but though his Iustice were so great that he would not let wickednesse goe vnpunished yet he would againe haue a world of new creatures to whom his wisedome power and mercy might be declared Seeing therefore the first Age miscarried by their sinfulnesse for whose purity God had so well prouided the Almighty determined to beginne the second Age by three persons of greater perfection and excellency then the other called Bremaw Vystney and Ruddery The Almighty therefore descending from heauen vpon a great Mountaine called Meropurbatee vpon the top of the same the Lord pronounced his word and said Rise vp Bremaw the first of liuing Creatures in the second Age the earth then did render from her wombe Bremaw at the voyce of God who did acknowledge and worshippe his Maker and by a second and third Command from the same place raised Vystney and Ruddery who with no lesse reuerence adored their Maker likewise But God that maketh nothing without his vse or end did not make these to liue idle but to be seruiceable in the worlds restoring to the first therefore which was Bremaw hee gaue the power to make the Creatures because say the Banians as great persons doe not their worke but by deputies so neither was it fit God should be seruile to the Creatures but giue them their being by his Instruments To the second which was Vystney hee gaue the charge to preserue the Creatures for that as it was his mercy to cause them to bee so it was his prouidence to keepe them in their being But to the third which was Ruddery hee gaue power to destroy his Creatures because he knew they would bee wicked and deserue a Iudgement amongst them Now as God had giuen to these persons power to doe these great workes so it was meete they should bee fitted with meanes capable for the discharge of their seuerall charges That Bremaw therefore might haue power to make the Creatures hee indued him with the Abilities of Creation and production Secondly that Vistney might preserue the Creatures the Lord gaue all things into his power that might tend to the preseruation of those that Bremaw should make therefore hee made him Lord of the Sunne and Moone of the Cloudes Showers and Dewes that fall vpon the Earth Lord of the Hils and Valleies disposer of the changes of the yeare the conferrer of Riches health and honour and whatsoeuer tended to the well being of Man and the rest of the Creatures Lastly that Ruddery might bee a fit Executioner of Gods Iustice God gaue into his possession whatsoeuer might tend to the destruction of liuing Creatures therefore Ruddery was made the Lord of Death and Iudgment and whatsoeuer might tend to the punishment of Man whether it were Sicknesse Famine Warre or Pestilence or any thing else that might bee a plague for sinne According also to the seuerall Assignations of these persons to their particuler Charges they were alloted a determinate time of Abiding vpon Earth Because the worke of the Creation was concluded in the second of their Ages which was a worke assign'd to Bremaw therefore Bremaw was to be taken vp to the Almighty in the conclusion of the second Age. And because the other Ages were multiplied with people by some that were reserued frâ—m destruction therefore Vistney was kept on earth till he had doubled Bremawes tearme of time as of whose preseruation there was longer neede And because the world should end in destruction therefore the continuance of Ruddery was three times so long that when the great day of Iudgement should come hee might destroy all the bodies and carry the soules with him to the place of Glory Nought wanted now but that they should euery one in their seuerall turnes shew the powers conferred vpon them So Bremaw consulting with himselfe how he might fulfill the charge imposed vpon him grew extraordinarily afflicted in his body the strangenesse of which anguish vexing him in euery part boaded some alteration or vnexpected euent when loe such trauaile as happeneth to women in labour seazed him and a certaine tumour and swelling of his body withall according to the suddaine ripenesse of the burthen within distended his bowels more and more and gaue newer and greater extremities to him in this Agony till the burthen though Bremaw farre exceeded the stature of common men made two ruptures the one on the right side the other on the left when behold two Twinnes the one male the other female to wit Man and Woman did betray themselues to the world in full growth and perfect stature who thus produced and informed concerning God by the instructions of Bremaw the Man was by him named Manow and the Woman Ceteroupa So giuing worshippe to God the Creator and reuerence to Bremaw their producer with a blessing of multiplication pronounced vpon them they were sent to the East to a Mountaine called Munderpuâ—vool thence to dispread their generations to the West North and South so they departed and Ceteroupa brought forth three sonnes and three daughters the eldest sonne was called Priauretta the second Outanapautha the third Soomeraut the eldest daughters name was called Cammah the second Soonerettaw the third Sumboo As these grew in yeeres they were in their seuerall orders dispersed seuerall wayes viz. Priauretta and Cammah to the West to the Mountaine called Segund Outanapautha and Soonerettaw to the North to the Mountaine Râ—pola Soomeraut and Sumboo to the Mountaine Supars all which brought forth plentiful generations Thus Bremaw made Man and Woman and replenished the earth with the rest of the liuing Creatures Vystney likewise did prouide all things necessary that might be to the sustentation and preseruation of the liuing creatures that Bremaw had made giuing them in enioyment such blessings as were needfull to a wel being To conclude Ruddery did disperse afflictions sicknesse death and iudgement according as the Sonnes of men did by their wickednesse inuoke this smart vpon themselues And this was the order God tooke for the restoring of people to inhabit the earth in the second Age of the