A recantation of an ill led life, or, A discouerie of the high-way law with vehement disswasions to all (in that kind) offenders : as also many cautelous admonitions and full instructions, how to know, shun, and apprehend a theefe : most necessarie for all honest trauellers to per'use, obserue and practise / written by Iohn Clauell ... ; approued by the Kings Most Excellent Maiestie, and published by his expresse commaund.

To the right Worshipfull the Iustices of Peace, and Gentlemen of qualitie in this KINGDOME.

Right Worshipfull,

VSuall, and ordinary is your contribution to the reliefe of those, that suffer losse by the High-way side (the Law requiring it) great is your care and trou∣ble, almost at euery Session and Assize, in tryall of those, who that way offend; seriously to bee lamented is the losse of many young Gentlemen (well descended) who haue beene, for that fact, found guilty, and accor∣dingly suffered, vntimely ignominious, yet deserued deaths; These mischiefes, and inconueniences I haue ob∣serued, and seriously considered; so that (partly to exte∣nuate my owne foule offences, partly to procure ease vnto my burdened conscience, but most especially that the like may not bee hereafter) I haue written this Discouery, which I entitle my Recantation; I haue heereby not onely preuented the baser sort of people from committing such rebellious out-rages, but also laid open to the better sort (I meane too such as are of Gentle Parentage) the foule∣nesse and basenesse of the Act, that who so hath the least rellish of a Gentleman, will be no more seduced, and that way misled; now if it take this good effect (as I heartily wish it may) I shall account my selfe happy, although I continue still,

A distressed Prisoner. I. C.