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
common knowledge For this cause desirous to add any thing to the ingenious that the oportunities of my Trauayle might conferre vpon mee I ioyned my selfe with one of their Church men called their Daroo and by the interpretation of a Persee whose long imployment in the Companies seruice had brought him to a mediocrity in the English tongue and whose familiarity with me inclined him to further my inquirie I gained the knowledge of what hereafter I shall deliuer as it was compiled in a booke writ in the Persian Character containing their Scripture and in their owne language called their ZVNDAVASTAVV But because wee should bee better informed concerning the People spoken of before wee lay downe their Religion we will first declare who these Persees are and then proceed to their worshippe THE RELIGION OF THE PERSEES CHAP. I. Declaring who these Persees are their ancient place of aboad the cause of relinquishing their owne Countrey their arriuall in East India and their aboad there THese Persians or Persees of whose Religion we are now to speake of are a people descended from the ancient Persians in times not long after the Flood who then had their Natiue Kings and Gouernours but warre that causeth an alteration in States and Empires brought vpon them a forraigne Scepter About nine hundred ninety six yeeres elapsed one Yesdegerd was natiue King of Persia who had his residence in the City of Yesd neere vnto the old City of Spahaun which is somewhat remote from the new City known by that name this City of Yesd was a goodly City in those times as those vse to be where Kings keepe their Courts spacious for circuit sumptuous for buildings and populous for inhabitants where this people liued in flourishing prosperity What time the Arabian Captaines of the Sect of Mahomet made inuasion into his Countrey about the nineteenth yeere of his Reigne who hauing before beene newly assaulted by a great multitude of Turkes that came from Turquestan he was forced to flye to Karason where hee dyed sodainly in the twentieth yeere of his reigne being the fiue and fortith King that descended from the race of Guiomaras and the last in whom the ancient Persian Monarchie concluded The Mahometans vpon the death of Yesdegerd carried all in conquest before them and subiected the Natiues of the Countrey as vassals vnto them and as new Lords bring in new lawes they contented not themselues to bring them to their forme of gouernment in State subiection but also in matters of Religion to liue according to Mahomets Constitutions compelling them to bee circumcised according to the Mahometan custome contrary to the forme of their owne Religion and worship These Persees not enduring to liue contrary to the prescript of their owne lawe and lesse able to reiect their yoake many of them by priuie escape and as close conueyance as they might of their goods and substance determined a voyage for the Indies purposing to prooue the mildnesse of the Banian Raiahs if there though they liued in subiection for matter of gouernment they might obtaine liberty of conscience in course of Religion So repairing to Iasques a place in the Persian gulph they obtained a fleete of seauen Iuncks to conuey them and theirs as Merchantmen bound for the shoares of India in course of Trade and Merchandize It happened that in safety they made to the land of St. Iohns on the shoares of India and arriued together at or neere the Port of Swaley the vsuall Receptacle of such Shippes as arriue there Treaty was made by some of them with a Raiah liuing at Nuncery publishing their aggreeuances and the cause of their commimg thither as also their suite to bee admitted as Soiournors with them vsing their owne Law and Religion but yeelding themselues in subiection to their Gouernment vpon payment of homage and tribure they were admitted to land the Passengers contained in fiue of their Iuncks The other two Iuncks remaining one of them put into the Roade of Swaley and treated with a Raiah that then resided at Baryaw neere vnto Surrat who entertained them on like conditions to the former but the Raiah of that place hauing warres with a neighbouring Raiah who got the conquest the Persees that resided with the conquered were all put to the sword as adherents to the Enemie The last Iuncke coasted along the shoares and arriued at Cambaya where they were receiued vpon the prementioned conditions so that howsoeuer this people haue beene dispersed in India since their arriuall it hath beene from some of these places Thus they liued in India till tract of time wore out the memory of their originall and the Records of their Religion being perished they became ignorant whence they were being assigned to the profession of husbandry or the dressing of the Palmitoes or Toddy trees till being knowne by the name of Persees they were agnized by the remnant