World Now how God prouided for the establishment of Religion in this second Age that these that liued might feare and worshippe him shall be declared in the Chapter next following as it is vnfolded by the Tradition of the Banians CHAP. VIII How God communicated Religion to the world by a Booke deliuered to Bremaw the particular Tracts of the same The first Tract thereof touching the morall Law laid downe with the appropriation of the same to the seuerall Casts and a Confutation of the Errours thereof GOD knowing that there would be but euill gouernment where there was not the establishment of his worshippe and feare after the world was replenished a new bethought himselfe of giuing them lawes to restraine that euill in them that was the cause of the destruction of the former Age. Descending therefore on the Mountaine Mâ—ropurbatee he called Bremaw to him and out of a darke and duskie cloude with
the Creation of the world the creation of the first Man and Woman and the Progeny from them descending as it is by the Banians deliuered THE great God say the Banians being alone bethought himselfe how hee might make his excellency and power manifest to others for his great vertue had beene obscured and hid if it had not beene communicated to his creatures What meanes might then bee better to giue euidence of both these then the creation of a world and creatures therein For this cause the Almighty consulted with himselfe about the making of this great worke which men call the World or Vniuerse and as the Ancients say they haue deliuered the Lord made foure Elements as the ground-worke of this mighty frame to wit Earth Aire Fire and Water which foure Elements were at first all mingled together in a confusion but the Almighty separated them in manner following First it is deliuered that by some great Cane or like instrument hee blew vpon the Waters which arose into a bubble of a round forme like an egge which spreading it selfe further and further made the Firmament so cleare and transparent which now compasseth the world about After this there remaining the Earth as the sediment of the Waters and some liquid substance with the same the Lord made of both these together a thing round like a ball which hee called the lower world the more solid part whereof became the Earth the more liquid the Seas both which making one Globe he by a great noyse or humming sound placed them in the middest of the Firmament which became aequi-distant from it on euery side Then he created a Sunne and Moone in the Firmament to distinguish the times and seasons and thus these foure Elements that were at first mixt together became separate and assigned to their seuerall places the Aire to his place the Earth to his the Water to his place and the Fire to his place These Elements thus disposed each of them discharged his seuerall parts the Aire filled vp whatsoeuer was emptie the Fire began to nourish with his heate the Earth brought forth his liuing creatures and the Sea his And the Lord conueyed to these a seminall vertue that they might bee fruitfull in their seuerall operations and thus the great world was created This World as it had his beginning from foure Elements so it was measured by foure maine points of the Compasse East West North and South and was to be continued for foure Ages and to be peopled by foure Casts or sorts of men which were maried to foure Women appointed for them of which wee shall speake as order may giue occasion God hauing thus made the world and the creatures thereto belonging then God created Man as a creature more worthy then the rest one that might be most capable of the workes of God The earth then did at Gods voyce and command render this creature from his bowels his head first appearing and after that his body with all the parts and members of the same into whom God conueyed life which as soone as he had receiued witnessed it selfe for colour began to shew it selfe red in his lippes his eye liddes began to disclose the two lights of Nature the parts of his body bewrayed their motion and his vnderstanding being informed hee acknowledged his Maker and gaue him worship That this creature might not bee alone who was made by nature sociable God seconded him with a Companion which was Woman to whom not so much the outward shape as the likenesse of the minde and disposition seemed agreeing and the first mans name was Pourous and the womans name was Parcoutee and they liued conioyned together as Man and Wife feeding on the fruites of the earth without the destruction of any liuing creature These two liuing in this coniunction had foure sonnes the first was called Brammon the second Cuttery the third Shuddery the fourth Wyse These foure brethren were of Natures distinct each from the other the foure Elements claiming in each of them a different predominance For Brammon was of an earthly constitution and therefore Melancholly and Cuttery was of a fiery constitution and therefore of a Martiall spirit Shuddery was of a flegmaticke constitution and therefore of a peaceable or conuersable disposition Wyse was of an ayery temper and therefore full of contriuements and inuentions And because Brammon was of a melancholly constitution and ingenious God indued him with knowledge and appointed him to impart his Precepts and Lawes vnto the people his graue and serious looke best fitting him for such a purpose for which cause hee gaue him a Booke containing the forme of diuine Worshippe and Religion And because Cuttery was of a Martiall temper God gaue him power to sway kingdomes with the Scepter and to bring men into order that the Weale-publicke might thriue by vnited indeauours for the common good as an Embleme of which the Almighty put a sword into his hand the instrument of victory and domination And because Shuddery was of a nature mild and conuerseable it was thought meete that he should bee a Merchant to inrich the Common-wealth by Trafficke that so euery place might abound with all things by the vse of shipping