The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

¶ The raigne of Smerdis the Mage.

[ VII] NO man did beleeue that Cambises had caused his brother to be slaine, although be∣fore his death he had declared it, for they had a conceit that he spake it, to the end

[ A] 〈…〉〈…〉 should take reuenge for that he had vsurped the crowne, and withall, Prex∣•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had slaine him ••urst•• or confesse it: so as all the noblemen by a generall 〈…〉〈…〉 Smerdis for king, beleeuing him to be the sonne of Cyrus. The Mage being 〈…〉〈…〉 vnto the Empire, to settle himselfe there, and to winne the hearts of all men, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 throughout all the prouinces an abatement of the taxes and impositions which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to beleuied among the people, whereby he purchased their loues, so as all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••iects were a•• his commaundement, except the Persians: for Smerdis, assuring him∣•••••• if he came forth in view he should be knowne, neuer shewed himselfe in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as they began to suspect that this was the Mage; to be fully satisfied whereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••cceeded after this manner: Otan sonne to Pharnaspes one of the greatest lords of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 came vnto a daughter of his called Phedyna, who had attended vpon Cambises, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did then serue the Mage as his concubine: Otan demaunded of her with whom she 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but she could not resolue him, for that she had neuer seene Smerdis the sonne of, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 afterwards she sent him word that none of his women did speake together in her∣••••••panie, for the king had seperated them one from another; this did the more con-•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Persians opinion that it was the Mage, and to make it more manifest, he willed daughter to feele if he had any eares, for that he knew the Mage Smerdis had his cut. ••y the commaundement of Cyrus: the daughter hauing obeied, and finding the king 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without eares, aduertised her father, who discouered the whole businesse to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Gobria the chiefe among the Persians: these three woone three others vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which were Intaphernes, Megabyses, and Hidarnes, Darius being come from his go∣••••ent of Susa, was also associated in this conspiracie, saying that he was certaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Smerdis the sonne of Cambises was dead; so as these seuen noblemen managed their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rises so happily, as the Mages were cut in peeces, and Prexaspes the murtherer of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sonne of Cyrus, cast himselfe headlong from the top of the royall pallace, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 first declared the truth, and incensed all the world against the Mages, who raigned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eight moneths: so as the race of Cyrus continued not long among the Persians, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 third heire did not enioie his conquests.