The Manner of the Killing PENSIONARY DE wit, and his Brother RUWART van PUTTEN in the HAGUE, the 20●h of August, 1672.  

 a series of depictions of the execution of Cornelius de Wit and his brother Johan  depiction of execution  depiction of execution  depiction of execution  depiction of execution   

The Sentence of the Court of Holland and West-Friesland, against Mr. Cornelis de Wit, ancient Burger-Master of the Town of Dort, pronounced the 20 August, 1672.  
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 liar, 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 bruited about, the Pensionary De wit 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 stopped by the Watch, who by their thrusts, and threatenings 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 arms: 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 stopped 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 broken 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 burghers 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 burghers, 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 knocked 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 carcases naked along the Streets to the Scaffold, where Ruwart van Putten, not being quiter dead, gave some dying groans. After the Bodies were brought on the Scaffold, they were hanged on the strappado, with their Heads downward, 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 looked more like the Bodies of torn Beasts than Men.  
At length the Darkness of the night ended this terrible Tragedy.  
The burghers being dispersed, the Bodies were taken down, and privately butted 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 to for 10 Stivers, &c.  
Also they bought pieces of their Clothes to keep for Remains.   

The Explanation of the Picture.  

No. 1.] Sheweth Jan de wit pushed in the Head by a Pike, and the blow he received upon the Breast with a musket, His Brother in a Japan-Gown, Beaten with Fists, Swords, &c. and thrown down, and threatened to be knocked with a Sledg: The burghers sitting upon the Penthouses, the Coach stands ready for flight, two Companies of burghers stand upon the Place.  
No. 2.] Sheweth, How the Ruwart van Putten was dragged out in his Japan-Gown by the Sea-men, and torn apieces, received a Pistol-shot in his Loins, and a thrust in his left Breast with a Sword, a blow with a halberd on his head, some strike him with the But-end of their muskets, Jan de wit falls down with his hands under his Head, was shot by the burghers on one side that he tumbled over and over.  
No. 3.] shows, The Bodies of the two De wits, after the cutting off their Noses, Ears, Fingers, and other Members, the Pensionary in his Drawers, and the Ruwart van Putten stark naked, bound with Matches, and dragged to the Scaffold, the multitude Triumphing with the Velvet Coat, Breeches, &c. of John De wit, also the Japan-Gown of the Ruwarts, the burghers here stand in order again.  
No. 4.] Represents, The Bodies of the De wits hanging on the strappado upon the Scaffold, without Nose, Ears, Toes, and Fingers, the one was cut open like a Hog, his Bowels and Heart torn out of his Body, which was thrust through many a time, an East-India Sea-man fastens his Lungs and Liver to the Pales, and the rest laughing and sporting; here stands the two Companies upon the Place; and the two Companies that stood on the Viverberg.     

Sold by John Overton at the White Horse without Newgate, and Dorman Newman in the poultry, 1673.