and Nauigation as a monitour to put him in minde of which course of life he had a paire of Ballances put into his hand and a bagge of waights hung at his girdle instruments most accommadate to his profession Lastly because Wyse was of an Ayery temper whose conceipts vse to bee more subtle and apprehensiue he was indued with admirable inuentions and was able by his first thoughts to forme any thing that belonged to the Mechanicke or handy-crafts man For which purpose hee had a bagge of tooles or instruments consisting of such variety as were necessary to effectuate the workes of his fancy or conceipt Thus you haue the first Man and Woman and the Progeny from them descending according to Banians tradition and a world to be raised of so few the persons as they thinke could not be better fitted to the same the whole world being well considered consisting of and subsisting by such foure kindes of men The World being in this Mayden puritie that the generations of men might not be deriued from a polluted beginning of mankinde the Almighty gaue not Pourous and Parcoutee any daughters least some of these foure 〈◊〉 preferring the needes of propagation before piety and Religion should haue defloured their Sisters and haue blemished the world with impurity but prouiding better for the holinesse and sanctity of our Ancestors that the worke of generation might be agreeable to the worke of Creation God made foure Women for these foure Men and placed them at the foure Windes one at the East another at the West a third at the North and a fourth at the South that thus being diuided there might be a better meanes for the spreading of their generations ouer the face of the earth with which foure Women how
of his Order conspiring against God to gaine the Soueraignety and command ouer all God threw him from the Orbe of his happinesse together with his confederates and accomplices dambd him to hel the place that was made for offenders and turned them from their glorious shapes into shapes blacke vgly and deformed till the times of the world should be consummate when al offenders in generall should receiue their sentence of punishment and condemnation So God hauing accomplished this second labour desisted from the worke of the creation fiue dayes more After this the Almighty begunne the third labour of the creation which was to make the Earth which together with the Waters called Seas make this lower world like a Globe or Ball so agreeing together that the Seas humidity maketh the Earth fruitfull and the Earths soliditie boundeth the waters in their due confine which worke thus finished God suspended the worke of the Creation for fiue dayes more and rested The fourth labour was to make the Trees Plants and Hearbes that so the earth might bring forth fruites pleasant to the eye and taste and for the comfort of the Creatures liuing in the earth this also done God rested and gaue the former respite to his labours The fift worke was to make Creatures fit to abide in the places forementioned as Beasts of all sorts to forrage in the greene pastures Fowles to cleane the Ayre with their nimble Pencions Fishes to swimme in the vnknowne depths of the watery Ocean The world thus replenished with creatures God resumed his wonted rest and intermission from this labour And lastly vndertooke his sixt labour which was the forming of Man and Woman to whom the rest of the Creatures were made ministratory and seruile whose name their Records deliuer to be Adamah and Euah who being the first two by whom the multitudes of mankinde should be propagated God as they affirme did cause Euah to bring forth two twinnes every day for a thousand yeeres together death did diminish none of the numbers of mankinde by mortality But Lucifer thus deposed with the rest of his Order grew malignant both to God and man and as God did good so he laboured to doe euill and to perturbe his actions and tempt men to sinne and wickednesse labouring to make man odious to his Maker as also making himselfe an enemy to all goodnesse which God yet did not fully reuenge as knowing nothing but euill to bee in him and his confederates But the better to preuent his mischiefe set certaine superuisors ouer his creatures to preserue them in that state wherein they were at first created Thus to one Hamull was committed the charge of the heauens to Acrob the ouersight of the Angels that they relapsed not as Lucifer had done to Ioder the ouersight of the Sunne Moone and Starres to Soreh the care of the Earth to Iosah the command of the Waters Sumbolah had the charge of the beasts of the field Daloo of the Fish of the Sea Rocan of the trees Cooz of Man and Woman and Sertan and Asud to whom God had giuen strength and power were made the guardians of Lucifer and the euill spirits to master and conjure them from mischiefe to Gods creatures who yet notwithstanding the watch of Sertan and Asud did much mischiefe in the world by suggestion and temptation to wickednâ—sse which made God offended with mankinde for their wickednesse The sinnes of men growing great they say it appeareth in their Records that there came a Flood or Inundation which ouerflowed the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof some few onely God preserued to propagate the generations of the times following that so there might not bee an vtter ruine of mankinde These generations were dispersed to people the earth againe from which all Nations haue had their descent And as their Historiographer Mircond reporteth in times not long distant from the Flood these Persees had a Race of Kings that were their proper Gouernours continued for aboue a thousand yeeres by the succession of fiue and forty Kings The first whereof was Guiomaras who as Mircond reports was the son of Aram the sonne of Sem the sonne of Noah by the Persees called Adam Asseny that is the second Adam the last in whom the Monarchie of this people concluded as is before shewed was Yesdegerd The Abridgement of which Chronicle I would haue gathered