Cats, Jakob (1577-1660)

Dutch poet. His popularity (some 50,000 copies of his works were sold during his lifetime) persisted into the 19th century. His long didactic poems include Trou-Ringh/Wedding Ring (1637) and Spieghel van den ouden ende nieuwen tijdt/Mirror of the Old and the New Times (1632).

Cats was born in Brouwershaven, Zeeland. He studied law at Leiden, and later won renown as an advocate for his defence of a witch. His investment in drainage works in Holland and England made him wealthy. He was for some time stipendiary magistrate at Middelburg and Dordrecht; in 1636 he became grand pensionary of Holland, and 12 years later keeper of the great seal. He was knighted as a result of his embassy in 1627 to Charles I of England.