of their Sect abiding in Persia who acquainted them with the Story of their Ancestors and communicated to them both their law and instructors in the worshippe according to which they were to liue And these bee the Persees of whose Religion we are to treate in the Chapters following CHAP. II. Containing the Opinion of the Persees touching the Creation of the world and the Creatures therein together with a short mention of the Flood and the generall diuision of the following discourse NOw after the consideration of these Persees of whose Religion we are to speake we proceede more particularly to the Subiect of this booke which is their worshippe and Religion wherein firsâ— commeth to bee rendred their opinion touching the Creation Touching this the Persees affirme that before any thing was there was a God that was the maker of all things who when he did determine to make himselfe knowne by his workes in the Creation of the Vniuerse and the creatures therein did diuide this great worke of the creation into a sixfold labour First then they say hee made the heauens with their Orbes a place most glorious and pleasant which he adorned with great lights and lesser as the Sunne Moone and Stars as also hee did make the Angels which according to their seuerall dignities he placed in their seuerall Orders one aboue another which place he made a habitation of blessednesse for such as should liue holily in this life and hauing thus done that he might teach vs to doe great designes with consideration and aduise he rested fiue dayes from the worke of further creation Next he made Hell in the lower parts of the world from which he banished all light and comfort that as heauen might be a place of happinesse to those that are good and please the Almighty so this might be a place of horrour and punishment to such as offend his Maiesty wherein as in heauen so God had made seuerall mansions that exceeded each other in dolour which were proportioned according to the degrees of offenders about which time Lucifer the chiefe of Angels with other
to bring them to Gods better worshippe did desire of God that hee might liue so long as the world should indure a publisher of that Religion which the Lord had promised to divulgâ— by him till he should make all Nations beleeue the Contents of that Booke But the Lord answered that if hee should liue neuer so long Lucifer would do more harme then euer he should doe good but if vpon better consideration he would desire to liue so long his request should be granted So the Lord presented to Zertoost in a Vision the state of all things past present and to come where he saw the troubles sicknesses and afflictions of Man more particularly the state of the Persian Monarchy how Ouchang was slaine by a stone how Thamull dyed of a pestilence how Iimshed was slaine by one of his owne Captaines how men followed diuers Religions and most their owne wayes ouerlabouring themselues in the workes of vanity ouer and aboue God presented to his eyes the seauen Ages or times of the Persian Monarchy the first was the golden Age that was in the dayes of Guiomaras the second the siluer Age that was in the dayes of Fraydhun the third the brazen Age in the time of Kaykobad the fourth the tynne Age in the time of Lorasph the fift the leaden Age in the time of Bahaman the sixt the steele Age in the dayes of Darab Segner the seauenth the iron Age in the reigne of Yesdegerd So Zertoost perceiuing time to render euery thing worse and worse desired to liue no longer then till hee should discharge the message about which the Lord should send him and that then he might be translated to that same place of glory againe So God reduced him to his owne proper sense from which hee was rauished to godlike speculations Being thus as he was before of humane capacity after he had remained in heauen many dayes the Lord deliuered to him the Booke before mentioned containing in it the forme of good gouernment and the Lawes of Religion that the Persians should follow conferring likewise on Zertoost the heauenly fire and other gifts that were neuer bestowed vpon any man before or since So Zertoost taking the heauenly fire into his right hand and the booke that God gaue him in his left he was deliuered to the conduct of the Angell that brought him thither who was called Bahaman Vmshauspan who taking vp Zertoost did cleaue the Ayre with his golden wings till he had surrendered him to the place where he found him and so left him CHAP. V. Shewing what happened to Zertoost after the Angell left him the deuill meeteth him and reuileth him he commeth to Gustasphs Court the ioy of his Parents for his returne the infamy Gustasphs Churchman seeketh to put vpon him the Miracles whereby Zertoost doth vindicate his fame Gustasphs foure demands and his foure grants ZErtoost was no sooner left by his heauenly Guardian but Lucifer an enemy to all goodnes