from them but that I found it to agree punctually both iâ— matter and order with that translation of Mr. Grimstones called Estates and Empires c in the Chronicle of the Kings of Persia to whom I referre those that desire information therein What Religion this people had in the Reignes of Guiomaras Syameck Ouchang Thamull Iimshed Zoack Traydhun and Manoucher vnto Lorasph which was their fifteenth King is not the scope of this present worke though then they had a peculiar kinde of worshippe But the Religion that is the Subiect of this booke is a Religion that was receiued in the Reigne of Gustasph the sonne of Lorasph their sixteenth King in succession concerning the worshippe of Fire in the defence of which Religion Gustasph was so zealous that hee made warre against Ariaseph King of Turron for that he reprehended him in a letter about this worshippe Hauing then limited this Booke to his proper Subiect three things in generall are to be treated of in this worke First to declare who was their Law-giuer how their Law was deliuered and came to bee receiued of Gustasph King of Persia. Next to shew the substance of their Law Lastly to proceede to other Ceremonies obserued by them not improper to this present Tract CHAP. III. Concerning Zertoost the Law-giuer of the Persees his Parents the Omens that did forerunne his Natiuity their interpretation his perils in his Birthplace his escape into Persia and the Accidents happening in his Trauailes thither COncerning the Law-giuer of this people it is left recorded in their old writings that there liued in Chyna two poore people of honest fame and reputation married together as man and wife the man was called Espintaman the woman Dodoo these two hauing long liued in the state of marriage without issue the woman earnestly prayed that God would giue her a sonne her request was heard and much time passed not ere shee conceiued and grew pregnant About the time of this womans Conception shee saw a vision presented to her in a dreame that filled her with great feare and terrour for she conceiued that the heauens were of a light fire ouer her head and that a flaming rednesse had ouerspread the firmament which droue her into a great Agony when on a sodaine there rushed into her sight foure Griffins of grimme and horrid appearance who seazing on her body did from her wombe seeme cruelly to teare out the child she had conceiued to her great feare and despaire of life when on a sodaine stept in a man of person goodly and of warlike Aspect with a truncheon on in his hand in
the foure Sonnes of the first Man met shall be vnderstood in the sequeale of their seuerall stories in the Chapters following CHAP. II. Of Brammon the eldest Sonne of Pourous his Trauaile towards the East he meeteth with the Woman appointed for him the passages that happened in their Accoast their Marriage and peopling of the East THis eldest sonne of the first Man called Brammon grewe in stature and had the preheminence of his birth both in place and in respect aboue the rest of his brethren as also in regard of his neere relations to God in religious seruices was highly honoured of his Brethren and was an Instructor vnto them and the Almighty communicated himselfe to him in presence and vision he gaue himselfe therefore much to reading and conuersed with the booke that God gaue him containing the platforme of diuine worshippe Being therefore growne to mans age and as it should appeare by circumstances man being created in the middest of the earth in some pleasant place where the Sunne at high Noone depriued substances of their shadowes for it was fit that man should be produced out of such a place as might be the Nauell of the World God who would now disperse the Brethren from the Center as it were to the Circumference for propagation commanded Brammon to take his booke in his hand wherein was written the diuine law and to direct his Iourney towards the rising of the Sunne in the East As soone as that glorious light of heauen had discouered his splendor from the toppes of the Mountaines he tooke his iourney that way for the East being the most noble part of the world it was likely that had the preheminence in plantation vntill he arriued at a goodly Mountaine before the proud face whereof lay prostrate a valley through which there passed a Brooke in the descent of which there appeared a Woman satisfying her thirst from the streames of the Riuer and they were both naked Innocence not being then ashamed to publish her retyrements and priuacies nor hauing faulted so much with those immodest parts as to neede a shrowd to veile them from the sight This Woman was of haire blacke of complexion yealowish or Saffrony as on whose face the Sunne had too freely cast his beames the remembrance of whose heate was too surely conserued in her countenance she was indifferently sized whose pitch could neither challenge the name of lownesse or high stature modest were her Aspect and her eyes Indices of so melancholly sobernesse and composed lookes as if shee seemed to bee sampled for him that met her But her eyes vnaccustomed to view such an Obiect as was before her hauing neuer seene a creature of proportion like her selfe betwixt wonder and shame shee was vncertaine whether she should flye or please her sight with such a vision But Brammon no lesse abashed at such intrusion which by retyring he could not well shunne with a downe-cast countenance suppressed with shame they both aboad one anothers presence with tongue-tyed silence whose backwardnesse gaue incouragement to the Woman to question the cause of his comming thither who answered That by the command of him who had made the world him her and all creatures visible together with the light that gaue them the comfort of their meeting he was sent thither The Woman to whom God had giuen that vnderstanding to be capable of the propernesse of his speech and inquiring further into this Accident said that there was an agreement in their likenesse and composition