and we honest fellows here of the Mint would be starved. Prithee,
what need you care for a statute? A thousand statutes can't reach
you here." This is the language of the country, and the new-comer
soon learns to speak it; for I think I may say, without wronging any
man, I have known many a man go in among them honest, that is,
without ill design, but I never knew one come away so again. Then
comes a graver sort among this black crew (for here, as in hell, are
fiends of degrees and different magnitude), and he falls into
discourse with the new-comer, and gives him more solid advice.
"Look you, sir, I am concerned to see you melancholy; I am in your
circumstance too, and if you'll accept of it, I'll give you the best
advice I can," and so begins the grave discourse.

The man is in too much trouble not to want counsel, so he thanks
him, and he goes on:- "Send a summons to your creditors, and offer
them what you can propose in the pound (always reserving a good
stock to begin the world again), which if they will take, you are a
free man, and better than you were before; if they won't take it,
you know the worst of it, you are on the better side of the hedge
with them: if they will not take it, but will proceed to a statute,
you have nothing to do but to oppose force with force; for the laws
of nature tell you, you must not starve; and a statute is so
barbarous, so unjust, so malicious a way of proceeding against a
man, that I do not think any debtor obliged to consider anything but
his own preservation, when once they go on with that." "For why,"
says the old studied wretch, "should the creditors spend your estate
in the commission, and then demand the debt of you too? Do you owe
anything to the commission of the statute?" "No," says he. "Why,
then," says he, "I warrant their charges will come to 200 pounds out
of your estate, and they must have 10s. a day for starving you and