;
and he confesses with a most naive and rather cynic frankness:--

"For her in very truth, with but the least of cause
And with a joyful heart, I'd given up the ghost.--
Look ye, this evil lot that to the father fell
Has in an instant's time my heart of love bereft!"

Immediately after this incident, Cats married Elizabeth van
Valkenburg, a rich girl from Antwerpen. Her good sense, faithfulness,
and housewifely virtues found a warm expression in the following
words:--

"She was a worthy woman,
A foundation for a home, a model of truth."

This period of Cats's life, almost coincident with the twelve-years'
armistice ending in 1621, when the war with Spain was resumed, was one
of varied activity. Aside from the duties of his practice, he gave
much time to the diking of grounds neglected during the war, now in
great danger from the sea; and while at his country-place Grijpskerke
near Middelburg, where his "flock of children played under the trees,"
he wrote the poems 'Emblemata of Sinnebeelden' (Emblemata or Emblems);
'Maeghdeplicht' (Maiden Duty), in 1618; 'Selfstryt' (Inward Strife),
1620; 'Toonel der Mannelycke Achtbaerheyd' (Scene of Manly
Respectability), and 'Houwelyck' (Marriage).

With the beginning of the war his own peace was at an end. Several of
the grounds reclaimed from the sea were once more flooded to prevent
the advance of the enemy. In 1621 he accepted the office of pensionary
of Middelburg, his first step toward official statesmanship. In 1623
he was elected pensionary of Dordrecht, and although he hesitated in
leaving Zeeland, he finally decided to accept the office. In 1625 he
added to his duties those of Curator of Leyden University. His
literary work was consequently laid aside.

In 1627 Cats accompanied Albert Joachimi as ambassador to London to
open negotiations for a navigation treaty. He was only partly
successful in his mission, but was met with much consideration by
Charles I., who decorated him with the order of St. Jovis. Shortly
after his return he lost his wife after a brief illness.

While he was writing 'Trouwring' (Wedding Ring), a collection of epic
and lyric poems, he was elected Secretary of State in 1636, and in
1645 Keeper of the Great Seal and Governor. But he had the experience
in his public life that a crown may often be a crown of thorns; and in
1651 he begged to be released from his burdensome office. His demand
was granted, and on this oc