met him called him a seeker after nouelties deluâ—â—ons and told him that God did not loue him in such manner as he beleeued otherwise he would haue kept him in heauen still not haue sent him away or else hee would haue granted him to liue to the end of the world when he desired it that that booke which hee had was stuft with falsehoods that he should come to trouble danger and shame about the publishing of it as also that he should bee laught at for his Fire as being a creature of destruction and a consumer of the workes of man and that there was no neede thereof in hot climates but that if he would depend on him he could giue him a Booke of better instructions and present to him Obiects of better delight could giue him long life and honour and power to worke great miracles that if he did not beleeue him he was a senselesse man and depriued of his wits by his late Visions But Zertoost hauing plac't his confidence better told Lucifer that hauing lost that glory that his eyes beheld he could not speake well of his Maker nor be pleased with that great fauour God had showne him but enuying at it sought not onely to disanull his but euery mans happinesse charged Lucifer by the great name of his Creator that put him into the darke dungeon of hell vnder the custody of Sertan and Asud by the truth of that booke by which he should in the end of the world be arraigned and condemned and by that fire in his right hand by which he should bee burned and tortured to auoyd his presence as a blacke mouthed defamer of God and goodnesse at which Lucifer vanished with great horror and feare from him Lucifer thus coniured from Zertoosts presence he proceeded on his way to the City where Gustasph had his residence and so to the place where his Parents had their aboad who with no small sorrow had bewayled the absence of their sonne and with vaine inquest had sought him but could not finde him in whom their hopes were reposited who now to their strange ioy and admiration told them of his Enthousiasmes and raptures wherein he had receiued that booke and heauenly fire that was so long before prognosticated by his mothers Vision and so truely interpreted by the Augur and Southsayer His parents blessed him and became instructed in this new Religion how to worshippe as God had reuealed to Zertoost These things could not be long hid for the ioyes of mothers are not silent but in euery eare did Dodoâ— powre forth her Visions in her sonnes conception and the Southsayers interpretation of them how true the particulars had fallen out the late raptures her sonne Zertoost had in heauen his Reuelations there whereof a booke written by Gods owne hand and the strange fire hee brought from thence were liuely euidences These rumours being strange to all eares and not testified by hearesay but confirmed by one whose eyes had beheld the things auerred got passage and were carried to the eares of Gustasph then King of Persia who therefore sent for Zertoost of whom he inquired the further truth of this matter who affirmed the same to bee such as it was reported that God had deliuered him a booke concerning his worshippe and other secret knowledge inducing the worshippe of fire whereof hee gaue some touches in particular to the King the King admiring these things and yet so certainely informed in the Circumstances grew wauering in his former worshippe and Religion and somewhat enclined to Zertoost so that hee diuers times sent for him and had much conference with him Gustasphs Churchman then perceiuing his Soueraigne to harken to this new Religion wherein hee had no knowledge and that by degrees he lost that grace he had wontedly froÌ„ him did seeke to put some infamy on Zertoost by which the King might become alienated from him and that new sprung Religion wherein he had no knowledge and that by degrees began as he thought to sincke
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
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
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
month in which his Father deceased must make a feast and pay a visitation to that Riuer that drunke vp his Fathers ashes Since these lawes and iniunctions there hath sprung vp a Custome amongst them that the women that suruiue their husbands should offer themselues vp aliue to be sacrificed in the flames with them which to this day is obserued in some places for some persons of greater worth though the examples be more rare now then in former times of which custome Propertius thus speaketh Foelix Eois lex funeris vna Maritis Quos Aurora suis rubra colorat aquis Namque vbi mortifero iacta est fax vltima lecto Vxorum suis stat pia turba Comis Et certamen habent laethi quae vina sequatur Coniugium pudor est non licuisse mori Ardent victrices slammae pectora praebent Imponuntque suis or a perusta viris The English A happy funerall Law those Indians hold Where bright