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
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
A DISPLAY of two forraigne sects in the East Indies viz The sect of the Banians the Ancient Natiues of India And the sect of the Persees the Ancient Inhabitants of Persia together with the Religion and Maners of each sect Collected Into two Bookes by Henry Lord Sometimes resident in East India and Preacher to the honble Company of Merchants trading theire j Cor. ij jo For there must be also Heirs amongst you that they that are approved may be â—â—nifest among 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Imprinted 〈◊〉 London for Francis Constable and are to be Sold at his Shoppe in 〈◊〉 Church yard at the signe of the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 A DISCOVERIE OF THE SECT OF THE BANIANS Containing their History Law Liturgie Casts Customes and Ceremonies Gathered from their BRAMANES Teachers of that Sect As the particulars were comprized in the Booke of their Law called the SHASTER Together with a display of their Manners both in times past and at this present ESAY 9.16 The Leaders of this people cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed LONDON Printed by T. and R. Cotes for FRA. CONSTABLE and are to be sold at the signe of the Crane in Pauls Churchyard 1630. To the most Reuerend Father in God GEORGE by the Prouidence of God Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate of all ENGLAND and Metropolitane Right Reuerend WHen any person violateth the Lawes of our dread soueraigns most excellent Maiesty whereby hee be cometh guilty of high Treason either in the attempts of Rebellion or counterfeiting the Kings coyne or the like wheresoeuer such a one is deprehended it belongeth to some body to attach the criminous and bring him before the higher Powers there to receiue censure and sentence according to his crime As it is thus in causes secular so mee thinkes it seemeth but reason in causes diuine Hauing therefore in the forraigne parts of the East Indies whither it pleased God to dispose mee in a Ministeriall charge vnder the imployment of the East Indian Company espyed two Sects rebelliously and schismatically violating the diuine law of the dread Maiesty of Heauen and with notable forgery coyning Religion according to the Minte of their owne Tradition abusing that stampe which God would haue to passe currant in the true Church I thought it my bounden duty through default of one more sufficient to apprehend them and bring them before your Grace to receiue both censure and Iudgement Whose Primacy in our Church of England doth best intitle your Lordship to be a Iudge of their causes and crimes I haue therefore in this first Booke made Inditement against the Banian whose cause hath formerly had some reference to your Grace by the labours of Mr. Purchas whose euidences being nihil praeter auditum and those not vnbaring the roote of their guilt and criminaltie I haue brought them to a second examination accused vpon better Euidence May it please your Grace then to giue them a second suruey pardoning my weakenesse if in any place the poorenesse of their superstitions goe cloathed in a stile vnworthy of your Graces more sublime Iudgement Thus hoping the forward tender of this Nouelty will ouer ballance the disabilities of the Presenter my prayers to God are that your Grace may liue long a Patron to the causes of our Church and like a Reuerend Moyses descending from Gods Mount bray the Idols of superstition to dust and powder till the Almighty concluding your Honours here bring you to eternall glory in the world to come Your Graces in all dutie HENRY LORD THE INTRODVCTION OR PREAMBLE PREPAring the Reader for the knowledge of the following WORKE HAuing by Gods Prouidence who swayeth vs as it pleaseth him to our seuerall places of being gained a charge of soules in the Aduenture of the honourable Company of Merchants trading to the East-Indies It happened that I was transferred from my Charge aboard the Shippe to reside in their prime Factorie in Guzzarat in a place called Surrat with the President ouer their affaires in that place Mr. Thomas Kerridge where according to the busie obseruance of Trauailers inquiring what noueltie the place might produce a people presented themselues to mine eyes cloathed in linnen garments somewhat low descending of a gesture and garbe as I may say maidenly and well nigh effeminate of a countenance shy and somewhat estranged yet smiling out a glosed and bashfull familiarity whose vse in the Companies affaires occasioned their presence there Truth to say mine eyes vnacquainted with such obiects tooke vp their wonder and gazed and this admiration the badge of a fresh Trauailer bred in mee the importunity of a Questioner I asked what manner of people those were so strangely notable and notably strange Reply was made they were Banians a people forraigne to the knowledge of the Christian world their Religion Rites and Customes sparingly treated of by any and they no lesse reserued in the publication of them but some opinions they deriued from the Philosopher Pythagoras touching Trans-animation of soules It was thought the nouelty would make the discouery thereof gratefull and acceptable to some of our Countrey men that some of my Predecessors had beene scrutinous to bring this Religion to light but whether deterred with the Fictions and Chymeraes wherewith Banian writings abound that might make it vnworthy of acceptation or the shynesse of the Bramanes who will scarce admit a stranger conuersation the worke was left to him that would make a path through these impediments The President Mr. Thomas Kerridge was vrgent with me to redeeme their omissions and to see if I could worke somewhat out of this forsaken Subiect The truth was I was willing to earnest his loue to mee by this iniunction who to giue this vndertaking the better promotion interested himselfe in the worke by mediating my acquaintance with the Bramanes whose eminence of place was an attractiue to draw on this discouery and manifestation I that thought my obseruance would bee well tooke if I could present my Countreymen with any thing new from these forraigne parts begun my worke and essayed to fetch materials for the same out of their Manuscripts and by renewed accesse with the helpe of Interpreters made my collections out of a booke of theirs called the SHASTER which is to them as their Bible containing the grounds of their Religion in a written word If any therefore bee affected to peruse or reuise the Religion Rites and Customes of the said Banians leauing out for the most part such prodigious Fictions as seeme independant on sense and reason here they shall meete with the best Essence and ground of this Sect digested into such a forme as shall best cleare the knowledge thereof and such as I presume neuer had a like discouery by any yet in the Presse So handfesting the Reader with as good hopes as may bee expected from a Subiect of this nature I referre them to the proofe of the following Chapters A DISCOVERIE OF THE BANIAN RELIGION CHAP. I. Of God
