The Akbarī Generations 7: Third year of the Reign.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 7
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Third year of the Reign.
7.1
The beginning of this year coincided with Tuesday, 20th Jumada-l awwal, 965 H. (10th March, 1558), and on the 25th Jumada-s sani His Majesty arrived at Dehli. He then turned his attention to the concerns of his subjects and army, and justice and mercy held a prominent place in his councils. The Khan-khanan, in concert with the ministers and nobles of the State, used to attend twice a week in the diwan-khanah, and transact business under the directions and commands of His Majesty. [Infatuation of Khan-zaman for one of the royal troopers.] In this year Musahib Khan, son of Khwaja Kalan Beg, one of the principal nobles of the late Emperor, was put to death by order of the Khan-khanan, because he had shown great ill-feeling and malice towards the Khan.
7.2
One day in this year His Majesty went out riding on an elephant called Lakhna, and as he was going along, the animal rushed after another elephant. It so happened that he came to a ditch into which he stumbled, and the Emperor was thrown from his seat on the neck of the animal, but his foot was caught in the rope which was tied round the beast's neck. The man who was riding behind him came to the ground, but His Majesty clung to the rope until a number of persons collected and released his foot. The elephant extricated himself by his own strength, and His Majesty again mounted him and returned home. After the expiration of six months the Emperor embarked in a boat and fell down to Agra, where he arrived on the 17th Muharram, 966 H. (30th Oct., 1558), in the third year of the Ilahi. One of the most important incidents of this year was that relating to Maulana Pir Muhammad Shirwani. The Pir was the general manager (wakil-i mutlak) of the Khan-khanan, and all the business of the State passed through his hands. He was the person to whom the nobles and officers had to make their applications, and of the many, high and low, who attended at his door, he admitted hardly any one. His temper now became so arrogant and perverted that for some days he would not come out of his house. The Khan-khanan went to call upon him as upon a sick person. The slave asked the Khan-khanan to wait until he had made known his wish to the Pir. This greatly incensed the Khan-khanan.
7.3
When Pir Muhammad was informed of what had passed, he rushed out, and made many apologies to the Khan-khanan, who told him how the slave had refused him admission. The Pir made the excuse that the slave did not know him. Khan-khanan asked him how he knew what the slave thought. But for all that had passed, when the Khan-khanan went in, his servants were not permitted to attend him, excepting Tahir Muhammad Sultan, Mir-i faraghat, who made his way in to look after his master. The Khan-khanan sat for a while; but when he came out, he thought over this conduct of Pir Muhammad. After a few days he sent Khwaja Aminu-d daula Mahmud, subsequently Khwaja-i Jahan, Mir 'Abdu-lla Bakhshi, Khwaja Muhammad Husain Bakhshi, and several other of his followers, to Pir Muhammad Khan, with this message: "Formerly you were a poor student, and came to Kandahar in a needy, forlorn condition; but I perceived some signs of excellence in you, and remembered some old services. I therefore advanced you to the dignity of Khan and Sultan. But your nature is unable to bear this great advancement, and the bad points in your character get the mastery of you. I therefore think it advisable to deprive you for a time of royal distinctions and dignity, so that you may come to your proper senses. You must return your banner, kettle-drum, and all other marks of honour." So all signs of dignity were immediately taken away from him, and he became simple Pir Muhammad.
7.4
Some days afterwards he was taken to the fort of Bayana, under Khan-khanan's orders, and from thence was sent to Mecca; but he proceeded to Gujarat, and there remained until after the fall of Bairam Khan, when he returned to Court. The office of wakil to Khan-khanan, which was thus taken from Pir Muhammad, was given to Haji Muhammad Sistani, who was one of the Khan's servants. At this time the dignity of Sadarat-i mamalik (office of Lord Chief Justice) was conferred upon Shaikh Gadai, son of Shaikh Jamal Kambu of Dehli, through the interest of Khan-khanan, who remembered the kindness which he had received from the Shaikh during the time of his exile in Gujarat. The honour thus conferred gave the Shaikh precedence over the grandees (akabir) of Hindustan and Khurasan. At the same period also that pattern of great men, Mir 'Abdu-l Latif Kazwini, was appointed tutor to His Majesty, and His Majesty used often to read with him ghazals in mystic language. The fort of Gwalior was celebrated for its height and strength, and had always been the home of great rajas. After the time of Salim Khan (Islam Shah) the fort had been placed in the charge of Suhail, one of his ghulams, by Sultan Muhammad 'Adali. When the throne of Akbar had been established at Agra, Habib 'Ali Sultan, Maksud 'Ali Kor, and Kiya Khan were sent to take the fort. They invested it for some days, and the garrison being in distress surrendered.