Aurora shines with beames of gold For when in fiery brands the Husbands lye The Women stand with hanging tresses by And striue who to their Husbands first may turne A body chast into the flaming vrne Whilst to the fire they yeeld a constant brest And with parcht mouthes do kisse their loues to rest But though Propertius maketh this to bee a witnesse of their coniugall chastity yet Strabo maketh the ground thereof to bee the Indian womens disloyalty to their husbands who in former times by secret meanes vntimely poysoned them to enioy their Paramours The Raiahs therefore to restraine this practise did procure the Bramanes to make it an act of Religion to interdict second Marriages to the women and that after the decease of the husband the woman should no longer suruiue that so they might become more carefull of their preseruation The chaster sort to gaine an honour out of the infamy cast vpon their Sexe did by voluntary sufferance remooue all suspition of such machination of euill since they were so ready to cope with the terror of death to confirme their loue The Ceremony whereof is this When their husbands dye they array themselues in their best ornaments and Iewels and accompany the body to the funerall pit singing all the way encomiasticke Songs in praise of their deceased husbands expressing a desire to be with them the body then being layd in the Graue the woman with a chearefull countenance imparteth her Iewels to her dearest friends leapeth in to the Corps whose head shee layeth in her lappe the musicke sounding aloud the pile is kindled by the fire and set on a flame whilst she maketh herselfe a Martyr to approoue her loue These obseruances partly inioyned by their law and by themselues instanced in their present practise may haue beene sufficient to giue you information what might be the substance of the second Tract of the booke deliuered to Bremaw what the third Tract imported and how it is confirmed by their present Manners and Customes wee shall glance at in the following Chapters CHAP. X. Of the third Tract deliuered to Bremaw concerning their foure Tribes or Casts their iniunction to follow that order of Gouernment and so touching the first of those Tribes called the Bramanes the deriuation of the name their kindes the number of their Casts their Ministeriall discharge Studies and Schoole discipline AFter the consideration of the Ceremonies enioyned and obserued by them in matters of their worshippe as it was the Subiect of the second Tract of the booke deliuered to Bremaw Now followeth the third Tract declaring in what manner of order or distinction they should liue and what was meete for euery one to obserue in his owne particular Tribe And because there could bee no inuention more commodious for the gouernment of the world then was vsed by the foure Tribes in the first Age as to haue Bramanes to instruct the people in matters of Religion to haue Cutteryes that should sway the Scepter and keepe men in obedience to haue Merchant men that should vse Trafficke and Trade as did Shuddery to haue seruile and manufactory men that should serue the vses of the world in the handicrafts as did Wyse Therefore they were by this Tract bound to keepe their owne peculiar Tribe or Cast and to obserue what was proper to the faculties of each in seuerall which accordingly was done and is yet continued so farre as it lyeth in their power to conserue this Ancient forme of gouernment and policie wherein if I shall somewhat digresse from their iniunctions which for the most part present things lesse pertinent to be knowne to a more particular display of their manners I shall better discharge the parts required in this Tract The Bramanes then being the first of these Tribes something shall be noted in particular touching them and first of the name Bramane Suidas is of opinion that they are called Bramanes of one Brachman that was the first prescriber of their Rites Postellus lib. d. Origin Cap. 13. 15. affirmeth them to bee descended from Abraham by Cheturah who seated themselues in India and that so they were called Abrahmanes the word suffering a Syncope they in the tract of time for breuity of pronunciation became called by the name of Bramanes But they neither know of any such as Brachman neither haue they heard of Abraham but affirme they receiue this name of Bramanes from Brammon which was the first that euer exercised their Priestly function as they finde by record or else from Bremaw by adiection of this particle nes who was the first of the second Age to whom the Law was deliuered Touching the kindes of these Bramanes taking them for such as discharge the Priestly office amongst the people they are of two sorts First the more common Bramanes of which there are a greater number in India or the more speciall of which there be fewer and these be called by the Banians Verteas by the Moores Sevrahs The common