that declared they had one maker that it may be he that had made them and had his ends in their disposall had thus brought them together that some neerer bond might make them inseparable from each others society and casting her eye vpon the booke that Brammon bare in his hand asked what it was who acquainting her with the contents thereof was desired to sit down and communicate the religious Counsels of the same vnto her whereunto hee condescended and being both perswaded that God had a hand in this their meeting they tooke counsell from this booke to binde themselues together in the inuiolable bond of Marriage and with the courtesies interceding betwixt Man and Wife were lodged in one anothers bosome For ioy whereof the Sunne put on his nuptiall lustre and looked brighter then ordinary causing the season to shine vpon them with golden ioy and the siluer Moone welcommed the euening of their repose whilst Musicke from heauen as if Gods purpose in them had beene determinate sent forth a pleasing sound such as vseth to fleete from the loud Trumpet together with the noyse of the triumphant Drumme Thus proouing the effects of generation together they had fruitful issue so peopled the East and the womans name was Sauatree CHAP. III. Of Cuttery the second Sonne of Pourous his Trauaile and the meeting hee had with the Woman appointed for him their conflict appeasement coniunction and the peopling of the West by them SVccessiuely the second Brother Cuttery was by the Almighty consigned to the West about the charge of making men so taking the sword in his hand that God had giuen him the instrument on whose edge lay the hopes of a kingdome rowsing vp his courage which hiherto wanted occasion of exercise from the heart and bosome of the earth in which his youth had conuersed he turned his backe on the rising Sunne euery morning whose swister course ouertook him euery day in his decline presented himself in his setting glory before him As he thus trauailed towards the West he chafed with himselfe as he passed along that no aduenture presented it selfe that might prouoke him to giue a probate of his Courage wishing that an Army of men or a troope of wilde beasts would oppose him that hee might strowe the surface of the earth with dead carkeyses and giue the sowles of heauen flesh to feede on And not knowing to what purpose God had directed him to â—end his course that way as onely sensible of his owne heroick stomacke hee said To what end hath God infused such Magnanimity into my brest if it shal want a Subiect whereon to worke my glory and renowne shall I lose the end of my Creation God forbid Thus carried on with the hopes of some Aduenture hee intended that whatsoeuer should first cope with him should haue the sense of his fury when being come to a Mountaine whose height might make things farre distant visible to the eye he might perceiue a creature of goodly personage like himselfe stalking forward with a Martiall steppe no lesse slowe then maiesticke in pace which two approaching as desirous to make experiment of each others fortitude vpon their meeting together it appeared to bee a Woman whose tresses in a comely fertility hung downe by her shoulders which by motion of the ayre turned into a carelesse disorder euery blast that made an alteration in the same gaue a new grace to her excellent Person and made her presence more
at the place of their birth their diuisions and dissentions the great euils amongst their generations bringing a Flood which destroyeth them and so the first Age of the world concludeth EVery thing by naturall motion passeth to his owne place so the Brethren hauing peopled the world in these foure parts turne their course to the place where they first breathed their vitall ayre for Brammon hauing peopled the East with all such as was of his Cast or Tribe was carried with a naturall desire to goe and conclude his dayes where he began and to possesse the people of that place with the true forme of diuine worshippe that so all the world might retaine one vniformity of Religion not rending Gods worship into parts with the Factions of vnsetled opinions as also not willing to lose so great a ioy as his eies should conuey vnto him in the sight of his Parents and his Brethren to the former of which Religion had enioyned him to the latter all expressions of a Brothers loue Cuttery also the next that had accomplisht the end of his trauaile began to long after the sight of the place that brought him forth that he might there to his Father Mother and Brethren shew the blessings of God in his wife and Progeny and acquaint them with the story of his Occurencies and leaue a race of Souldiers there also in his posterity Shuddery turned also by the same inclination had his desires bent to his birth-place being bigge with the eminency of his accidentall fortunes which had lost their greatnesse if his Parents and Brethren had lost the knowledge of them to feede which humour as accompanied with other respects formerly mentioned drew him to giue his appearance amongst the rest Lastly Wyse to communicate his Arts whose aduenturous trauaile was no lesse memorable then the rest transporting his sonnes and daughters ouer the seuerall Seas left them in seuerall places and repaired to his birth-place to pay his duty to his Parents and his loue to his Brethren It so happened that God that would not crosse any part of their intentions with euill successe did reserue them to finde the happinesse of their meetings in their seuerall turnes and successions as their works were in order accomplished their seuerall arriuals being congratulated with Feastings and Triumphes meete welcome for such Guests It was not to be doubted but Pourous and Parcoutee grew young againe hauing such a season of happinesse reserued to smile vpon them towards the Sunset of their Age such as were able to make their forewasted powers spent with yeeres to renew their vigour Euery one of them when their ioy grew stale giuing a fresh renewance of