ABSTRACT
A few years later, in 1609, Dutch readers were given an opportunity of acquainting themselves with an English book that had not been too successful in the country of its origin. It was Reginald Scott’s Discovery of Witchcraft. The Dutch were readier than the English to peruse with sympathy an attack on nefarious fancies which threatened the life of innocuous old women: many of them were doubters, and the regents in, particular were highly sceptical. When the truce with Spain was concluded in 1609 privateering came to an end and with it the most remunerative branch of litigation. In 1621 the truce came to an end and land reclamation ceased to be profitable. New inundations were required for military purposes, some of the recent reclamations were lost, and the owners received no compensation. Visions of greater wealth evaporated. While in England, Cats was frequently invited to the country houses of well-known people.