Bramane hath eighty two Casts or Tribes assuming to themselues the names of that Tribe which were so many wise men or Schollers famed for their learning amongst them called Augurs or Southsayers of such a place of dwelling Thus the prime of them was called Visalnagranauger that is the Augur of Visalnagra the 2 Vulnagranauger that is the Augur of Vulnagra a towne so called and so of the rest according to these 82 Casts to be distinguished being Bramanes of the discipline of such an Augur These Bramanes as they discharge their Ministeriall function in praying with the people or reading their Law haue some peculiar iniunctions As first that they should straine their bodies into certaine mimicall gestures so as may most face the people to gaze vpon them and listen to them that they pray with both their hands open to heauen as ready to receiue the things they pray for that they pray with demissiue eyelids and sitting with their knees deflected vnder them to shew their feare and reuerence Next that
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
rescue of her who with fury and resolution vindicated and recouered the Child from the Griffins that would haue torne it in peeces and with gentle hand putting the Child into the wombe of his Mother did by soueraigne Art close vp the rupture that was by the Griffins torne and dilacerate whose Agony thus mitigated by this worthy Person the Griffins were driuen away the fierynesse of the heauens altered and Dodoo awaked out of her dreame and slumber But the Passion she suffered in this vision fixing the forepast occurrences more strongly in her phantasme she related to her husband the particulars of her dreame whose passages being so remarkable she conceiued it to be an Omen either for good or euill touching the child in her wombe whereof being desirous to be satisfied shee with her husband repaired to one that was a Southsayer to bee informed touching the significance of this vision The Diuiner informed them that this vision partly foretold good partly euill that should happen to the Child that was in her wombe that by the fire which gaue light was imported some strange Reuelation that should bee showed to the Child euen to the enlightning of the whole world which in that it did shine in heauen the reuelation should bee touching some heauenly businesse by the Griffins was set out Enemies that should endanger the life of the Mother but principally endeauour the destruction of the Child by the Man was signified God aboue who should represse the might of those enemies that they should neither effect their cruelties on the mother or child but also those dangers should he driuen away as appeared by the restitution of the heauens to their wonted estate and the driuing away of the Griffins from the woman with which interpretation Espintaman and Dodoo being highly satisfied they rerurned home awayting the hopes that lay folded vp in this Child Time hauing his accomplishment played the Midwife and brought forth this Child who was no sooner brought from the darke wombe to open light but bewrayed the ioyes he was to bring to the world in open laughter so the time comming when hee should receiue his name they called him Zertoost which importeth as much as a friend to the fire because the Southsayer had prognosticated such good to him by the fire his mother beheld in the vision But these notable things concerning this Child could not so bee concealed but that they were bruited to the eares of the King of Chyna who fearing least he was borne to depriue him of his Kingdome or some of his Successors did vnderhand send the Griffins dreamed of that is certaine Conspirators to betray Zertoost to destruction who attempting euill against him had their sinnewes shrunke vp and came to vntimely ends so that euery one was discomfitted in attempting euill against one whom God so miraculously preserued But about twelue or thirteene yeeres of Age a great sicknesse tooke him which the King hearing of hee wrought secretly by a certaine obscure Physitian to administer to him poysoned physicke if by such meanes hee might ridde away his life but Zertoost sensible of their euill practises towards him refused both the intruding Physitian and his banefull medicines and weary of the wickednesse of the place solicited his Parents to flye into Persia by which meanes they should auoyd those mischiefs that the King intended towards them which would at some time or other either bereaue them of him or him of them They chary of their hopes in him harkened to his aduise and did by the rysing of the next Sunne betake themselues to escape away the various accidents that befell them by the way we omit onely it is deliuered that meeting with deepe Riuers that impedimented his passage hee congealed them with hard frosts and so past ouer and after long trauaile arriued at the King of Persia's Court in the Reigne of