A display of two forraigne sects in the East Indies vizt: 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 Hoble Company of Merchants trading thether

CHAP. VI.

Of the meeting together of the foure Brethren at the place of their birth; their diuisions and dis∣sentions, the great euils amongst their generati∣ons bringing a Flood which destroyeth them, and so the first Age of the world concludeth.

EVery thing by naturall motion pas∣seth to his owne place; so the Bre∣thren 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 con∣clude his dayes, where he began, and to pos∣sesse the people of that place with the true forme of diuine worshippe, that so all the world might retaine one vniformity of Re∣ligion, not rending Gods worship into parts with the Factions of vnsetled opinions, as al∣so 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 lat∣ter 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 inclinati∣on, had his desires bent to his birth-place, be∣ing bigge with the eminency of his acciden∣tall 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, former∣ly mentioned, drew him to giue his appea∣rance amongst the rest.

Lastly, Wyse to communicate his Arts, whose aduenturous trauaile was no lesse me∣morable 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 happi∣nesse of their meetings in their seuerall turnes and successions, as their works were in order accomplished, their seuerall arriuals being congratulated with Feastings and Tri∣umphes, meete welcome for such Guests. It was not to be doubted but Pourous and Par∣coutee, grew young againe, hauing such a sea∣son of happinesse reserued to smile vpon

them towards the Sunset of their Age, such as were able to make their forewasted pow∣ers, 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 re∣membrance 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 Traf¦ficke 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 con∣found 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 de∣ceiptfull 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 Bram∣mon 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 dis∣pleased 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 in∣iuries

in cosenage and griping vpon their bre∣thren 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 recei∣ued 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 cloa∣thed with blacknesse and terror, the Seas be∣gan to swell as if they meant to ioyne with the cloudes in Mans destruction, great noyse was heard aloft, such as vseth to dismay mor∣tall wretches, and thunder and lightning fla∣shed from the Poles, such as seemed to threa∣ten 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, ac∣cording to the Tradition of the Banians.