a moment: after which, their Bodies were stripped, dragged to the common place of Execution, and hung up by Legs upon the Gallows, where their Fingers, Toes, Ears, Noses, Hearts, and Privy Members were cut off and mangled in a most barbarous manner, and sold up and down the Town, a Joint of a Finger for 12 Stivers, a whole one for 15 Stivers, a piece of an Ear for 25 Stivers, and a Toe for 10 Stivers, and so proportionable. So horrid and dismal a Spectacle in all its Circumstances was scarce ever seen or heard of.   
FINIS.