Gustasph lately mentioned his Parents applying themselues to such courses as might best procure the supplyes of liuing and Zertoost wholy dedicating himselfe to the seruice of God and Religious deuotions as to which from his Infancy he seemed inclined CHAP. IIII. Shewing Zertoosts meditation of the Worlds wickednesse he goeth out to enquire of God some Reuelation for the Worlds better gouernment he meets an Angell is rapt to Heauen his request of the Almighty his Vision hee receiueth a Booke from the Lord and returneth backe from heauen againe ZErtoost thus arriued in Persia and there making his aboade vpon a time went into the fieldes and reuoluing in his minde the worlds wickednesse how one followed his lusts another his pride another his belly and Epicurisme another his cruelty that one sought the depopulation of Countryes another the oppression of inferiours and none obserued good Gouernment or had a good Religion or worshippe amongst them he beganne to examine the causes of all this wickednesse that thus reigned amongst men belowe and found it partly because Lucifer had laboured to corrupt and make naught that which God had made good next because men had receiued no Lawes or good Institutions in those parts to restraine them from sinne but euery man liued according to his owne deuise liberty and liking whether it were euill or good Hereof Zertoost more seriously considering desired God to giue him some Reuelation for the worlds better Gouernment and the establishment of Religion amongst men and conceiuing the publique place where he was not fit for so excellent Communications hee went out further till he came to the point of a valley where two Mountaines ioyned together when sodainly there descended before him as his face was bent towards the earth an Angell whose wings had glorious Pennons and whose face glistered as the beames of the Sunne saying Hayle Zertoost beloued of God what is it thou requirest Zertoost replyed that he desired to enter into Gods presence to receiue some diuine Lawes to deliuer to the Nations that so they might liue in a better obseruance of his feare So the Angell adminstring something to him to cleanse purifie his body to make it capable of entrance into so pure a place bade him cloze his eyes and he would transume and rappe him vp into that place of glory where hee should come into Gods presence whither being carried by the Angell he beheld such ioyes as were too mighty for his feeble senses so that vnable to sustaine them he fell into a Trance till God gaue him power to endure the height of those pleasures and being returned to himselfe beheld the glory thereof and heard the Almighty speaking as one encompassed with flames of fire reuealing to him the secret workes of the Creation in what order he made his Creatures and reuealed to him things to come shewing him that he should receiue Lawes for the worlds better Gouernment and the establishment of Religion with many other things not fit to be vttered neither by Zertoost euer published Then Zertoost ready and willing to publish to all people what might be needfull
in the booke of their Law Now their Distoore or high Priest whereof they haue neuer but one to which all the Herboods pay their obseruance as hee is aboue the rest in dignity so he is enioyned to bee aboue the rest in sanctity his Iniunctions therefore are transcending for not onely is he bound by their Zundaâ—astaw or booke of Religion to obserue all that is commanded the Behedin or Layman in his fiue Precepts and all that is commanded the Herbood in his eleauen Prâ—cepts but also to fulfill thirteene Precepts more as peculiar to himselfe The first is that he must neuer touch any of a strange Cast or Sect of what Religion soeuer nor any Layman of his owne Religion but he must wash himselfe because God hath made him especially holy to himselfe for which cause hee must not approach to God in prayer with the touch of others vncleannesse The second is that hee must doe euery thing that belongeth to himselfe with his owne hand both to witnesse his better humility as also the better to preserue his purity viz. to set the hearbes in his owne Garden to sow the graine of his owne field to dresse the meate that hee eateth vnlesse he haue his wife to administer to him in that which is not euer vsuall The third is that he take the tythe or tenth of all things from the Behedin as the Lords dues and imploy it to such vses as he thinketh meete since the Lord hath made him as his Almoner and dispenser of Charity The fourth is that as he must vse no Pompe or superfluity so of that great Reuennue that commeth yeerely to him hee must leaue nothing ouer-plus at the yeeres end that must not bee bestowed in good vses either in Charitable Contributions to the poore or in building of the Temples of God The fifth that his house bee neere adioyning to the Church where hee must keepe and make