gladnesse to their Parents by their successiue arriuall Neither could it bee imagined but that the Brethren accounted that the blessed time that lost all remembrance of trouble which wee thinke too importunate a disturber of our ioyes But ioy is neuer of long lasting but after the passage of little time hath his abatement this the Brethren being sensible of laid aside the thoughts of their Trauailes and the remembrance of their late comforts and as men newly transplanted to bring forth the fruites of their being in that place begetting new generations there that the world might bee compleately populous and instructed in their seuerall qualities by Brammon in matters of Religion by Cuttery in matters of Rule and Domination by Shuddery in matters of Trafficke and Merchandizing and by Wyse in the inuention of the handycrafts of which foure Casts the world consisted euery one of them liuing in his seuerall qualitie keeping his Tribe free from confusion or enterfeering and thus the world became peopled But multitude and concourse that vseth to be the nurse of mischiefe for where there are many men there will be many euils and prosperity that makes vs forgetfull of our selues and length of time that renders to vs the worst at our latter endings began to confound all goodnesse and turne euery thing out of order For Brammon grew neglectiue of his piety and Cuttery grew cruell and full of vsurpation and Shuddery grew deceiptfull in the waights and ballances and practised cosenage amongst his brethren and Wyse lost his conscience in his dealings and became a spend-thrift making the profits that came by his inuentions but the furtherers of ryot and excesse and as they were thus euill in themselues so they were euill one towards another For Brammon stomacked Cutteryes greatnesse and Cuttery forgat to giue Brammon the preheminence of his birth and as if his might had beene sufficient to giue him the right of Priority placing all excellency in Rule and Authority condemned the still and solitary spirit of his brother as vnworthy of respect and eminence yea prized his owne lawes and gouernment before Gods Lawes because they came from Brammon whom hee disesteemed On the other side hee pleased himselfe with the slaughter of those that displeased him layd Taxations vpon Shuddery and drayned the profit of Wyses labours and like a great Tide made all runne along with his owne Current whilst they requite his iniuries in cosenage and griping vpon their brethren in fraud and circumuention these euils of Example were seedes of wickednesse that no doubt would grow in their Posteritie And this dissention among themselues did boade a breach of that sweete harmonie that concurred to the worlds first constitution Wyse likewise seeing Brammon to lose his respect the more to make him despised sought to bring in a new forme of Religion communicated to him in vision concerning the worshippe of Images and bowing to Pagods vnder greene trees with other new ceremonies which since Brammons booke contained not the dispute was great whether they should be receiued as Canonicall but vpon Wyses asseueration that they were receiued from God they were receiued as part of the Ceremoniall Law Thus euery day presenting new platformes of wickednesse and sinnes that made a noyse God grew angry and the heauens were cloathed with blacknesse and terror the Seas began to swell as if they meant to ioyne with the cloudes in Mans destruction great noyse was heard aloft such as vseth to dismay mortall wretches and thunder and lightning flashed from the Poles such as seemed to threaten a finall wracke to the Earth but as if the world needed cleansing of his defilement and pollution there came a Flood that couered all Nations in the depths Thus the Bodies had their iudgement but the Soules were lodged in the bosome of the Almighty and so concluded the first Age of the world according to the Tradition of the Banians CHAP. VII Of the second Age of the World begunne by Bremaw Vystney and Ruddery of their Creation Assignation to their seuerall workes their time of Continuation vpon Earth and the meanes vsed for the Restauration of the World againe IT had now saith the Banian beene to little end for God to disanull his owne creatures for now his wisedome and power must haue againe layne obscured
vnto the Bramanes in their Law they more strictly follow their iniunctions then the other Tribes Lastly their forme of contract in buying and selling is something notable and distinct from the custome of other Nations for the Broaker that beateth the price with him that selleth looseth his Pamerin that is folded about his waste and dispreading it vpon his knee with hands folded vnderneath by their finger ends the price of pounds shillings or pence is pitched as the chapman is intended to giue The Seller in like manner intimateth how much he purposeth to haue which silent kinde of composition they say their Law enioyneth as the forme of their contract CHAP. XIII Of the fourth Cast called the Wyses the meaning of the name their kindes and seuerall Casts Bâ—emaws time is expired he is tooke vp to heauen the second Age is concluded by the destruction of Winde and Tempest LAstly as the fourth Sonne of Pourous was called Wyse and was the Master of the Mechanicks or handy-crafts â—o all manufactory men were to belong to the Cast of the Wyses Those directions that were in Bremawes booke for these were in precepts touching their behauiours in their callings This name Wyse implyes as much as one that is seruile or instrumentary for this cause as it may be supposed because they are seruile or helpefull to such as neede their Art as was Wyse and those descended from him who were indued with diuers inuentions these people are at this present most ordinarily called by the name of Gentiles Which Gentiles are of two sorts or kindes first the purer Gentile such as liueth obseruant of the dyet of the Banians abstaining from flesh and wine or vsing both very seldome or else the Gentile