The Institutes of Akbar 2.6.5

2.6.5

On Friday, the 4th Rabi’ I, 1011 (12th August, 1602), at a distance of about half a kos from Sarái Bar, which lies six kos from Narwar, Bir Singh’s men came in sight. The few men that Abul Fazl had with him, strongly advised him to avoid a fight, and an old servant, Gadái Khán Afghán, told him quickly to retreat to Antri, which was three kos distant, as Rái Rayán and Súraj Singh were stationed there with three thousand Imperial horse: he might first join them, and then punish Bir Singh. But Abul Fazl thought it a disgrace to fly. He defended himself bravely; but in a short time he was surrounded, and, pierced by the lance of a trooper, he fell dead to the ground. Bir Singh cut off Abul Fazl’s head, and sent it to Salim in Iláhábád, who, it is said, had it thrown “into an unworthy place,” where it lay for a long time. The Dutch traveller De Laët gives the following account of Abul Fazl’s death. Salim returned to Halebassa [Iláhábás, the old form of Iláhábád], and began to coin gold and silver money in his own name, which he even sent to his father, to irritate him the more. The king, enraged at this, wrote an account of all that had happened to Abul Fazl, who bade the king be of good courage, for he would come to him as quickly as possible; and added that his son should be brought bound to him, either by fair means or by foul.