Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 208.4.5

208.4.5

After this victory, Mahmood Shah caused public prayers to be read, and directed the wounds of the prisoners to be attended to. Having sent for Beny Ray, he asked him what could induce him to hold out so long, before so large a force. The Ray replied, with undaunted firmness, “I hold this territory by hereditary right, and being descended from a line of noble ancestors, have been taught to respect that name which they handed down to me. I “ determined, therefore, not to act in a way so as “ to disgrace my family.” Mahmood, admiring this spirited and manly conduct, ordered every attention to be paid to the Raja’s wants and comforts. During the time the King was detained by his sick and wounded at Champanere, he laid the foundation of the city of Mahmoodabad, and also of a beautiful mosque, in which was a pulpit with this sentence inscribed upon it, commemorating the date of its completion: — خطبه و منبر “ Prayers and the pulpit.” Beny Ray having recovered from his wounds, the King used every effort to persuade both him and his minister to embrace the Mahomedan faith. They, however, persisted in refusing, swearing that they preferred death to abjuring their religion. Mahmood Shah was in hopes of shaking their constancy by confining them separately, and treating them harshly. This conduct only tended to support their resolution, till at length the King, at the instigation of some holy men about his person, ordered them to be put to death.