Visceraun called the impure or vncleane Gentile which taketh a greater liberty in dyet eating flesh or fish or things animate such are the husbandmen or inferior sort of people called the Coulees The purer sort of Gentile as they hold greatest relation in their religious liberty with Cutteryes so they agree in the number of their Casts hauing sixe and thirty according to the number of the trades or professions practised amongst them In the particular of their handycrafts this is obseruable that they make as few instruments serue for the effectuating of diuers workes as may bee and whatsoeuer they do is contrary to the Christian forme of working for the most part Such is the substance of the third Tract of the booke deliuered to Bremaw concerning the foure Tribes or Casts somewhat accommodate to their present manners This booke comprizing in it the Platforme of Religion and Gouernment thus deliuered to Bremaw was by him communicated to the Bramanes of those times and by them published to the people shewing what Religion they should obserue and how they should liue in their seuerall Tribes or Casts After which according to the prescriptions therein the Rulers did keepe the people in the order of Gouernment The Priests or Bramanes did giue aduise in matters of Religion The Merchants did follow Traffique and Merchandizing And the Handycrafts men did follow their seuerall professions seruing the needs of all men that had vse of them all things hauing a good beginning in this second Age Religion was embraced Prayers were made to God and the three persons Bremaw Vistney and Ruddery the bankes of the Riuers were frequented and daily washings were not neglected But after the people were multiplyed the succeeding Generations were not of the primitiue integrity but the lower the times grewe the worse they were at the bottome The Bramanes grew hypocriticall and lip-laborious the Cutteryes or Rulers swelled with pride and ambition cryed out for larger Territories meditating vniust ampliations of Gouernment The Merchants grew full of fraudulency in their dealings And the Handycrafts grew idle and ouervaluing their labours In this vproare of vngodlinesse the Lord grew angry and full of indignation and descended on Mount Meropurbatee acquainting Bremaw with the wickednesse of the world who descended and premonished them of the iudgement to come which a while husht the cry of their wickednesse but they fell to their old euils againe Bremaw then interceded for them but the Almighty would not be pacified but took Bremaw vp into his bosome the time of his aboad on earth being expired that he might not behold the euils of the time to come Then the Lord made knowne his purpose of destroying the world to Vistney whose nature and office being to preserue the people did intercede for them but the Lord would not be pacified but gaue charge to Ruddery whose office was to bring iudgement and destruction on sinners to cause the bowels of the earth to send out a winde to sweepe the Nations as the dust from the face of the earth So Ruddery enraged the windes in the bowels of the earth which brast forth into Eruptions and the great body of the world had her trepidations and wauerings the day seemed to change colour with the night the Mountaines and hils were hurled from their foundations and as some report the Riuer Ganges was carried from her wonted Rote to runne in a new Chanell so the Tempest destroyed all people sauing a few that the Lord permitted Vistney to couer with the skirt of his preseruation reserued to be the Propagaters of mankinde in the third Age and so this Age concluded CHAP. XIIII Shewing the beginning of the third Age the Restauration of the same by Ram new euils bring a iudgement concluding the third Age by an Earthquake or Chasma RVddery hauing restrained the windes from their former violence all now was husht but miserable and lamentable it was to behold the earth so desolate and voyd of inhabitants more miserable to see the carkeises that were scattered on her surface some blowne from the tops of high Mountaines others bruised to mash all ruined and destroyed so that the Almighty repented him of his owne worke and Ruddery was sorry that he should be an instrument of so great fury and destruction But because the head of all the former disorders was from the wickednesse and ill gouernment of the Kings and Rulers therefore the Lord vtterly raced out all of the Tribe or Cast of the Cutteryes those that were preserued from destruction by the skirt of Vistneys preseruation being some few of the other three Casts or Tribes Now because these foure Casts were so necessary to the worlds gouernment that it could not subsist without them though the Cast of the Cutteryes perished intyrely for their wickednesse yet that they might be renewed againe from a holier beginning the Lord appointed that from the Bramanes the line of the Kings should bee renewed So the Chiefe of the Bramanes that was then preserued by Vistney was called Ducerat the next child that was borne after this destruction and which was the youngest of foure was chosen to propagate the race of their Kings and Rulers who being religiously educated might as well fauour piety as pollicy
