By this time, his affairs had got into confusion, his credit as a merchant was gone, and his creditors were pressing upon him. It does not appear that he succeeded in wringing more than a thousand pounds out of the hands of the Commonwealth men. Finally, incurring fresh debts for his subsistence in the metropolis, he was thrown into prison in Westminster--a memorable example of the reverses of fortune incidental to a time of civil strife. [Sidenote: 1655.] A curious and very rare pamphlet in folio, entitled _The Lamentable Estate and Distressed Case of the Deceased Sir William Dick in Scotland and his Numerous Family and Creditors for the Commonwealth_, contains two prints, the first representing Sir William at the crisis when he was so serviceable to the cause of the Covenant, mounted on a handsome dress, and with a goodly retinue, his horse trampling on money and money-bags scattered along the ground. On one hand is seen Hamilton’s fleet in the Firth of Forth, with the significant date 1639 inscribed on one of the vessels; on the other, Edinburgh Castle undergoing siege, with the date 1640, evidently referring to the leaguer which the Castle underwent when the Covenanters were endeavouring to wrest it from the officer who held it for the king. Below this print is inscribed: ‘See here a Merchant who for’s country’s good, Leaves off his trade to spend both wealth and blood, Tramples on profit to redeem the fate Of his decaying church, and prince, and state. Such traffic sure none can too highly prize, When gain itself is made a sacrifice. But oh, how ill will such examples move, If Loss be made the recompense to Love.’ Sir William’s favourite mottoes are inscribed above--PUBLICA SALUS NUNC MEA MERCES, and PRO FOEDERE, REGE, ET GREGE. The second print, of which the original painting is still preserved at Prestonfield House, near Edinburgh, represents the unfortunate merchant in his prison-cell, seated on a bulk in a mean dress, manacled and fettered, with his family weeping around him, and four officers of the law at his back, scourges and fetters being scattered about the floor. Below are inscribed the motto, PUBLICA FIDES NUNC MEA SERVITUS, and these lines: ‘He whom you see thus by vile sergeants torn, Was once his country’s pattern, now their scorn; Whilst into prison dragged, he there complains, Who least deserves doth soonest suffer chains. And who for public doth his faith engage, Changes his palace for an iron cage. Then add, to shew his unbecoming fate, He had been free had he not served the state.’ [Sidenote: 1655.]