his abiding continuing in Prayer and abstinence not ostentating himselfe to publike view but liuing recluse and retyred from the world as a man wholy dedicate to God The sixt that hee must binde himselfe to greater purity then others both in his frequent washings and also in his dyet in feeding on meates accoumpted more pure by the Law as also that he liue sequestred from his wife in time of her pollutions The seauenth is that whereas the Herbood is enioyned only to be known in the Law or booke called Zertoost that the Distoore bee acquainted with all the learning contayned in the Zundanastaw both in that part which treateth of judiciall Astrologie committed to the Iesopp or wise man as also in that which concerneth the Physition and most especially in the booke of the Law for it is expected that hee should informe all men and none should bee found like him therin before hee bee admitted to be high Priest The eight that hee must neuer eate or drinke excessiuely for these are enemies to the high speculations required in a high Priest The Ninth that he stand in feare of no body but God nor feare any thing but sinne for hee is so to trust in God that hee must not feare what Lucipher can do vnto him The tenth that God hath giuen him pâ—wer ouer all men in matters of the soule that therefore when any man sinneth hee may tell him of it be he neuer so great and euery man is to obey him as one that speaketh not in his owne cause but Gods The eleauenth that according to the wisdome that God hath giuen him he be able to discerne in what manner God cometh to reueale himselfe in what manner Lucipher and how to descide betweene falshood and truth The Twelfth that when God manifesteth him selfe to him in visions of the Night and sheweth him in what manner hee made his workes in the Creation hee should not reveale Gods secretts but keeping them to himselfe should admire his power for God doth not publish himselfe to any as he doth to his Distoore or high Priest The thirteenth that hee keepe an euer liuing fyer that neuer may go out which being kindled by that Fyer that Zertoost brought from heauen may indure for all ages till fyer shall come to destroy all the world and that he say his prayers ouer it according as is enordered by the booke of the Law This is a Summary of those Precepts contayned in the Booke of their law that Zertoost by them is affirmed to bring from heauen and that Religion which Gustasph with his followers embraced perswaded by the forementioned Miracles by Zertoost wrought amongst them CHAP. VIII Declaring other Ceremonies amongst these Persees in their Feasts and Fasts in their Idolatrous worshippe of Fire Baptismes Marriages and Burials THe third particular concluding this Tract consisteth in the display of certaine Rites and Ceremonies obserued by this Sect differencing them from others in the Contents aboue mentioned the particulars follow in their order First then touching their liberty in meates and drinkes and their customes obserued in their Feast and Fasts Their Law alloweth them great liberty in meates and drinkes but because they will not giue offence to the Banians amongst whom they liue nor displease the Moores vnder whose gouernment they are they especially abstaine from eating of Kine and Hogs-flesh meates prohibited by the Lawes of the two former It is obserueable also amongst them that they eate alone as a meanes for greater purity and cleannesse for they suppose they participate of anothers vncleannesse by eating with him they likewise drinke euery one in seuerall cuppes proper and peculiar to theire owne vses for the same cause and if any chance to drinke in another mans cuppe they wash it three times and abstaine from the vse thereof for a certaine season after Secondly for their Festiualls inioyned by their Lawes they obserue sixe in the yeare and these feasts are celebrated for fiue dayes together each of them according to the sixe works of the Creation The first is called Meduserum which is vpon the fifteenth of their Moneth called Fere which is our Februarie for ioy that the Lord made the Heauens to be a place of glory to entertaine such as seare hm The Second is called Petusahan which is vpon their month Sheruar our Aprill the six and twentieth for that the Lord had made Hell to bee a place for the Diuell and his Angels That feast therefore is a memoriall to put them in minde that they take heed of that euill that may bring them thither The third is Yatrum celebrated vpon the sixe and twentieth of their Month Mahar which is our May in memory that the Lord made the Earth and Seas to bring forth Creatures for the vse of man The fourth is Medearum kept vpon the sixteenth of their Month Deh which is our August in memory that God made the plants and Trees by whose fruites man is sustained nourished The fift is Homespetamadum vpon the Month Spindamud which is our October beginning