and with holinesse and prudence gouerne men in their seuerall Tribes So he did many worthy Acts and exceedingly maintained Religion was a Patron to the Bramanes and Churchmen and his name was Ram who became so memorable for his worthy deedes that his name is made honorable in the mention amongst them euen to this day that whensoeuer they meete and salute one another they cry Ram Ram as a word importing the wishes of all good It is like that after him there ruled many worthy Kings but tract of time rendering euery thing worse at the latter ending then at the beginning brought forth such as followed the course of the ancient wickednesse and new ambitions and new hypocrisies and new frauds and circumuentions and daily breaches of the Law deliuered in Bremawes book began afresh to make intrusion amongst them So the Almighty was againe angry that after so many iudgements the people would not be warned to his feare therefore by Gods appointment Ruddery caused the earth to open and swallow them vp aliue reseruing onely some few of the foure Tribes as a last tryall for the new peopling of the world againe And such was the conclusion of the third Age of the world CHAP. XV. The fourth and last Age of the world Vistneyes rapture to Heauen the Banians opinion touching the finall conclusion of the World and in what manner they suppose it shall be AFter this the Almighty againe commanded that the world should bee peopled by those that were reserued amongst whom there was one Kystney a famous Ruler and pious King of whose vertues they haue ample record as being one most notable in the last Age which they thinke now by the course of time to be deuolued vpon vs he did wonderfully promote Religion vpon which there was a reformed beginning of goodnesse By this Vistneyes time as they say being expired in this place and vale of mortality the Lord tooke him vp to heauen there being no further neede of his preseruation for when this Age is concluded there shall be a finall end of all things But the Bramanes though they suppose time to be running on the fourth Age of the world yet they suppose this Age shall bee longer than any of the rest in the end whereof they say Ruddery shall be rapt vp into heauen These Ages they call by foure names the first Curtain the second Duauper the third Tetraioo the fourth Kolee Concerning the manner of this finall iudgement they hold it shall bee more dreadfull than any of the rest and that it shall bee by fire that Ruddery then shall summon vp all the power of destruction that the Moone shall looke red that the Sunne shall shed his purling light like flaming brimstone that the lightening shall flash with terrours the skies shall change into all colours but especially fiery rednesse shall ouerspread the face of heauen that the foure Elements of which the world at first was constituted shall be at opposition and variance till by this Agony she be turned to her first confusion And that the finall consummation of the world shall be by fire they gather hence Of such as was the beginning of the world of such shall be her dissolution but the Principles of the worlds constitution were these foure Earth Ayre Water and Fire therefore by them shall she be destroyed which also they gather by the destruction of the seuerall Ages For the people of the first Age were destroyed by water the people of the second Age were destroyed by winde which they accoumpt the Ayre the people of the third Age were destroyed by Earth and the people of the last Age shall be destroyed by fire Then say they shall Ruddery carry vp the soules of all people to heauen with him to rest in Gods bosome but the bodies shall all perish So that they beleeue not the Resurrection for they say heauen being a place that is pure they hold it cannot be capable of such grosse substances The Authors Conclusion to the Reader together with a Censure on the materiall parts of this Relation THus worthy Reader thou hast the summe of the Banian Religion such as it is not voyd of vaine Superstitions and composed Forgery as well may bee iudged by the precedent Discourse wherein as in all other heresies may be gathered how Sathan leadeth those that are out of the pale of the Church a round in the Maze of Errour and Gentilisme I might leaue the particulars to thy Censure as well as to thy Reading but since I haue detected such grosse opinions in this Sect I cannot let them passe without a rod trust at their backes as a deserued pennance for their crime To helpe thy memory therefore in a short reuise of their forementioned vanities what seemeth their first Age to present but a figment of their owne deuising to confirme them to be the most ancient of all people as if like the Aegyptians in the 2. booke of Iustine they onely would boast of Antiquity and to lay the first ground of Religion and Gouernment when the Scythians had better arguments to pleade than they How fabulous and like an old womans tale seeme their deuised Medium for the worlds propagation in placing foure women at the foure windes And for the second Age and the worlds restauration therein if by those three persons Bremaw Vistney and Ruddery they glaunce at the Trinity how prodigious haue they made that Mystery making it rather a Quaternity than a Trinity What a monstrous fancy haue they formed and shaped for the peopling of that Age and if they ayme not at a marke so sublime what men shall deserue the Attributes to them appropiate Touching their Law the maine Pillars thereof haue beene demolished in its Confutation The Kingdome of God consists not in meates and drinkes For other their Ceremonies and Rites contained in their second Tract of the booke what man of reasonable vnderstanding doth not wonder at their superstitions which place their faith in outward washings lotions and sprinklings in worshippe of Sunne Moone and other liuing creatures in paintings vnctions and garish processions in offerings vnder greene trees in cringings beckings and bowings to Images and other multifarious Ceremonies all euidences of braines intoxicate with the fumes of Errour and Polytheisme As for their foure Tribes or Casts as in all else how Pythagorically they stand vpon the number of foure the world was formed of foure principles diuided into foure points of the Compasse to endure for foure Ages planted by foure men matched to foure women restored againe by foure and to be demolished by foure seuerall destructions in foure seuerall Elements and to conclude like Sadduces denying the Resurrection in which consisteth the hopes of the blessed Of which St. Paul 1 Cor. 15.29 If in this life onely we haue hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable All these declare how they haue made their Religion a composed Fiction rather then any thing reall for faith to