full of Maiesty In her right hand shee bare a Chuckerey which is an instrument of a round forme and sharpe edged in the superficies thereof so accommodate for offence that by a hole in the middest thereof being whirled about the finger and slung off in the quicknesse of his motion it is able to deliuer or conuey death to a farre remote enemy Courage displayed his Banner in her countenance maiesticke fury sparkled in her eyes bearing witnesse how much she thirsted after conquest and the womans name was Toddicastree In the first encounter she made her Chuckerey beare the message of her displeasure giuing entertainement with the instrument of Battell which was such as Cuttery expected and no kinder behauiour did hee entend to proffer as preferring the harsh effects of violence before the mollifying power of beauty with this hard greeting did they passe the first day giuing wounds on each side shee with her Chuckerey he with his Sword both being much spent in the conflict and often breathing when extreamity of exercise had languished their powers they renewed their battell by fresh Aggression and Onset till darknesse did prohibit the vse of Armes leauing the first day as an indifferent Arbiter of the battell neither of them able to boast of Aduantage The light of the next day inuiting them to a new experiment of Valour they accoast one another renewing the remembrance of their iniuries with second attempts of violence the day well neere spent in fight Cuttery gaining some aduantage with his Sword hewed her Chuckerey in two peeces but fauorable darkenesse looking with a partiall eye on the battell and patronizing the disaduantaged shaded the woman with her broken instrument from the pursuer by the benefit of which intermission she conuerted her broken Chuckerey into a Bowe hauing prouided Arrowes to requite the force of the Aduersary by this new stratageme who was now bigge with the hopes of her Ouerthrow The light being the best Herauld they had to call them to battell a third time they met hopefull to conclude this strange duello or single Combat which vrged on her side by her new inuented instrument and on his by the thought of former aduantage gained made the Assault more vehement making therefore her enemy the Butte into whom she meant to transfixe her pointed shafts she freshly encountered him But he perceiuing her aduantage whose power was to wound farre off and his iniuries were most forceable in little distance exposing himselfe to greater perill that he might be owner of a better aduantage drew neerer and in a cloze exchanging the losse of weapons for hand violence they thus proued their forces together wearinesse hauing abated their vigours so equally that neither of them was so strong to ouercome nor so weake to yeeld the ballance of victory so iustly poysed betweene them as inclined with partiality to neither it was fit the tongue should conclude that warre that the power of the hand was no longer able to prosecute Hereupon in this doubtfull strife Cuttery hauing seazed her by the Tresses of her haire to bring her to bondage and exercise hauing put a fresh and liuely coulour in her cheekes such as in Cutteryes eyes made her rather seeme louely then one to be iniured he said Oh thou wonder of liuing Creatures for strength and beauty why should fury mannage so strange a contention betweene vs two If I should in this combate haue slaine thee I should haue curst this right hand for bearing an instrument to ruine so goodly a proportion and if thou hadst slaine me thou shouldst but haue laboured with anguish of soule for thine owne discontent and discomfort who knowest not what pleasure thou mayst reape by my society Why should one excellent creature seeke the ruine of another will there not be one the lesse and thy being will bee nothing augmented by my disanulment Did God to this end conferre boldnesse on vs to make it the cause of one anothers perdition who are both worthy of preseruation Surely courage in thee shall bee nothing impaired by my friendshippe and ayde but vnited vertues make most powerfull assaults and are best Muniments against iniurie Besides the world now an Infant and of short standing ought rather by all meanes to haue her issue multiplyed then impayred or diminished Especially selfe loue bindes vs to study our owne preseruations to which since vnity did best conferre he would not follow the humour of his high spirit to seeke glory so wickedly and vnworthily if hee might purchase that peace hee sought by any reasonable concession The woman attentiue to the motion prosecuted with so faire a carriage after some pause of silence and deiection of countenance that gaue consent to bashfulnesse replyed that though the markes of his violence were before her eyes whose anguish were sufficient to maintaine the fuell of further passion yet in that he which had felt tryall of like rage had first broke off violence shee gaue so good an eare to the motion as the short time of desisting might permit affirming that she was so farre content to suspend such passages as he continuing that peaceable treaty should make his company acceptable otherwise to renew the same violence as shee found iust occasion of prouocation Thus with plighted hands the forme of their new made Amity they became of intestine enemies reconciled and amourous friends till prompt and intelligible nature apprehensiue of her owne ends through some longer conuersation together made them proue the difference of their sexe from whom plentifull generations were descended indued with the fortitude of such as are truely warlike And thus the West came to be peopled from these two from whose enmities loue wrought so perfect and vnexpected agreement CHAP. IIII. Of Shuddery the third Sonne of Pourous his Trauaile he findeth a Mine of Diamonds meeteth the Woman appointed for him they become conioyned together and by their Issue the North is peopled THE third Sonne Shuddery which was the Merchant man according to his time and age was sent to the North who taking his Ballance and waights with him the instruments by whose Iustice he was to buy and sell tended thither whither the Almighty had directed him Hauing passed on some part of his way as busie Nature loues to be in imployment hee desired hee might meete with some affaire or businesse suiting with his traffiking disposition And being come to a goodly Mountaine called Stachalla there fell immoderate and excessiue raines hee sheltring himselfe in some hollow place of the Mountaine till the foule weather was past vpon which there followed a clearenesse of the skies but such a deluge succeeded vpon the fall of those waters that his iourney was prohibited for the riuers not able to containe the streames that had in rowling currents from the tops of the steepe Mountaines deuolued into their channels belowe began to make breaches in their bankes and returning their burthen into the lower grounds had turned the valley of
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