2o6 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



off to Shrewsbury gaol, whence, ui the course of time, 

 he was removed to the King's Bench Prison, in 

 London. 



Now here again comes "John Mytton!" During 

 his sojourn in the first-named prison, he was visited 

 by several of his old friends — influential gentlemen in 

 the county — who offered their services in arranging 

 his difficulties, provided he would put his affairs into 

 their trust ; but he rejected all their overtures. 

 Either C:esar or nobody he was resolved to be so long 

 as he was above ground ; and how exactly did he 

 come under that denomination of persons of whom 

 Horace speaks, — 



" Quern neque paiiperies, neque mors, neque vincula tei'rent ;" 



and how plumply did he give the lie to the adage, 

 that adversity is the school of reform ! The toad 

 was ugly and venomous ; but /le saw no " precious 

 jewel in his head." 



But there was something savouring of the serio- 



o o 



romantic in Mr. INIytton's being placed in durance, for 

 debt, in the prison of a town with which the deeds of 

 his ancestors were so deeply and brilliantly associated 

 — in a town in which his word would, but a short 

 time before, have been good for ten thousand pounds, 



