Vertues common-vvealth: or The high-way to honour Wherin is discouered, that although by the disguised craft of this age, vice and hypocrisie may be concealed: yet by tyme (the triall of truth) it is most plainly reuealed. ... By Henry Crosse.

To the curteous Reader.

WHen I had brought this poore labour of a ••ewe idle houres to a full period (gentle Reader) I was purposed to haue sent it to the world like an Orphane, without a fa∣ther (being so vntimely borne) yet conside∣ring it was not altogether vnprofitable for this last age, wherin iniquitie doth so much abound; and so much the rather, being so instantly vrged ther∣vnto by such as haue an absolute intrest in me & my labours, I was content to send it to the Presse, and cast my selfe vpon the generall censure. I must confesse it is very vnscholler-like hand∣led, being hudled vp in haste without the rule of order, wan∣ting time Decies castigari ••dvnguem, to correct againe and againe: and therefore I was almost disswaded from this desperate attempt; and that chiefly because reproofe is growne so headstrong, as she will buckle with Vertue: yet in this hope I rested, that although Momus and the whole broode of Syco∣phants, byte and s••arle with their venemous and spitefull tongues, though it be not in my power to stop their mouthes, yet it is in my owne hands to stop my owne eares, & let them barke at the Moone, with the Wolues of Assiria: yet if thou wilt di∣stinctly read, & not rashly iudge, thou shalt finde matter worth the noting. Here is Vertue leading the way to honor▪ Vice and Ignorance exaulted with vaine▪glory: Learning and good lit∣trature wrapped in with pouertie: Machauile, writing bookes against honestie: Idlenesse, drunkennes, & the grosse errors of

these dayes, earnestly reprehended. But if thou do••st patiently beare ••ith my rudenesse, it will animate a grosse conceit to set vpon some thing that may shewe a further testimonie of my gratefull mind toward thee hereafter. In the ••eane time let this my first labour be one little step, whereby I may ascend in∣to thy good opinion, and that that is weake and in authenticke, correct with thy pen, or gently passe it ouer, so shalt thou recom∣pence my trauell, and binde me to requite thy fauour. But if thou art so auspicious, as with narrow critticke eyes to looke a squi••t at euery thing, thou wilt dismay a young begin••er▪ and turne my Alpha, into Omaega.

Henry Crosse.