called William III. to the
head of affairs, and there were violent demonstrations against John de
Witt. His brother Cornelius was (July 24) arrested on a charge of
conspiring against the prince. On the 4th of August John de Witt
resigned the post of grand pensionary that he had held so long and with
such distinction. Cornelius was put to the torture, and on the 19th of
August he was sentenced to deprivation of his offices and banishment. He
was confined in the Gevangenpoort, and his brother came to visit him in
the prison. A vast crowd on hearing this collected outside, and finally
burst into the prison, seized the two brothers and literally tore them
to pieces. Their mangled remains were hung up by the feet to a
lamp-post. Thus perished, by the savage act of an infuriated mob, one of
the greatest statesmen of his age.

John de Witt married Wendela Bicker, daughter of an influential
burgomaster of Amsterdam, in 1655, by whom he had two sons and three
daughters.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--J. Geddes, _History of the Administration of John de
Witt_, (vol. i. only, London, 1879); A. Lefevre-Pontalis, _Jean de
Witt, grand pensionnaire de Hollande_ (2 vols., Paris, 1884); P.
Simons, _Johan de Witt en zijn tijd_ (3 vols., Amsterdam, 1832-1842);
W. C. Knottenbelt, _Geschiedenis der Staatkunde van J. de Witt_
(Amsterdam, 1862); _J. de Witt, Brieven ... gewisselt tusschen den
Heer Johan de Witt ... ende de gevolgmaghtigden v. d. staedt d.
Vereen. Nederlanden so in Vranckryck, Engelandt, Sweden, Denemarken,
Poolen, enz. 1652-69_ (6 vols., The Hague, 1723-1725); _Brieven ...
1650-1657 (1658) eerste deel bewerkt den R. Fruin uitgegeven d., C. W.
Kernkamp_ (Amsterdam, 1906).

DEWLAP (from the O.E. _laeppa_, a lappet, or hanging fold; the first
syllable is of doubtful origin and the popular explanation that the word
means "the fold which brushes the dew" is not borne out, according to
the _New English Dictionary_, by the equivalent words such as the
Danish _doglaeb_, in Scandinavian languages), the loose fold of skin
hanging from the neck of cattle, also applied to similar folds in the
necks of other animals and fowls, as the dog, turkey, &c. The American
practice of branding cattle by making a cut in the neck is known as a
"dewlap brand." The skin of the neck in human beings often becomes
pendulous with age, and is sometimes referred to humorously by the same
name.

DEWSBURY, a market town and municipal and parli